Wakefield Museums and Castles

Suzie Cross is an artist and creative facilitator. Suzie coordinates the Youth Forum. She says: 

“The Youth Forum gives young people the chance to find their voice, grow in confidence, and gain skills that reach far beyond the classroom. Their ideas and contributions have been invaluable in shaping how museums can better connect with young people. I’m so proud to see how this experience not only transforms their lives, but also strengthens the future of our museums.” 

Eleanor, one of our Youth Forum members, talks about one of the sessions:

"In July's session, we talked about diversity and what it means. We spent time thinking about what makes people unique and individual. We also got to try out some visual impairment glasses. These helped us to understand what it might be like to be blind or partially sighted. 

In the session, I shared my thoughts and experiences of being disabled with the rest of the group. We talked about some of the difficulties I face and what is helpful for me in places like museums. For example, I shared how helpful it is for interactive items to be in easy reach for a wheelchair-user.

We tried out some of the accessibility resources in Pontefract Museum. We also talked about how the museums could improve accessibility for a range of people."

André, one of our Youth Forum members, tells us about one of the sessions:  

"Giving ideas while learning and having fun? Yes… it’s possible!

In September’s session, we shared ideas for activities that would engage young people. The session had a lively atmosphere. We brainstormed activities that could attract a younger audience. These included hands-on exhibitions, immersive experiences and social media campaigns.   

We started by sharing personal stories. This was a highlight of the session for me. It helped us to connect with each other. The stories also sparked ideas. For example, one member told us about their talent for painting. This led to a discussion about art workshops in museums. Another member shared their interest in podcasts. This led to discussions about digital content and the possibility of photography competitions.  

It was clear from the session how important it is to involve young voices in cultural spaces. We also saw how creativity and learning can come together to create vibrant places. We believe our ideas would help to bring a new generation to the museums."

Huma, one of our Youth Forum members, tells us about a recent session:

"In November’s session, we helped to plan the 2025 Youth Takeover Day for Wakefield Museum. Youth Takeover Day aims to encourage more young people to engage with museums. Young people can take over jobs carried out in museums for the day.

We heard from Rose, a learning officer at Wakefield Museums and Castles. We also heard from some young people who had participated in last year's Takeover Day. It was the first time I had heard about this annual event. Others in the group were also new to it. It was interesting to learn what previous participants did on the day. We thought about what we could change or improve.

We completed a quiz on how we’d like the Takeover Day to look. This data was helpful when we later split into pairs to have more focused discussions. Each discussion centred on specific points. We discussed the development stage, the location, and the activities we’d like to do on the day. The session was an exciting chance for us to shape the 2025 Youth Takeover Day. We can’t wait to see the outcome!"