This research discusses intergenerational learning for families in an art museum. As a museum educator with a professional and personal interest in family learning in the museum, I noticed an increase in educational programmes in museums designed specifically for families. This research shows how this kind of family activity can become a new learning experience, when it is designed to encourage intergenerational learning; in other words, mutual learning between generations.
With this graduation research, I try to answer the following question: How can an unguided family tour actively stimulate intergenerational learning in an art museum? The theoretical framework gives insight into the three ways of learning that intergenerational learning entails: learning with, from, and about each other. I use George Hein’s theory of the constructivist museum as well as the learning theories of Kolb and Piaget to frame current ways of museum education as a basis for intergenerational learning. I also examine several case studies on intergenerational programmes in museums.
Based on this contextual research, I designed a Family Tour at Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam that aims to stimulate intergenerational learning. The Boijmans Children’s Board was actively involved in the brainstorming sessions for the design of the tour. Four families participated in a test phase in which they tried out the programme, which was adjusted each time using the family’s feedback. The tour aims to set a learning goal for all family members that take part, addressing different learning styles and phases, and encouraging the sharing of different perspectives. The main goals of the programme are to increase two aspects of intergenerational learning within the families: learning about each other (getting to know each other better) and learning together by looking at and talking about art with each other. Besides the Family Tour, the research resulted in a list of recommendations for museum educators and others interested in designing an educational family programme based on intergenerational learning in a museum.

External critic: Annemarie Vels-Heijn (museum education specialist, former Head of Education and Director of Presentations at the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam)