Young People's Archive Pages
(c) Geffrye Museum
The Geffrye Museum has had a Young People’s Programme since 2006. Below you will find information on our past work with young people and youth groups which includes a variety of workshops, creative projects, volunteering and paid opportunities.
For more information on any of these workshops and projects please contact Rachael Crofts: rcrofts@geffrye-museum.org.uk or telephone Rachael on 020 7739 9893.
Snapshots! - Digital Photography and Editing Project
Over four days during the February 2013 Half Term, young people worked with museum staff, a professional photographer and graphic designer to document the changes in technology, taste, design and decoration of homes through the ages and created the ideal homes of the future. Project participants brainstormed themes, created storyboards and photographed objects throughout the museum. They used Adobe Photoshop Elements 11 software to explore the ideas of home rituals, accessible design, surveillance, technology and modernisation that feature in their final artworks.
The participants' work will be exhibited at the Geffrye Museum, the Adobe UK Head Office and Rich Mix in Bethnal Green and be screened at the British Film Institute (BPI) in 2013.
Write Here, Write Now - Creative Writing Workshop
During the Unveiling the Past event on Sunday 24 February, participants worked with museum staff and staff from Spread the Word, London's writer-development charity. They took part in a creative writing workshop for young and emerging writers of poetry, flash-fiction and spoken word, and built on their written and verbal communication skills by writing and performing original works.
Light, Paint, Animate! Young People’s Workshop
© Jayne Lloyd / Geffrye Museum
On 8 September 2012, during the Geffrye Museum’s Closing Ceremony - Let’s Celebrate! event, nine young people worked with Geffrye staff and Chocolate Films to create their own stop-motion animation using light painting techniques inspired by objects from around the world. Hand-held light sources were used to ‘draw’ outlines and images in a darkened room, and the participants learned digital photography, animation and editing skills.
Three creative and dazzling short films were created which can be viewed in the Geffrye Museum’s Digital Library.
Learnt about light-paint animation. It was fun and interesting and a real hands-on experience. I found it fun and a great learning experience!
A workshop participant
Really liked this workshop. It was fun and creative. I think these kinds of workshops should be held again. Thanks.
A workshop participant
Who Stole My Milk? Documenting Student Homes in London Project
UCL Project participants at the Geffrye © Geffrye Museum
The Who Stole My Milk? Documenting Student Homes project was the result of collaboration between museum staff and MA students from the Institute of Archaeology, University College London.
The project examined how cooking, decorations and personal objects come together to create a home away from home. Fourteen students from four houses and flat shares shared their houses and stories, and the UCL students researched their subjects and audiences to create the following:
· An exhibition of graphic panels in the Lower Concourse Cases exploring how student homes are shared spaces, scenes of conflict, compromise, friendship and cultural exchange
· A programme of events aimed at all ages
· A series of online resources to support the project, including ‘London Living: A Student’s Tale’ - a digital story and an interactive floor plan of a student home
It has been an amazing and invaluable experience to be involved in all steps of the exhibition process. I feel very privileged to, as a student, have been given the opportunity to write and create a real museum exhibition.
UCL student curator
I felt a lot more confident and proud of my work on the Student Homes project. I’ve improved my communication skills, which will help me professionally in the future.
UCL student curator
Photo Mosaics
(c) Seon Hye Heo / Geffrye Museum
On 25 March 2012, during the Geffrye Museum’s Going Global family day, 11 young people had the opportunity to work with a professional photographer to develop their photography and image-editing skills. Participants used digital cameras to photograph Geffrye Museum objects, displays, gardens, and each other, and used special software to turn those images into a large photo mosaic.
To see more photo mosaics from the day, please visit The Geffrye’s Young People’s Pages on Facebook.
I really enjoyed today and it was a really good experience on how to make mosaic pictures. I would like to try this at home with some of my pictures!
Young participant, 13 years old
Enjoyed working with other students and having the chance to take pictures as well as exploring the museum.
Young participant, 18 years old
Had a great time using different software and seeing all my images in a final mosaic.
