Echoes of tomorrowThe voice of young people in museums

Carolina Silva | Paul Crook

Goldsmiths College | Whitechapel Gallery

Museumnext | Geneva 2015

What is the role of young people

in today’s museums?

| New Museology| Visitor-centred ethos| Inclusive museums| Misrepresented audiences|

| Young people| Independent visitors| Long-term programmes| Youth Forums| Peer-led |

Young Tate Tate Liverpool1994

Explainers Exploratorium San Francisco1969

MOCA MentorsLAMOCA1992 Duchamp&Sons

Whitechapel Gallery2008

Youth Forum: Duchamp&Sons

| Whitechapel Gallery | East London | Youth Programme| Youth Curator | Youth Forum |

| Duchamp&Sons | Marcel Duchamp | Local Area | 30 young people | 15 to 21 years |

| Collaborative projects | Contemporary artists | Practice-based | Exhibitions | Events |

Why did you join Duchamp&Sons?

“I picked [Duchamp&Sons] particularly because it’s not really, in a sense,educational, it’s more of a kind of place where you know you can debateabout art, you can talk about art but it doesn’t have to be kind ofrestricted in terms of the tone…” (Brandon, 18)

“I saw the blog and things were actually being done, it wasn’t just (…)people sitting and talking about what they wanted to do instead of doingit. (…) Also I was applying for jobs and I knew I [wanted] to be doingsomething creative.” (Jenny, 23)

How is it to be part of a youth forum

in a contemporary art gallery?

“It is quite interesting. I feel like I am really part of the furniture…I quitelike it because [I feel] part of something,…you know that if you go thereyou will be recognized and they will remember you…” (Inês, 21)

“My skills developed a lot in Duchamp&Sons, working with artists and kindof understanding their practice and how you apply your practice to ayouth group as an artist.” (Gabby, 22)

Is it important for museums

to have a youth forum? Why?

“Yes, definitely. I think obviously it brings more audience. Like I have neverbeen to the gallery before (…)” (Inês, 21)

“Yes, because art galleries could feel quite elitist (…) it is just sort ofmaking [young] people feel like they are part of the gallery, it is a publicgallery, so anyone from the public can come here.” (Jenny, 23)

ECHOES OF TOMORROW

| Inclusive museums?

| Collaborative research?

| Youth forums?

Whitechapel Gallery

Youth Forum : Duchamp&Sons

http://www.whitechapelgallery.org

http://duchamp-and-sons.tumblr.com

https://twitter.com/DuchampandSons

Carolina Silva | Paul Crook

carolinasilva@gold.ac.uk | paulcrook@whitechapel.org