In October 2022, the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka (MMCA Sri Lanka) launched ‘MMCA Afterschool’, an initiative that provides children aged 6–10 with stimulating, fun, and collaborative learning experiences in the context of the country’s first museum of modern and contemporary art. The programme has successfully completed two terms, with the participation of 20 children in Term 1 (October–December 2022), and 30 children in Term 2 (January–February 2023).
MMCA Afterschool is a programme led by the Education Department of MMCA Sri Lanka and delivered with the support of the Visitor Educators (VEs) of the museum. Speaking on the conceptualisation and planning that led to the programme, Sanuja Goonetilleke, Curator of Learning and Training noted that, “The MMCA Afterschool programme began with the question ‘how can a modern and contemporary art museum based in Colombo cater to a child?’”, adding that, “Observing how children in Sri Lanka typically experience syllabi and assessment-based ‘cramming’ in schools, we felt that opportunities which make space for children to develop their overall life skills in formal educational settings are sporadic at best. MMCA Afterschool is hence offered as an educational, yet fun programme that contributes to a child’s overall development and learning needs in Sri Lanka”.
The Visitor Educators of the MMCA Sri Lanka guide the children through all the activities that span across four two-hour sessions. Goonetilleke reflected on the learning and training opportunities that the programme opens for the VEs, noting that “To keep things novel and interesting for children, no two sessions of MMCA Afterschool are exactly the same. This means that behind the scenes, our VEs research, create, tweak, deliver, and evaluate activities on a weekly basis.” She continued by adding “I am incredibly proud of how our VEs–some who have prior teaching experience and some who have none–have taken on these responsibilities and new roles.”
These sessions engage the children in conversations, tours, discussions, creative writing, object/art-making, movement-based activities, treasure hunts, and much more. Speaking on the enthusiasm shown by the children and their parents/guardians/caregivers alike towards the programme, Pramodha Weerasekera, Assistant Curator of Education and Public Programmes said that, “The reception from parents has been wonderful. Many of them are excited about the creative freedom with guidance that the programme provides. The programme is also an opportunity for children to gather and socialise after almost three years of reduced social interaction.”
The MMCA Sri Lanka is an education-led initiative that aims to establish a public museum dedicated to the display, research, collection, and conservation of modern and contemporary art for the benefit and enjoyment of the general public, schools, and tourists. As a space that facilitates learning experiences at the intersections of education, entertainment, and creative engagement, the MMCA Sri Lanka is an ideal context for children to engage in learning through interaction with Sri Lankan modern and contemporary art. Parents/guardians/caregivers are invited to visit the museum with their children, at the Ground floor of Crescat Boulevard, Colombo 3, from 10am–6pm daily. Parents interested to learn more about MMCA Afterschool may email education@mmca-srilanka.org.