Young participant, 17 years old
Young Volunteer Tour Guides
Young Volunteer Tour Guide training session (c) Jayne Lloyd / Geffrye Museum
At the start of 2012, a group of 14 dedicated young people took part in our Young Volunteer Tour Guides course. They worked closely with a professional storyteller to learn public speaking techniques, and, assisted by our curatorial team, they undertook detailed research on objects and themes from the At Home with the World exhibition. They then spent several sessions honing their tour scripts around their research, and will deliver their talks to members of the public throughout the exhibition. During the programme the participants also had the chance to gain a V50 or V100, an award given by the charity vinspired which recognises the time they committed to volunteering and the skills they gained.
[I wish] that I had volunteered at the Geffrye sooner! I have really enjoyed learning about something from the past and getting to know other people who have similar interests in learning about history – especially with respect to objects in the home. I enjoy improving my public speaking skills too!!
Young Volunteer Tour Guide
To see one of their exhibition tours please visit our what’s on pages.
Youth Advisory Panel Team Volunteering at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Young Games Makers Interview (c) Vanessa Weibel / Geffrye Museum
Seven Youth Advisory Panel members and Young Ambassadors successfully completed a half-day interview and were selected to be London 2012 Young Games Makers! They and two Geffrye members of staff will join over 2,000 16-18 year olds and their team leaders to help make the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games happen.
Youth Advisory Panel Object Handling Session
Youth participant with a museum object (c) Em Fitzgerald / Geffrye Museum
Back in December 2011, members of our Youth Advisory Panel had the opportunity to go behind the scenes at the Geffrye and be photographed with objects from our collection. They explored the collection store with one of the curators, chose their favourite item and then worked with a professional photographer who took photographs of them handling their object. Some of the results, together with earlier photo shoots, can be seen in an exhibition in our Lower Concourse between 14 February - 13 May 2012.
[What I enjoyed about today was…] learning about an object gradually. At first I only knew a few details about it – like a mystery yet to be solved- but gradually I learnt more and more about it, until I finally got to touch it
Youth Participant
Keats House Poets at the Geffrye
Keats House Poets Recording Session (c) Jayne Lloyd / Geffrye Museum
Two Keats House Young Poets were commissioned by the Geffrye to create poems inspired by the themes and objects featured in the Stories of the World: London At Home with the World exhibition at the Geffrye. The Young Poets recorded these poems, which will be showcased in the At Home with the World exhibition, at the Geffrye.
Recording and taking part in the commission as a whole has been so rewarding. It has been really good working with the Geffrye Museum, everyone has been really positive, welcoming and supportive.
Young participant
Young Ambassadors Talk to Young People at the Geffrye
Supreme Summer (c) Hannah Salisbury / Geffrye Museum
The Geffrye Young Ambassadors have promoted Stories of the World: London to different young people and community groups at the Geffrye Museum – an ESOL young people’s group, students from BSix College in Hackney and the Young Volunteer Tour Guides, as well as during Half-Term workshops and events.
It was brilliant, especially the poem!
Young Ambassador
I felt really good today, doing my pitch to BSix – it went really well and gave the college lots of information on what’s coming up!
Young Ambassador
Youth Advisory Panel Film Night
Youth Advisory Panel Film Night 26 November 2011 © Hannah Salisbury / Geffrye Museum
The Geffrye Museum's Youth Panel had their first-ever film night on Saturday 26 November, which included some fabulous films, pizza, popcorn and ice cream!
Panel members invited friends and young people interested in joining the Youth Panel to the film night. Participants had a chance to voice their opinion, meet people and have fun at this popular event. They chose from an array of DVDs, watched a few short films made by young people at the Geffrye (see the Digital Library) and helped programme February Half Term activities for young people.
I really loved this film night, especially getting together with people to watch movies. I think there should be more events like this – that would be really cool!
Young Participant
Had fun because I spent time with friends and met new people.
Young Participant
I enjoyed watching a film and being able to relax, and the nice atmosphere. Nice and friendly!
Young Participant
Stories of the World Conference
Still from “What Does Home Mean To You”, ©Chocolate Films / Geffrye Museum
On 9 November 2011, staff and young people from the Geffrye Museum attended the Stories of the World National Conference in Leeds City Museum. The Conference was a fantastic opportunity to share skills, hear about the different projects across the country and learn more about how museums have used Stories of the World to develop new ways of working with young people and local communities.
During the Conference, the Youth Advisory Panel ran an animation workshop in partnership with Chocolate Films. Workshop participants were inspired by our period rooms, Stories of the World objects and everyday domestic items to create a short collaborative animation film looking at the idea of ‘home’ and what it meant to them. The film was entitled “What Does Home Mean To You” and was screened for delegates at the end of the Conference.
