PropsBox / A new fun resource for families / Monday 14th January
Five PropsBoxes now live at Kettle’s Yard and are available for families to play with on our new Studio Sundays family drop-in workshop. They were developed by artists from Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination together with local children and families and they combine a collection of unique resources, games and props in an inviting box, easily carried.
This was not the usual approach…it was lively, more fun and there was more stuff to do. Having objects made it different. They created more interactions with the art and encouraged dialogue. It helped you communicate with the work and the artists. Normally you stand and look, so feel separate and distant, but this was like a bridging thing that helps you cross that line. ( Anna, Mother)
Children can lead their families around the collections and exhibitions with the PropsBox, sharing games, playful conversations and discussions. Everyone is encouraged to come up with ideas and make connections with the artworks and spaces through these activities.
Inventing games helped us with our own imagination. The games that were there already helped us get more ideas. Having something to touch was important. (Adrianna, Mother)
No specialist knowledge or experience is needed and there is no wrong way to play with a PropsBox – families have free reign to explore and enjoy using the PropsBox within the gallery space.
We used the dice to explore and talk about every painting. My daughter wanted to go round all of them and repeat it. We talked in detail and shared really complex conversations. (Mehrdad, Father)
There are also five PropsBoxes for families at Wysing Arts Centre so you can go and try them out there too.
www.propsbox.org.uk
