The War Childhood Museum hosted a symposium titled “Educational Activities in the Museum: New Approaches and Perspectives” on October 17 and 18, 2024, with 27 participants from Bosnia-Herzegovina and the region. The event featured presentations and workshops from leading experts in the field of museology, focusing on innovative and inclusive educational practices in museums. A special emphasis was placed on inclusivity, particularly in working with persons with disabilities, highlighting how museums can create accessible spaces that foster participation and engagement for all individuals, regardless of their abilities.
The symposium was initiated and organized in collaboration with Anida Manko, the first recipient of the “Lejla Hairlahović-Hušić” scholarship.
Expert Sessions at the Symposium
The symposium began with a keynote presentation by Dragan Kiurski from the National Museum of Kikinda, Serbia, who discussed the role of museum theater as an interpretive tool and educational resource. Kiurski traced the evolution of museum theater from the 19th to the 21st century, highlighting its educational potential and the importance of visitor engagement with dramatic forms.
Anida Manko presented two sessions: “The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Concept in Museums” and “UDL Resources in the Museum.” Manko emphasized how UDL principles, rooted in inclusivity, can enhance museum education by creating equal learning opportunities for all. She highlighted how UDL prepares materials, methods, and exhibitions to be universally accessible, ensuring that everyone, including persons with disabilities, can engage fully. Manko also led a practical workshop where participants explored how these principles could be applied in collaboration with school curricula.
Aida Vežić, Director of the Balkan Museum Network, shared examples of projects and activities that enhance museum accessibility and strengthen their educational role. Her session, Examples of Activities from the Balkan Museum Network, provided insights into how museums can become more inclusive and rooted in accessibility as a core value.
Amina Šurković, Archive Coordinator at the War Childhood Museum discussed how inclusive museum activities challenge stereotypes about people on the move in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially since 2018. Šurković shared experiences from projects like “Educational Visits to the War Childhood Museum,” which fostered empathy through creative workshops, and highlighted collaborations with organizations like the Jesuit Refugee Service. Despite challenges such as language barriers, she emphasized the transformative role museums can play.
Aida Šarac Berbić’s presentation focused on the role of art-based and multisensory museum activities in fostering personal development and social inclusion. She also showcased a series of programs she implemented in the National Gallery of Bosnia and Herzegovina, such as the ArtSee app, which enhances accessibility and engagement for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Merima Ražanica, coordinator of the War Childhood Museum’s educational programs, led a workshop on Creative Methodologies for Developing Empathy and Understanding in Museums. This interactive session introduced participants to Augusto Boal’s image theater techniques, encouraging creative expression and the use of bodies in groups to explore historical events, sites and objects as well as memories and experiences in connection to diverse museum collections of the participants.
Museum educators from other museums in Bosnia and Herzegovina held a session where they presented best practices from their institutions and exchanged experiences.
Participants’ Impressions
“What interests me most are museum education and pedagogy, and how to convey them to the youngest audiences. As you know, the Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina deals with a very heavy subject—the 1992-95 war. We are always seeking new ways to engage in museum education without presenting history to children in a burdensome way, but rather to present what we preserve in the museum through play and different perspectives,” – emphasized Emina Čalija from the Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Similarly, Alen Nuhanović from the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina stated:
“This will definitely be useful to me in future programs that I will design, allowing me to incorporate some of the ideas, novelties, and innovations that I had the opportunity to learn about here, and to see how I can apply and implement them in my own practice.”
The symposium concluded with a roundtable discussion where participants shared their experiences and discussed future directions in museum pedagogy. This event reaffirmed the War Childhood Museum’s commitment to advancing inclusive educational practices and its role as a vital resource for both educators and the wider community.
