Schools and Museums Unite for Childhood: New Memorandum of Understanding in Turin

The City of Turin, ITER, and the Turin Museums Foundation have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding, with the possibility of renewal, to strengthen ties between education and museum culture. The agreement aims to promote inclusive and accessible educational experiences, especially for children aged 0-6, their families, and educational staff.

Key initiatives include:

• Training for Educators: A six-session course for nursery and kindergarten staff, curated by the Fondazione Torino Musei. Sessions will be held at various museums, including MAO, GAM, and Palazzo Madama.
• Workshops for Families: Hands-on activities linked to the REMIDA Creative Reuse Center, fostering sustainability and creative reuse. Families will participate in both museum and REMIDA-based sessions.
• Resource Sharing: ITER will provide museums access to REMIDA’s materials to incorporate waste reuse in museum labs, promoting awareness of sustainability.

The annual program will be collaboratively managed and promoted by all parties involved.

Councilor for Educational Policies, Carlotta Salerno, emphasized the importance of making children and educators active participants in cultural life, while Councilor for Culture, Rosanna Purchia, highlighted museums as spaces for immersive learning from early childhood. Fondazione Torino Musei’s Secretary General, Elisabetta Rattalino, reinforced the value of culture in stimulating creativity and critical thinking.

This initiative underscores Turin’s commitment to fostering a culturally aware and inclusive community.

Objectives of the Memorandum of Understanding

The primary aim is to create a stronger connection between educational institutions and the cultural heritage of Turin. This collaboration focuses on providing educational activities and training opportunities that integrate the city’s rich artistic and cultural resources. By doing so, it seeks to benefit educational staff, students (particularly in early childhood education), and families.

Key Components of the Agreement

1. Training Courses for Educators:
   A training program comprising six sessions is designed for educational staff from nurseries and kindergarten schools. These sessions, curated by the Fondazione Torino Musei, will delve into the city’s artistic heritage and the teaching methodologies used in civic museum laboratories. By engaging with the collections and museum spaces, educators will gain insights into how to incorporate cultural elements into their teaching.
2. Museum and Workshop Experiences:
   • The training will take place at key museum locations, starting with the MAO – Museo d’Arte Orientale and continuing at GAM – Galleria Civica d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea and Palazzo Madama – Museo Civico d’Arte Antica.
   • Parallel to these training sessions, workshops for children and families will be held. These workshops have two components: a museum visit (with a participation fee) and a follow-up session at the REMIDA Creative Reuse Center (free of charge). This approach emphasizes sustainability and creative reuse in educational experiences.
3. Creative Reuse and Sustainability:
   Through the collaboration, ITER will grant Civic Museums free access to materials from the REMIDA Center Warehouse. This initiative encourages the integration of waste materials into museum laboratory activities, promoting awareness around the circular economy, responsible consumption, and environmental sustainability.
4. Collaborative Management:
   The activities outlined in the agreement will be organized through an annual program, with all entities sharing administrative and communication responsibilities to ensure effective management and promotion.

Broader Impact

This partnership is expected to foster meaningful interactions between education and cultural institutions in Turin. By involving children, educators, and families in immersive cultural experiences, the city aims to cultivate a future generation that appreciates and values its cultural heritage. Furthermore, the focus on sustainability and creative reuse aligns with broader environmental goals and promotes responsible consumption.

Key Statements

• Carlotta Salerno, Councilor for Educational Policies: Emphasized the importance of making children, families, and educational staff active participants in the city’s cultural life, thereby investing in a more culturally aware and sensitive community.
• Rosanna Purchia, Councilor for Culture: Highlighted the role of museums as spaces for discovery and growth, stressing that early exposure to art and culture plants essential seeds for the future.
• Elisabetta Rattalino, Secretary General of Fondazione Torino Musei: Pointed out the extraordinary educational potential of art and cultural heritage, which can inspire creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking.

Conclusion

This three-year agreement is a progressive step toward strengthening the bond between education and culture in Turin. By engaging educational institutions and cultural entities in collaborative initiatives, the city is paving the way for a more inclusive and culturally enriched educational framework that benefits the entire community, starting from early childhood.