Child Curators: Reimagining the Temporary Festival Exhibitions at the Van Museum by the Children’s Advisory Board

This article presents a case study examining how the temporary exhibition Daily Life in Urartu, organized at the Van Museum as part of the Türkiye Culture Route Festivals, was transformed by the contributions of a Children's Advisory Board established at the museum. By critically examining traditional curatorial practices, the study investigates how children's active participation in exhibition design, text development, and the creation of interactive elements enhanced the exhibition's accessibility, educational value, and participatory dimensions. Findings reveal that feedback obtained from children enriched the exhibition narrative and strengthened the museum’s social connection with its audience. This research highlights the significance of child-centered curatorial models for sustainable museum practices and inclusive cultural policies. The study group consisted of 12 children selected from 4 middle schools based on their suitability for participating in the activities. A qualitative research methodology was employed, including observation, focus group interviews, and content analysis. Rather than testing predetermined hypotheses, the study aimed to develop an in-depth understanding of the process and to reveal participants’ perspectives through semi-structured tools. A contemporary museum can demonstrate that an art exhibition may be structured through curatorial practices involving children who are not considered experts but are individuals beginning to experience and interpret life from unique perspectives. Furthermore, such practices reject the monopolization of knowledge, distribute authority, make historical events more understandable for children, and transform culture into a shared space of negotiation accessible to everyone. Through the practical implementation conducted with children at the Van Museum, this study also yielded positive outcomes in preventing illegal excavations and the illicit trade in artifacts in the region, while simultaneously contributing to the development of children's artistic abilities at an early age.