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History of the Children’s Museum

 
   

History of the Children’s Museum

While I was studying psychology at Harvard (USA), I had the opportunity to be in touch with Boston’s “Children’s Museum” and to watch a large number of children. This Museum for Children between 4 and 12 greatly impressed me and, once back in Belgium, I resolved to create a similar one.


Steps leading to the creation and the evolution of the Children’s Museum.


  
1.
I first set up a non-profit organization called “Le Musée des Enfants-Het Kindermuseum” with 6 other members.
2. I then looked for premises, preferably empty, in Brussels. Having failed to find this, I looked for a house to let.
3. I rented for 3 years the house in which the Museum was established during 10 years, 32 rue Tenbosch (a house which was meant to be demolished).
4. I then started trying to obtain, from private companies and from individuals,

- on one hand, the means to pay the rental and the outfitting of the Museum (management and facilitators all being volunteers)
- on the other hand : equipment, modules, objects to be exhibited.

5. The companies and individuals contacted reacted with enthusiasm to the project of creation of the Museum. They helped us not only by participating financially, but also by giving us labour help and equipment. The American bank Morgan Guarantee Trust, among others, was particularly generous.
6. On 6th October 1976, the Museum opened its doors. It was immediately a great success: on opening day, there were around 200 visitors, French- and Flemish-speaking, since the Museum is bilingual.
7. During the first years, the Museum changed its exhibitions each year, the themes dealing with various aspects of everyday life.
8. Starting in 1978, the Museum decided to create more elaborate exhibitions which were maintained during 2 years.
9.

Since 1978, all the facilitators are paid, the management remaining largely voluntary.
10. In 1980, the Museum created its first large exhibition, taking up all available space, i.e. 550 m2.

11. Since 1985, the Museum obtained first one, then progressively up to 6 TCT (now ACS) contracts (contracts paid in large part by the national employment office)
12. In 1986, the Museum moved to 15 rue du Bourgmestre, in a house belonging to the Ixelles administration.
13. Since 1986, the Museum has centered its exhibitions more and more on “psychological” themes: better knowledge of oneself and of others and of the world around us. These exhibitions stay in place for four school years.
14. Since 1992, the Museum has sold some of its exhibitions or their know-how abroad (Portugal and France).
 

Kathleen Lippens
President
 
 

 

  
     
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Le Musée des Enfants
rue du Bourgmestre, 15 - 1050 Bruxelles
Tél.: 00 32 2 640.01.07 - Fax.: 00 32 2 646.80.07