What I enjoyed about today was… seeing how creative everyone is in such a limited time!
Workshop participant
I wish…. I had taken part in this animation workshop years ago – so much fun and it’s given me tons of ideas. Inspiring!
Workshop participant
To view the films from this project please visit our digital library
Unseen Me - Documenting the Home Project
Participant’s final photograph and caption included in the group exhibition (c) Yanique Harris / Geffrye Museum / PhotoVoice
Over a series of five weeks from September - October 2011, young people from The World’s End Estate in Chelsea worked with museum staff and PhotoVoice to learn and develop photography techniques. Throughout the project participants used photography as a way to explore ‘what makes a home.’ Participants were encouraged to take photographs that captured what ‘home’ meant to them and wrote corresponding captions.
At the last session participants curated their work both inside and outside St John’s Parish Church on the estate. The photographs inside will be displayed in the Church as a permanent legacy of the project with young people from the local area.
These photographs and captions will contribute to the contemporary London homes aspect of the upcoming At Home with the World 2012 exhibition.
The entire project has been a great taster and insight into a possible career or hobby doing photography. I gained greater experience than I thought I would have received. I felt all my questions were answered and so able to go free knowing how I could achieve the best results. It has been a great help and experience, meeting new people and learning new skills. Thanks J
Young participant
I have learnt skills with how to take photographs regarding framing, the use of shadows, light, and colour and angles. I’ve really enjoyed the critiquing of my photographs by professional and how I can improve and seeing my work on these walls.
Young participant
Youth Advisory Panel visit to Leighton House Museum
Participants being led round Leighton House by the Special Projects Officer at Leighton House Museum © Geffrye Museum
In October 2011 members of the Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) were invited to look around Leighton House Museum, one of the five partner museums that the Geffrye Museum is working with as part of the museum’s Stories of the World programme. YAP members were given a tour of the House by their Special Projects Officer, who gave them an insight into how the travels of Lord Leighton, its original owner, affected the exotic interior design. YAP members were able to examine samples of the ceramic wall tiles and touch replica silk wallpaper samples. They were fascinated by details such as the Syrian wall tiles and the wooden Egyptian lattice window covers which revealed how other cultures have influenced the House.
For further images please visit The Geffrye’s Young People’s Page on Facebook.
It was amazing to look at all the artwork and the different types of things they make from different countries.
Young Participant
I enjoyed going somewhere new and viewing interesting objects/rooms. Being able to interact with certain objects adds another dimension to museum learning.
Young Participant
The World At Home - Concourse Case Display
UCL MA students collaborated with the Geffrye on the World at Home display - photography Em Fitzgerald
The World at Home display and project, on view at the Geffrye from 17 May to 18 September 2011, was the result of a collaboration between the museum and MA students from the Institute of Archaeology, University College London. The students chose eleven objects from the museum’s period rooms to feature in this display. The objects' stories were the narrative of England’s ever-changing relationship with the rest of the world. Through the expansion of the British Empire and development of international trade, the English middle classes brought into their homes goods as varied as pottery from Germany, tea from China and modern furniture from Scandinavia.
More than just an exhibition, the students also worked together to design marketing materials, created Online Activities, organised events, designed activities for children and carried out visitor and audience research. For more information about the project please visit the Learning Pages of our website.
Behind the Scenes – a film-making project
Participants behind the scenes in the Geffrye Museum stores (c) Em Fitzgerald / Geffrye Museum
This free creative film-making project ran over 8 days in August 2011. Young people aged 14 – 24 worked alongside museum staff and Chocolate Films to produce, direct, film and edit their own short films based on themes selected by the museum for its upcoming London 2012 exhibition. Participants went behind the scenes at the Geffrye Museum, choosing and researching objects from the collection, and bringing object stories to life through film and animation. The short films were given a public screening during an end of project celebration.
No previous experience was necessary to participate and skills development included:
- technical camera, sound and editing skills
- front of camera and presentation skills
- story development and script writing techniques
- museum object handling and research experience
- working as part of a production team
Thoroughly enjoyed filming in the rooms and learning new skills (directing!)
Young participant
Wonderful teamwork experience.
Young participant
This project has helped my A2 media course and made me even more inspired about doing filming in the future!
Young participant
To view the films from this project please visit our digital library.
