The University of Lapland develops museum education for children with a 400,000-euro project

At the University of Lapland’s Faculty of Art and Design, a two-year project has been launched to develop museum pedagogical content and curricula for preschoolers in Finland, Norway, Italy and Romania. The project is funded by the Erasmus+ programme with a budget of 400,000 euros.

In early October, the Early Education in Museums for an Inclusive Future (MusEdu) project was launched at the University of Lapland’s Faculty of Art and Design. In this two-year international project, museum pedagogical content and curricula are designed and created for preschoolers in Finland, Norway, Italy and Romania. The extensive project network includes museums, universities and organisations providing education and early childhood education services from all the countries participating in the project.

“Museums are our shared property, and we hope to strengthen children’s feeling that museums are meant for them. Our goal is to overcome language barriers and geographical distances, while supporting the learning, creativity and active citizenship of preschoolers”, says Art History Professor Anniina Koivurova, responsible leader of the project from the University of Lapland’s Faculty of Art and Design.

During the project, museum pedagogical contents are designed and delivered with consideration for physical, linguistic, social and economic perspectives. The museum pedagogical contents are prepared in cooperation with early childhood educators, while acknowledging the needs and wishes of children.

“We develop the contents together with our Finnish, Italian, Norwegian and Romanian project partners. Our partners focus on different things, which allows us to draw on their individual expertise and experiences”, Professor Koivurova explains.

The project applies both design and systems thinking.

“An example of this is the Gigamapping tool we are going to use at the beginning of the project. With the tool, we can extensively map the challenges related to providing educational content in a museum setting, in line with the principles of systems thinking. Based on the mapping, we can identify what kind of pedagogical materials we need to develop”, Professor Koivurova mentions.

New materials and training for early childhood educators

To promote museum-based learning, the MusEdu project creates an innovative, art-based early childhood education curriculum. In the project, a digital open-source resource bank is produced, and it will contain virtual exhibitions, success stories and a gamified museum adventure to complement the curriculum.

The project seeks to reach different early childhood education stakeholders, including cultural organisations supporting early childhood education. During the project, educational events are arranged for early childhood education teachers and other participants involved in the project. Educators receive training in museum-based learning methods to enhance their professional competence.

“Through these measures, we aim to promote inclusive and sustainable education. The methods strengthen preschoolers’ skills in order to develop their creativity, self-confidence and sense of responsibility. Our goal is to support collaboration between schools and museums”, says Professor Koivurova.

Special emphasis on supporting North Sámi language and culture in Finland

In Finland, the project focuses on the long distances in Finnish Lapland, as well as supporting minority language and culture.

The University of Lapland’s collaboration partners in Finland are the Rovaniemi Art Museum and the North Sámi language nest Davvisámegiela giellabeassi. The language nest is a kindergarten group for children from Indigenous or minority language backgrounds, where North Sámi is spoken with the children.

In the project, the educational content and materials are designed and developed together by project workers and art education students from the University of Lapland, the Rovaniemi Art Museum and the North Sámi language nest. Their goal is to support children’s Sámi cultural identity. Furthermore, information on Sámi art, culture and linguistic minorities are offered internationally in the project.

When the project ends, the learning materials are published online, and they are translated into English and North Sámi.

MusEdu project

• Early Education in Museums for an Inclusive Future (MusEdu) 2025–2027
• Organisations carrying out the project:
  • University of Lapland’s Faculty of Art and Design (main coordinator of the project)
  • Oslo School of Architecture and Design (Norway)
  • PACO Design Collaborative (Italy): international, design-based network focused on design and education to promote social innovation, sustainable development, and community building
  • All Grow Association (Romania): a non-profit organisation that aims to empower children and youth, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to grow, learn and have a responsible impact in collaboration with surrounding communities
• Project partners include organisations providing museum and educational services that work together with local pre-schools and kindergartens:
  • Finland: Rovaniemi Art Museum (city of Rovaniemi) and North Sámi language nest Davvisámegiela giellabeassi
  • Italy: Scuola Dell’infanzia Paritaria ”Maria Bambina” kindergarten
  • Romania: Gradinita cu Program Normal Piticot pre-school that is part of Episcop Dionisie Romano comprehensive school
  • Norway: Museene i Akershus (MiA), a collaboration network of 21 museums. Linderud Gård, a museum that is part of the MiA network, is a key museum partner of the project. The project also collaborates with two kindergartens located next to the Linderud Gård museum.
• The total budget is €400,000, of which the University of Lapland’s share is €100,075
• Funder: The national office for the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme, operating under the Finnish National Agency for Education

Further information:

Art History Professor Anniina Koivurova, responsible leader of the project, tel. +358 40 578 0878, firstname.lastname@ulapland.fi