Informal learning
The National Videogame Museum offers a range of content for families to enjoy in the galleries, our workshops, online or in community venues near the museum:
Young Producers Club
We run a young producers club online and at the Museum that is currently focused on LGBTQI+ perspectives on videogames, inclusion and heritage. The Young Producers Club allows 16-25 year olds to help shape the museum’s future exhibitions and events and is funded by English Heritage.
Family trails
We offer a growing number of trails through the museum for families to explore how games are made. Families can try out Creative Writing, Art & Design, Coding and Testing activities in the Lab. The Museum is very child-friendly and caters to young families.
Learn at Home
Our resources and workshops are available to download and stream online. 10,000 families accessed introductions to games writing, art, design and games coding during lockdown, as well as how to make your own arcade cabinet and videogame controller. These activities won 2 awards, from Kids in Museums and the games industry itself.
I worked with BGI on Pixelhead Dash as part of Anim18, the UK wide celebration of all things animation in 2018. Their collaborative approach with us as funders, with the UK-wide animation and gaming network, as well as the young people participating, was a joy. The impact of their work reached far beyond those young collaborators who contributed to the workshops, as it inspired so many others to take a chance on creating as part of Anim18.
Sally Griffith, Anim18
Testimonials for BGI workshops
Family testimonial: The best thing we’ve ever done online! Family on the Kids in Museums award panel that chose the NVM at Home as winner of the award for Best Website activity in the Family Friendly Museums Awards 2020.
Teacher testimonial: As a teacher of 11-16-year-olds, I’ve been recommending the NVM to large numbers of my students for the past couple of years because I’m so impressed with the work you’re doing to engage young people in gaming culture as thoughtful participants and creators, as opposed to just passive consumers. It’s brilliant to hear them becoming more discerning and thoughtful in their conversations about games as a result of their visits, so thank you for that! Things that I (and my students) really value about the NVM include the calm, safe, friendly atmosphere, the enthusiastic, welcoming, knowledgeable staff and the growing range of workshops etc targeted at young people who want to learn more about coding and creating games. Tia, Email feedback form to NVM
2018 Parent visitor testimonial: My son would love to spend all day every day here! and the courses are great – he has done quite a few different coding courses and really enjoyed them. Nic, Tripadvisor