Ed completes the Premier's Adventure Challenge.

Edward has been enjoying the Premier's Adventure Challenge.

It's a programme created by Nathan Rees, the Premier of New South Wales, to encourage children to visit art galleries and museums in our great state.  Until January 2010 children who have a passport booklet can get free entry to nearly all the major galleries and museumsin NSW outside normal school days.

There is a passport booklet which includes space for the child to receive a stamp imprint at each participating institution, and for the major venues, a specific quiz question to investigate and answer.

When a child has completed visits to three different locations for the challenge there is also a tear off card for the parent or guardian to certify and submit via post to claim a completion certificate and enter a prize draw.

The reverse of the card also has space for the child to draw their favourite object they have seen during the challenge.  A selection of kids' drawings are posted up at the challenge website.

Today Edward said that the object he wanted to draw was the Enigma Machine from the Powerhouse Museum:

 

and here's a photograph of it:

After he had done his bit he wanted to address the envelope.  I must admit I thought that his writing may not be quite good enough for the postal system, but I was wrong.

The challenge is a pretty good way of getting kids excited about going to a museum or art gallery, a way of giving them an idea of what to expect from each type of venue through the structured quiz question, and should even produce an incremental increase in business for participating institutions because although entry with the passport is free for school age children, other accompanying children and adults must still pay any applicable entry fee.

Even in our case - although usually keen museum goers we did add in a visit to the Australian Museum which we would otherwise not have made.  Additionally while at the Australian Museum Edward saw a pamphlet about the Egyptian Treasures exhibition which opens tomorrow and is very keen to go back to the museum again to see that.

Comments

[Pauline Fitzgerald]

Well I'm very glad that this program encouraged you to visit us here at the Australian Museum. We are very interested to know how this program has impacted on our visitation.
Congratulations Edward on completing the challenge and make sure you come back to see the Egyptian exhibition - it is fabulous!
Pauline Fitzgerald
Audience Research