The Museum of East Anglian Life in Suffolk will become a multi-sensory attraction, helping children to understand where food comes from and the impact of our choices past, present and future.
The museum, whose new name will take effect from March 2022, will continue to develop learning experiences for children through cross-curricular exploration of the site and hands-on learning sessions.
Museum director, Jenny Cousins, said: “We think that it is important that we reflect the population, issues and needs of 21st century Britain. Museums shouldn’t be preserved in aspic. Food is culture and it is surprising to us that there is no museum of food in the UK already.”
“Everyone should be able to see themselves reflected somewhere in what we display, collect and programme and we want to help people to appreciate their own power to effect change.”
Recent developments behind-the-scenes at the museum have included a new ‘grow area’ at the heart of the site, the planting of an orchard, the creation of a small farm area and the restoration of a windmill.
Other developments in the pipeline include a collaboration with Our Isles (a project which celebrates the artistry of rural life in the British Isles) and a collective of artists, chefs, farmers, historians and specialists which will see a new exhibition, Hedgerow, open at the museum in summer 2022, as well as a new sculpture trail.
Attractions for pupils at the 75-acre site include a medieval barn, a watermill and a walled garden, as well as carts, a river trail, machinery and an animal area, all of which aim to bring the history of food and its processes alive by teaching skills and sharing heritage.
Curriculum links
The museum’s range of collections, buildings and landscapes can support work across the curriculum including Science, Geography, History, English, Maths, Spiritual Moral Social Cultural (SMSC) and Environmental Projects. It is open for educational visits throughout the year.
Pre-booked school groups are free of charge, tailored-made sessions may incur a charge and require a minimum of two weeks’ notice. For more information or to book, email education@eastanglianlife.org.uk or visit www.eastanglianlife.org.uk.