We can work it out – a photography workshop
Participant image from ‘We can work it out’ workshop (c) Jayne Lloyd / Geffrye Museum
As part of the Supreme Summer event we ran two photography workshops for young people aged 14-24. Inspired by plants from around the world and the day’s 1960s theme, participants were able to use professional camera equipment to take pictures of the plants in the museum’s Victorian and Edwardian gardens. Participants used various coloured and mirror-card backgrounds to create some fabulous ‘flower-power’ photographs.
I loved using the gels to make the photos different colours. I learnt a great deal about exposure, focus and iridium. It was a fabulous workshop that has enlightened me on the art of photography, I am very glad that I participated in it.
Young participant, aged 20
Today I really enjoyed the photography workshop. Beautiful gardens, beautiful flowers and came up with amazing pictures. Feeling very inspired!
Young participant, aged 16
Free Your Style Drop Your Beat – a documentary film making project
Participants filming on location (c) Em Fitzgerald / Geffrye Museum
Participants at the New Horizons Centre worked with Geffrye Staff and Chocolate Films to create documentary films about their views on homelessness, home and the city of London. Participants interviewed each other, photographed and shot footage of their surroundings, made sound recordings and edited all this into documentary films. The films were then screened at the New Horizons Centre during a end of project celebration.
Really enjoyed shooting, editing was good fun. Last week enjoyed learning techniques and this week trying to remember the techniques and the interview to camera was good fun. Working as a team to do something in real life on my career and my future can use.
Participant from New Horizon Centre
I am enjoying it. Interesting. Learn from each other what they feel and thing. You discover something you didn’t know – recognise what you have in common.
Participant from New Horizon Centre
To view the films from this project please visit our digital library.
Summer Picnic - Youth Advisory Panel
Participants at YAP picnic (c) Jayne Lloyd / Geffrye Museum
On a sunny afternoon in June 2011 the Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) welcomed potential new members with a picnic in the Geffrye Garden’s. The new members were introduced to the YAP through a series of “get to know you” games, including YAP Speed Dating. The new members then sat in on a panel meeting to see what they could get involved in if they joined.
I enjoyed a lovely welcome to the group. The games really helped (and food) and it was nice to be included in all the votes etc. straight away.
New YAP member
I really enjoyed meeting the new members and playing the games. It was really nice to have the meeting outside as the weather was really nice.
Current YAP member
Time Capsule Burial - Youth Advisory Panel
YAP members in front of Time Capsule plaque in the Geffrye garden (c) Jayne Lloyd / Geffrye Museum
As part of their March meeting members of the Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) buried their Time Capsule in the Geffrye garden. The YAP decided in November 2009 that they wanted to bury a time capsule as a lasting legacy of their time at the museum. They worked with an artist to devise and run workshops for other young people documenting ideas about themselves, their lives and their homes. These documents, as well as pictures of the YAP and examples of their work, were packed into a lead time capsule that was welded shut and buried in the side garden of the Geffrye. A plaque now marks the spot where it is buried, to be opened in 100 years time.
It feels as though I have become part of the history of the Geffrye. When I have children and they have children, I can tell them all about it and my descendants can come and see it opened here! Just one problem with it being opened in 100 years time… I want to be around to see it! Perhaps time-travel will have been invented in the future? Let’s hope so!
YAP member
I am pleased by the thought of future Akrams will know that grandpa Shakeel was a cultured fellow and will undoubtedly attend the time capsule opening ceremony.
YAP member
Move It, Make It! – one-day animation course
Participants at Move It, Make It! (c) Irene Yap / Geffrye Museum
As part of the Get Animated family day on Saturday 26 February 2011 young people aged 14-24 joined participants from Totally Animated for a free one-day animation course. Participants investigated the fascinating stories of objects from the Geffrye Museum and brought them to life through the art of animation. They learned animation techniques from animators from Chocolate Films and produced a short film to take home. These films were shown at a public screening at the end of the day.
Today I felt pleased that I had achieved something (learning to use animation software and making a short film). I also felt happy that I had actually managed to complete the animation.
Young participant
Today we created and animated a stop motion picture about “Sunday blocks”, a Victorian toy for children. We learned new ways to animate and bring to life objects, and used our creative skills to design a story and characters emerged in the process.
Young participants
To view the films from this project please visit our digital library.
