The article profiles the Story Museum in Oxford, a family-oriented museum designed to spark curiosity in arts and culture among children. It describes the museum's interactive galleries, including Small Worlds for under-fives, the Whispering Wood filled with fables, a temporary dragon-themed exhibition co-curated with author Cressida Cowell, and the Enchanted Library that takes visitors through the history of children's literature. The author recounts her toddler's joyful engagement with the hands-on exhibits, from playing digital Pooh sticks to exploring a Narnia-inspired wardrobe.
The Story Museum matters because it represents a successful model for making arts and culture accessible and fun for young children, countering the stereotype of museums as quiet, hands-off spaces. By encouraging touch, talk, and free play, it fosters early curiosity and positive associations with cultural institutions. This approach could help cultivate a new generation of museum-goers, bridging the gap between child-friendly play spaces and traditional art museums like the Ashmolean.