Fondazione Santagata on behalf of the Associazione Abbonamento Musei, is collaborating on action research as part of the “Anita. L’infanzia prima” project, a strategic programme of the Fondazione Cariplo.

Context

There is a substantial body of scientific evidence confirming and demonstrating the crucial importance of the first three years of life and early childhood for the development of human potential. Cultural experiences are an integral part of this development; they are a fundamental and vital component, providing the fertile ground on which a child’s brain and psychosocial architecture are built during the early years of life.

They continue to be important throughout early childhood, supporting the development of social and symbolic skills. The role of cultural experience extends significantly to museums, libraries, and cultural institutions, which are seen as active environments capable of supporting child development from the earliest years of life; in order to fulfill this role, training is crucial.

Early childhood projects fit within the broader context of accessibility in a highly strategic way, transforming the concept from the mere removal of physical barriers to a form of holistic cultural inclusion.

Objectives

The project “Anita. Early Childhood First” aims to support the well-being of children aged 0 to 6, with the goal of promoting both individual developmental pathways and the well-being of the community. One of its objectives is to tackle social inequalities in order to ensure equal access to culture for children aged 0–6, transforming museums into inclusive environments that are structurally welcoming for them.

Expected results/impact

The project aims to:

-Build a detailed and up-to-date overview of work carried out in museums across Lombardy and the provinces of Novara and Verbano-Cusio-Ossola in relation to early childhood. This will be achieved through a mapping questionnaire on museums in the area and their access conditions, as well as a series of qualitative in-depth analyses conducted through interviews and on-site observations. Particular attention will be given to available services, initiatives designed for children and families, and the pricing policies adopted by museum institutions.

-Conduct an exploratory study on the role of national and international museums, aimed at identifying established models, experiences, and strategies for early childhood (ages 0–6). The study includes the analysis of well-established national programs, an in-depth examination of relevant museum experiences in other regions, and the study of a comparable territorial system. At the international level, it involves the selection and analysis of case studies and cooperation initiatives, with the goal of identifying replicable approaches and supporting the development of a more accessible, inclusive, and high-quality cultural offering for early childhood.

-Develop a capacity-building pathway to strengthen the skills of professionals and support the replicability and scalability of the identified models.

-Develop a monitoring tool aimed at assessing whether, compared to the initial mapping, museums have identified any changes over the course of the project, and at understanding which changes have had the greatest impact on the research outcomes, also in light of the capacity-building activities carried out during the project.

Partner

Abbonamento Musei (client)
Fondazione Cariplo (funder)