From October 2024 to January 2025, I worked with the Collections team at the Young V&A museum in Bethnal Green. The Young V&A, previously known as the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood, is an offshoot of the Victoria & Albert museum, a world-leading art, design and performance institution. The Young V&A specifically caters for young people aged 0 to 14, and since opening after a redevelopment in July 2023, they have focused their attention on how the museum and its collection can encourage creative confidence in young people.
Over 3 months, I conducted archival research both on-site and at the National Art Library in South Kensington. I designed and carried out qualitative research which involved interviewing and observing young people visiting the museum. Across 4 weeks, I conducted observations of approximately 70 visitors, interviewed approximately 81 visitors, and interviewed 9 staff members of the Front of House team, for an overall c. 160 engagements. I engaged in a data analysis process, from which I identified four emergent themes: ‘definitions and demarcations’; ‘visual representation’; ‘creativity and confidence’; and ‘ideas for the future’. I then wrote up my findings and process in two reports, which have been made available to all members of staff at Young V&A. In the final weeks of my placement, I organized and delivered 8 presentations to various cross-sections of stakeholders across the V&A, including to the Front of House team and the Volunteer team at the Young V&A. These presentations were valuable in both presenting my findings and recommendations, and in receiving feedback on the project for future development.
This placement was a valuable opportunity for knowledge exchange. My archival research uncovered certain exhibitions that the team had not known much about, thus expanding their knowledge of the history of the museum. Previously the Young V&A had only gathered quantitative survey data from visitors; my research insisted on the inherent legitimacy of qualitative audience research, and demonstrated the value of engaging with young people and children not just as respondents, but as active co-researchers. Fundamentally, the outputs I produced from this placement materially corroborated many of the theoretical and conceptual lines and instincts that the team had been following. They will use my reports going forward to legitimise their strategy for the further collecting of children’s creative work. This was the first time the Young V&A Collections team had a doctoral researcher join their team, and I hope that my feedback will help to shape and improve future placements.
This placement provided me with the opportunity to combine the professional skills I have developed outside of academia, that of caring for young people and engaging them in educational and creative contexts, with the research skills and qualitative methodologies I have practised and honed over my academic career. It was an amazing experience to work and develop connections in an organisation where every member of staff respected and found great joy in young people’s creativity. I expanded my knowledge of museological and pedagogical scholarship in the process of desk research, and improved my ability to write and present to several different audiences in various communication styles. Working at the YV&A bolstered my confidence as a researcher, and allowed me to make important professional connections in the museum sector. This placement has given me valuable experience in conducting qualitative research in a public-facing organisation, and I am considering pursuing these opportunities further in my post-doctoral career. There were several elements of the research project which I would love to pursue further in the future.
Placements Showcase
