The document discusses the role of youth forums in museums, using the Duchamp&Sons youth forum at the Whitechapel Gallery in London as a case study. The forum involved 30 young people aged 15-21 in collaborative art projects with contemporary artists. Interviews with forum members found that it provided a space for creative discussion and skills development outside of traditional education. Both young people and the document argue it is important for museums to have youth forums to engage new audiences and make art more inclusive and accessible.

1. Echoes of tomorrow
The voice of young people in museums
Carolina Silva | Paul Crook
Goldsmiths College | Whitechapel Gallery
Museumnext | Geneva 2015

2. What is the role of young people
in today’s museums?

3. | New Museology| Visitor-centred ethos| Inclusive museums| Misrepresented audiences|

4. | Young people| Independent visitors| Long-term programmes| Youth Forums| Peer-led |

5. Young Tate
Tate Liverpool
1994
Explainers
Exploratorium San Francisco
1969
MOCA Mentors
LAMOCA
1992 Duchamp&Sons
Whitechapel Gallery
2008

6. Youth Forum: Duchamp&Sons

7. | Whitechapel Gallery | East London | Youth Programme| Youth Curator | Youth Forum |

8. | Duchamp&Sons | Marcel Duchamp | Local Area | 30 young people | 15 to 21 years |

9. | Collaborative projects | Contemporary artists | Practice-based | Exhibitions | Events |

10. Why did you join Duchamp&Sons?

11. “I picked [Duchamp&Sons] particularly because it’s not really, in a sense,
educational, it’s more of a kind of place where you know you can debate
about art, you can talk about art but it doesn’t have to be kind of
restricted in terms of the tone…” (Brandon, 18)

12. “I saw the blog and things were actually being done, it wasn’t just (…)
people sitting and talking about what they wanted to do instead of doing
it. (…) Also I was applying for jobs and I knew I [wanted] to be doing
something creative.” (Jenny, 23)

13. How is it to be part of a youth forum
in a contemporary art gallery?

14. “It is quite interesting. I feel like I am really part of the furniture…I quite
like it because [I feel] part of something,…you know that if you go there
you will be recognized and they will remember you…” (Inês, 21)

15. “My skills developed a lot in Duchamp&Sons, working with artists and kind
of understanding their practice and how you apply your practice to a
youth group as an artist.” (Gabby, 22)

16. Is it important for museums
to have a youth forum? Why?

17. “Yes, definitely. I think obviously it brings more audience. Like I have never
been to the gallery before (…)” (Inês, 21)

18. “Yes, because art galleries could feel quite elitist (…) it is just sort of
making [young] people feel like they are part of the gallery, it is a public
gallery, so anyone from the public can come here.” (Jenny, 23)

19. ECHOES OF TOMORROW
| Inclusive museums?
| Collaborative research?
| Youth forums?

20. Whitechapel Gallery
Youth Forum : Duchamp&Sons
http://www.whitechapelgallery.org
http://duchamp-and-sons.tumblr.com
https://twitter.com/DuchampandSons
Carolina Silva | Paul Crook
carolinasilva@gold.ac.uk | paulcrook@whitechapel.org