I visited 'the world's most joyful museum,' and it reminded me that creativity isn't just for kids

Paige Bruton

2024-07-27T09:52:02Z

The main foyer of the Young Victoria and Albert Museum. It has an open plan floor, ringed by the exhibits over two levels, with a large spiral staircase and cafe in the centre. — The Young Victoria & Albert Museum is located in Bethnal Green, London. Paige Bruton/Business Insider

The Young Victoria and Albert Museum recently won a "Museum of the Year" Award.
The museum reopened after a three-year, $16.8 million redevelopment.
The award includes a $155,000 prize and recognizes the museum's dedication to creativity.

The Young Victoria and Albert Museum in London describes itself as "the world's most joyful museum." In July, it was crowned "Museum of the Year" by nonprofit, Art Fund.

The award is given annually to a museum or gallery in the UK and includes a £120,000 ($155,000) prize.

After closing for three years as part of a £13 million ($16.8 million) redevelopment initiative, the Young V&A now includes three permanent exhibitions: "Play," "Imagine," and "Design."

Entry to the museum is free, except for its temporary ticketed exhibitions, which currently costs £9 ($11.70) for adults and children aged four and above.

I traveled to the Young V&A to determine if it really is the "world's most joyful museum."

Located on a busy road in East London, the Young V&A has a mighty presence from the sidewalk.

Outside the museum, which has large blue "V&A" lettering, and includes three arches of red brick in a contemporary Germanic style. — A view of the museum from the street. Paige Bruton/Business Insider

Upon entering, the museum offered multiple stations where parents can park their strollers, maximizing accessibility for those with young children.

About a dozen strollers are parked in a section off area of the museum. — Several stroller parking points allow parents and children to move around the Young V&A freely. Paige Bruton/Business Insider

It was clear that the museum prioritized accessibility. There were elevators and ramps throughout the museum, as well as large print and audio transcription guides for visitors with impaired vision and hearing difficulties.

A white shelf holds booklets of 'Large Print Guides and Audio Transcriptions.' — A shelf on the door of the exhibition entrance holds large print guides and transcriptions of audio features. Paige Bruton/Business Insider

Entering the "Japan: Myths to Manga" temporary exhibition, you immediately see that maximizing color was a priority for the designers.

The entrance to the "Japan: Myths to Manga" exhibition which had a large, circular carpet with the map of Japan and several cases holding artefacts. — The exhibition looks at how Japan's folklore and landscape have influenced its art and technology. Paige Bruton/Business Insider

The exhibition was interactive, with Japanese origami-making stations and several traditional musical instruments for kids to try.

The "Japan: Myths to Manga" exhibition with several people looking at the displays. A wooden umbrella creature is in the centre of the room. — Visitors looking at the displays, which include a wooden umbrella "yokai" at the centre, a supernatural creature in Japanese stories. Paige Bruton/Business Insider

It also offered something for adults, displaying work by traditional and more contemporary Japanese artists.

A woodblock print of a monstrous fish attacking a small wooden boat. — A woodblock print of a fish attacking a small wooden boat. Paige Bruton/Business Insider

As well as showing established Japanese artists and designers, it also displayed work created by children all over the world, empowering young visitors to get creative.

A display showing a hand-drawn Pokémon catalogue by an eight year-old school girl in Ireland. — A hand-drawn Pokémon catalog created by an eight-year-old Irish schoolgirl. Paige Bruton/Business Insider

I was impressed by the content of the exhibition.

A woman and several others are stood looking at exhibits displayed in front of a bright green wall. — A woman looks at a display associated with Japan's connection to its forests. Paige Bruton/Business Insider

The curators had thought carefully about how to balance information and artwork that is interesting for older kids and adults, while including exercises and activities made to keep the attention of younger visitors.

Three mannequins wearing costumes inspired by Japanese characters and fashion, including a 'Lolita' dress. — Three mannequins wearing costumes inspired by Japanese characters and fashion. Paige Bruton/Business Insider

A gift shop at the end of the exhibitions sold plenty of Japanese toys for kids to take home too.

Pokémon plushies and other toys in the gift shop, on a shelf. — Iconic toy Sylvanian Families was originally launched in Japan nearly 40 years ago. Paige Bruton/Business Insider

The next stop was the "Design Gallery," which explained the invention stories behind products like scooters.

Design gallery displaying items like scooters, toasters, learning aids and chairs. — The "Design" Gallery displays historical and contemporary everyday items that have in some way improved human lives. Paige Bruton/Business Insider

Every item displayed in this exhibition was created to solve a human problem. These light shades are made of an organic material that's designed to be sustainable.

White-coloured lighting in the "Design" exhibition made with organic material. — Light shades made from mycelium and timber, designed by Sebastian Cox and Ninela Ivanova. Paige Bruton/Business Insider

The exhibit was informative and inspires young people to take the information and use it creativity. There were also multiple spaces for kids to draw and design.

Colored pencils, a stencil and a design prompt to create your own "yokai", or Japanese mythical creature, on a white table covered in children's drawings. — A design table allows where kids could draw their own creations. Paige Bruton/Business Insider

The different exhibitions were tailored to children of varying ages, making it easier for parents with more than one child. The mini-museum is a space exclusively for babies to learn through play.

The arch entrance to the "Mini Museum" which is for children under two years old. — The mini-museum is specially curated for toddlers. Paige Bruton/Business Insider

The museum prioritizes 'touch' as a method of learning and engagement. The Young V&A's "Play" exhibition helps improve motor skills, such as at the sand table.

Two children play with green sand in a spinning sandpit. — A spinning sandpit in the exhibit. Paige Bruton/Business Insider

After looking at all the exhibitions, it was time to test the food. To ensure young visitors were being fed well, I ordered the Jungle Safari kids meal for £6 ($7.80) and an oat latte for £3.65 ($4.70).

The Young V&A kids meal on a tray which includes a cheese (or ham) sandwich, cloudy apple juice, animal-shaped potato chips, and a banana. — The Young V&A kids meal which includes: a cheese (or ham) sandwich, cloudy apple juice, animal-shaped potato chips, and a banana. Paige Bruton/Business Insider

Even though the kids meal is meant for young children with limited palates, I thought the cheese sandwich with one thin slice of cheddar was lackluster.

The opened cheese sandwich with one thin slice of cheese and butter on my tray. — The opened cheese sandwich with one thin slice of cheese and butter. Paige Bruton/Business Insider

I also had a slice of carrot cake, which was priced at £4.50 ($5.80). It was moist and the frosting was delicious.

A rectangular slice of carrot cake on a blue plate. A fork also holds some of the cake on it. — The carrot cake had a cream cheese frosting and was decorated with nuts and edible flowers. Paige Bruton/Business Insider

The museum felt joyful and deserving of its title. I appreciated that the curators had gone out of their way to ensure that different exhibitions were accessible for children of all ages.

The objects and explanations displayed seemed to inspire young people to use the information creatively. I particularly liked that children were always encouraged to touch the displays and make designs of their own based on what they had seen.

For me, the "most joyful museum in the world" sparked joy from watching children explore their curiosity and learn from the world around them.

I left feeling hopeful and inspired by the human capability for creativity.

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