Children's museum - Herman's den

Project Number: SLO2

Country: Slovenia

Institutions/Departments: Museum of Recent History Celje (Muzej novejše zgodovine Celje)

Publication/Material: https://www.muzej-nz-ce.si/en/programs/hermans-creative-workshops/

Project leader and contact person: Museum of Recent History Celje

Duration: Since 1995 - ongoing

Short Description:

The children’s museum, Herman's Den opened in 1995 as an exhibition in the Museum of Contemporary History. As yet the only children’s museum in Slovenia, it focuses thematically on the cultural heritage and everyday life of people in Celje and Slovenia in general. Drawing its contents from both past and present, and presenting a broad range of material from festivities and everyday life, the museum collects, keeps, researches and exhibits Slovenian mobile cultural heritage.

The museum houses two collections related to children and their lives, and comprises a set of work stations that engage children in creative activities. Through diverse pedagogical methods and activities, such as a Children’s Flea Market, Summer in Herman’s Theatre and Herman's creative workshops, the museum aims to help kindergarten and school children discover and understand the world around them. Children are guided through the museum by Herman the Fox, the all-present museum mascot, who appears in the storehouse, the play room, the gallery, the confectionery and many other places. The museum also offers temporary exhibitions of contemporary life, to strengthen children’s awareness of the importance of cultural heritage and the need to preserve it. Since 2014, the museum has hosted a permanent toy exhibition, the Toy Den, with toys from Slovenian and other- national regions. The museum focuses on children’s rights and obligations and has since 2014, been adapted for the sensory and physically impaired.

Implementation: Since 1995

Target Group(s), age & context: teachers, educators in kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, and boarding schools; children ages 0-12

Approach/Method: Lecture series

Type: Seminars

Funding: The Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Slovenia and the European Social Fund

The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.