Ulster Folk & Transport Museum : Learning : Community Relations : Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland

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Community Relations

MORE THAN A MUSEUM

The award winning Ulster Folk and Transport Museum illustrates the way of life and the traditions past and present of the people of the north of Ireland. Over 30,000 students participate each year in a series of innovative educational programmes.

Diversity Weave Drawing

The Museum's Education Department, has developed in line with the curriculum, community relations programmes, which help students explore their own and each others identity, heritage and culture. The core values of equity, diversity and inter-dependence have been used as the basis for these programmes offering the opportunity to learn more about their own culture and traditions and those of others.

Thanks to Yvonne Nailor, Irish School of Ecumenics, for her permission to use the cartoon taken from the publication, Moving Beyond Sectarianism.

New Programmes for Key Stage 2 & 3

First contact - an ice breaking session using interactive games to assist students to learn more about each other, highlighting areas of commonality and difference. This can be facilitated in the Museum or in school.
Two sides of the story - (KS2) a workshop which uses a familiar story to illustrate how we can make judgements based on hearing one version of an event. In small groups students discuss how this can affect both parties involved and the wider group.
Who do you think you are? - this workshop involves games, discussion and small groups to explore how identity is formed and discover which elements constitute our culture. The session ends with the production of a diversity weave which highlights all the aspects of life in Northern Ireland.
A 20th century love story - the true story of a mixed mariage between William and Winnie is told to students. The session is peppered with group discussions while symbols representing elements of the couples' life are explained to the group as the story unfolds.
Faithfully Yours - the 3 churches within the Museum are used by students to compare and contrast the buildings, artefacts and symbols of different denominations.
Ignorance is bliss - an interactive workshop where students are introduced to the concept and socialisation of prejudice and how it impacts on society.
Combating Conflict - using creative thinking activities, students identify types of conflict from the playground to the wider community and the impact of aggressive behaviour on individuals. In small groups, students analyse a given situation and discuss ways to resolve the conflict. The result is then presented to the wider group. Throughout the session students consider the interdependence of individuals on each other.

The interactive classroom sessions, which last between 1-2 hours, are led by the Museum's experienced community relations and professionally trained staff and can incorporate a visit to the Open Air Museum. Living history, people's stories, exhibit buildings and artefacts are used to enable students of all ages to come into contact with different aspects of heritage through our innovative learning programmes. For further information on the new Community Relations Programmes and for bookings please contact the Museum's Education Department on (028) 9039 5094 or e-mail Madeline McGreevy.

The Museum's 76-bed residential centre, located in the Town area of the Museum provides the ideal environment for groups to avail of an intensive programme of activities, tailor-made to suit their specific requirements. For more information and bookings please contact the Residential Co-ordinator on (028) 9039 5097.

ULSTER FOLK & TRANSPORT MUSEUM

Community Relations