Museum of London
Project
Our Time - Museum of London
Client
Museum of London
Project Team
Asif Khan Architects
Location
City of London
Shaping a new cultural destination, even as an established museum, can be challenging. Visitor needs evolve and change over time, with new audiences and creative partners seeking meaningful engagement.
Beyond the Box was commissioned by the Museum of London to design a series of creative engagement workshops for their new museum project, "Our Time." Collaborating closely with the museum’s partnership, curatorial, audience, and interpretation teams, our objective was to push boundaries and enrich the museum’s vision, in partnership with Asif Khan Architects.
The London Museum Vision
The Museum of London is transforming into the new "London Museum," a landmark project housed in the historic General Market buildings in West Smithfield. This reimagined museum aims to represent London’s diverse population and rich history, offering an inclusive space for all.
Our brief was to design and facilitate themed insight and exploration workshops involving key creative partners and future audiences identified by the museum.
These workshops were integrated into the RIBA Stage 2 concept design, shaping the developing design and future engagement plans. The workshops explored themes such as Collections and Aspirations, Opportunities and Constraints, Objects and Media, Performance and Events, and Future Audiences.
Exploration, Connection, Interaction.
Creative Partners Workshop Series
We collaborated with diverse creative partners, including:
LGBTQIA+ arts organisation Duckie
New media publication Gal-Dem
Islington Play Association focusing on adventure play for children
Nutkhut, known for imaginative performance and installations
Diverse City, an inclusive circus performance company
Using our signature creative engagement approach, we facilitated workshops that produced key insights and creative mediums to shape the concept design and encourage further dialogue.
Future Audience Workshop Series
We also designed focus group workshops targeting two key demographics: individuals aged 55+ and those aged 16-25, both identified by the museum as the least engaged.
These workshops took place over three sessions, focusing on direct engagement to understand the needs, aspirations, and desires for the new museum space.
Results and Impact
Shaping the Design: The outcomes from our workshops directly influenced the RIBA Stage 2 concept design for the "Our Time" space.
Inclusive Engagement: We successfully engaged a wide range of creative partners and future audiences, ensuring diverse perspectives were incorporated into the design process.
Empowerment and Voice: Participants from various communities felt empowered and heard, with their input playing a crucial role in shaping the museum’s future.
Highlights
Innovative Collaborations: Our collaboration with unique creative partners like Duckie, Gal-Dem, and Nutkhut brought fresh perspectives and enriched the engagement process.
Creative Outputs: We produced creative mediums, such as zines, to aid in concept design and ongoing conversations.
Direct Audience Feedback: The focus group workshops provided invaluable insights from underrepresented demographics, informing the museum’s approach to inclusivity and accessibility