Maker Station and Understanding Materials Display

at Springfield Museums

About

Springfield Museums offered a hands-on maker station alongside the exhibition, celebrating the tactile and creative legacy of adornment. Visitors engaged in activities, such as crafting chenille stem jewelry, contributing to a community weaving project, and making rubbings of Aztec stamps for display. On select family days, a museum educator facilitated mask-decorating sessions for children, encouraging joyful self-expression through a type of body adornment made popular by COVID precautions.

Intended Outcome

Staff at Springfield Museums expected most exhibition visitors to interact with the Maker Station and Understanding Materials Display. By doing so, all visitors—including families, people who are Blind and low vision, and Spanish-language speakers—would feel welcome and part of the museum community.

Actual Outcome

All 18,475 exhibition visitors interacted with the in-gallery activations and noted that not only families and people who are Blind or have low vision benefited from the “please touch” moments in the museum. The interactive sparked exciting conversations throughout the gallery.

Advice Post Project

Consider incorporating family-friendly maker stations and tactile displays into exhibitions, as these elements can significantly enhance visitor engagement across all age groups and abilities through inclusive learning.