Totally Animated – a film-making project
Participants filming in the museum (c)Jayne Lloyd / Geffrye Museum
During the February half-term holiday young people aged 14 - 24 worked alongside museum staff and animators from Chocolate films to produce, direct, film and edit their own short films. Through the art of animation, objects from the Geffrye's collection were brought to life, culminating in a public screening of the short films at the Get Animated event on Saturday 26 February. Participants were also invited to help Chocolate Films run an animation workshop as part of Get Animated.
I am really enjoying today – adding finishing touches to the production stage. We are about to do a voice recording and I’m really excited. I feel it’s going well!
Young Participant
Today I feel More confident in what I was doing. I felt happy and excited about filming.
Young Participant
To view the films from this project please visit our digital library.
Poetic Licence - a digital storytelling project
Participant writing poetry (c) Sophie Verhagen / Geffrye Museum
This free creative project brought objects in the Geffrye to life with an exciting blend of poetry, photography and sound. Participants aged 14-24 had the opportunity to work alongside a professional poet, photographer and sound technicians from Chocolate Films in addition to museum staff. They wrote, performed and recorded poems inspired by their favourite objects from the Museum’s collection and took photographs of these objects within the period rooms. Participants then learned how to edit the audio and images together to create a unique digital story, which they could take home. These were screened at a celebratory event at the close of the project. The poets are looking forward to returning to the museum to perform their work live in the New Year.
I have enjoyed talking/learning about England and the differences of culture, textiles and designs through the ages.
Young participant
I enjoyed the recording process of the poems as I was stretched to full performing potential. I also enjoyed using Final Cut [editing software].
Young participant
To view the digital stories from this project please visit our digital library.
Homecoming - a film-making project
Participant filming in our Almshouse (c) Spencer Griffiths / Geffrye Museum
In the summer of 2010, we ran a creative film-making project for young people aged 14-24. Participants worked with museum staff and Chocolate Films for eight days to produce, direct, film and edit their own short films which were shown at a screening in the museum. The films were inspired by objects from the Geffrye Museum's collection, investigated the theme of home in London and brought participants’ own object stories to life.
It was interesting, interactive, informative. It was fun and I learned a lot.
Young participant
I enjoyed everything. I really enjoyed the filming and learning how to use everything. Also the objects, how to handle them and actually getting to film in the rooms.
Young participant
To view the films from this project please visit our digital library.
The Green Room
Students from the UCL Institute of Archaeology
In 2010, as part of the Stories of the World: London programme, 21 students from UCL Institute of Archaeology worked alongside museum staff on The Green Room project.
During the project the students explored the history of the almshouse gardens and the connections to other countries and cultures that are represented by the various plants and herbs in the gardens. The students produced learning and web resources, planned and managed events, assisted with marketing and communications, and created interpretative displays for the gardens.
Animate! - an animation workshop
Participants learning how to use the equipment (c) Olivia Hemingway / Geffrye Museum
As part of the March Madness Family Day we ran a half-day animation workshop for young people aged 14 - 24. Using the museums' collection as inspiration, 9 young participants worked with Chocolate Films to create 4 short animated films.These films were then screened in the Museum's Reading Room to a packed audience at the end of the day. Our V50 intensive volunteers helped in the programming of this workshop by designing the trail which inspired the animated films.The V50s worked with staff in both the Curatorial and Education departments to devise this trail.
I liked it and I found out how stop motion movies are made.
Young participant
To view the films from this project please visit our digital library.
Director's Cut - a film-making project
Participant animating an object in our collection (c) Em Fitzgerald / Geffrye Museum
Over February half-term 2010 young people aged 14 - 24 took part in a free 5-day film making project. Participants worked with Chocolate Films, an innovative production company, to produce, direct, film and edit their own short films.They selected and researched objects from the Geffrye Museum's collection and created their own object stories which they turned into films which they took home.
Had a good laugh, learnt valuable film making skills on camera, editing and learnt composition is key!
Young participant
I really enjoyed the filming and learning how to use everything. Also the objects, how to handle them and actually getting to film in the rooms.
Young participant
To view the films from this project please visit our digital library.
Further Information on all projects
These projects are part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad programme Stories of the World which is led by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) in partnership with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG). You can read more about the Geffrye's involvement with Stories of the World: London here.
For further information about Chocolate Films
For further information about Stories of the World
For further information about the Cultural Olympiad
For furher information about London 2012