Let the Journey Begin! A Fun Exhibition for Families

Exhibition

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Are museums really boring, dusty, serious places? Far from it! For the first time in Switzerland, a museum is launching a permanent exhibition in the form of a role play specially designed for very young visitors, with two levels to choose from in four languages (French, English, German, Italian): one for children aged 4 to 10 and the other for ages 11 and above.

The exhibition puts the visitor centre stage to create an immersive experience that is different each time, depending on the choices players make as they go along. It can take anything from 5 to 20 minutes to play through each scenario.

Surrounded by authentic objects from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries -- from spectacular exhibits such as Pictet's coach to striking items such as a cardboard model of a boat and the poignancy of children's patched-up shoes as well as parlour games and souvenir plates -- visitors can pretend to be a nobleman surveying his estate in a carriage, a young Englishwoman passing through Switzerland on the way back from the Grand Tour (the educational trip undertaken by young people from wealthy families), or a child from Ticino setting off to sweep chimneys in Milan, and experience a journey through Switzerland motivated by either pleasure or necessity.

Each visitor can play the parts of nine individuals in total from three eras - the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries - travelling around using means of transport from the time, starting with a stage coach and a boat before moving on to a train and a paddle steamer.

A railway station platform with a music box and clock, a landing stage with a souvenir kiosk and a funicular station are just some of the sets that bring to life the places where people wait before continuing their journey.

For the youngest visitors, there are items to play with: a stereoscope - the ancestor of 3D glasses - an interactive model funicular and a revolving postcard stand full of useful advice on how to complete the game.

Educational material

In line with the Plan d’études romand (PER)

Link to curriculum:  History, English, French, other languages

Ages: 4 to 7 ; 8 to 12

Guide assisted by the teacher

Media

Let the Journey Begin! A Fun Exhibition for Families

Château de Prangins
published on 29.9.2020

Château de Prangins has cleared out its basement to make way for a completely new exhibition for families, in the form of a role play focusing on travel in Switzerland and means of transport from the 18th to the 20th century. It is an innovative way for visitors to immerse themselves in the Switzerland of days gone by and take a trip through a wide variety of landscapes. The exhibition will be inaugurated on 11 October from 14:00., with a festive event for families featuring lots of games and entertainments (admission free, masks must be worn).

Are museums really boring, dusty, serious places? Far from it! For the first time in Switzerland, a museum is launching a permanent exhibition in the form of a role play specially designed for very young visitors, with two levels to choose from in four languages (French, English, German, Italian): one for children aged 4 to 10 and the other for ages 11 and above.

The exhibition puts the visitor centre stage to create an immersive experience that is different each time, depending on the choices players make as they go along. It can take anything from 5 to 20 minutes to play through each scenario.

Surrounded by authentic objects from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries - from spectacular exhibits such as Pictet's coach to striking items such as a cardboard model of a boat and the poignancy of children's patched-up shoes as well as parlour games and souvenir plates - visitors can pretend to be a nobleman surveying his estate in a carriage, a young Englishwoman passing through Switzerland on the way back from the Grand Tour (the educational trip undertaken by young people from wealthy families), or a child from Ticino setting off to sweep chimneys in Milan, and experience a journey through Switzerland motivated by either pleasure or necessity.

Each visitor can play the parts of nine individuals in total from three eras - the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries - travelling around using means of transport from the time, starting with a stage coach and a boat before moving on to a train and a paddle steamer.

A railway station platform with a music box and clock, a landing stage with a souvenir kiosk and a funicular station are just some of the sets that bring to life the places where people wait before continuing their journey.

For the youngest visitors, there are items to play with: a stereoscope - the ancestor of 3D glasses - an interactive model funicular and a revolving postcard stand full of useful advice on how to complete the game!


Exhibition curators: Marie-Hélène Pellet and Ana Vulić

Images

Manipulation pour comprendre le fonctionnement d’un funiculaire

(c)Musée national suisse

Maquette du bateau à vapeur Linth-Escher, vers 1850 (LM 59264)

(c)Musée national suisse

Cheval (sculpture en résine) avec harnais provenant de la berline d’Isaac Pictet, vers 1780 (LM 88333)

(c)Musée national suisse

Affiche de l'exposition

(c)Musée national suisse

Tatiana Oberson

Head of Marketing, Communication & Fundraising

Château de Prangins +41 22 994 88 68 tatiana.oberson@museenational.ch

Impressum

  • General Management Swiss National Museum: Andreas Spillmann
  • General Mananagement Château de Prangins: Helen Bieri Thomson
  • Project management: Marie-Hélène Pellet
  • Curatorship: Marie-Hélène Pellet, Ana Vulić, assistées de Nathalie Annen et Danijela Bucher
  • Scientific advisers: Jürg Burlet, Pierre-André Poncet, Laurent Tissot, Anja Zollinger
  • Technical management: Philippe Humm (dir.), André Schärerr
  • Exhibition texts:  Danijela Bucher, Marie-Hélène Pellet
  • Translations: Alessia Schiavon, Geoffrey Spearing et Sandra Wyss
  • Photography: Zvonimir Pisonic, Claude Bornand: Atelier de photographie, Lausanne
  • Photographic archives: Andrea Kunz, Fabian Müller
  • Iconographical research (screenings): Jonathan Fellay
  • PR, communication and marketing: Tatiana Oberson (dir.) et Sylvie Nickbarte
  • Graphic design: Plates-Bandes Communication, Lausanne
  • Cultural education and events: Ana Vulić (dir.), Céline Allard, Ines Berthold, Susanna Bühler, Sylvie Gobbo, Mirta Grüter, Susanna Hurschler, Debra Kinson, Hester Macdonald, Muriel Marchese, Jacqueline Näpflin Karlen, Sylvie Nickbarte, Nathalie Pellissier, Killian Perret-Gentil, Matthieu Péry, Ludivine Proserpi, Heidi Rasmussen, Stéphane Repas Mendes, Marie-Claire Romanet, Sian Sibley, Laura Weber, Valérie Zanani, Fares Zemzemi
  • Legal: Beatrice Käser
  • Administration and finance: Odile Rigolet (dir.) et Jacqueline Naepflin Karlen
  • Web, IT and projection: René Vogel (dir.), Thomas Bucher, Ueli Heiniger, Pasquale Pollastro, Danilo Rüttimann
  • Reception: Susanne Hurschler, Véronique Laurent Kandem et Anita Rachetta Bays
  • Security: Pedro Schreyer (dir.), Damien Becker, Mohamed Bouchatta, Raphaël Conrad, Mark Goldschmid, Jean-Claude Hunsinger, Mara Verzella et Léonie Wahlen

Architecture

  • General Management: Office fédéral des constructions et de la logistique: Gianluca Rigamonti
  • Plastering and painting: Charles Auer, Granges-près-Marnand, avec les conseils de Nicolas Delachaux, architecte, Nyon
  • Electric installation: SEIC, Gland

Exhibition design

  • Exhibition design: Studio Dan Jakob, Basel
  • Exhibition graphic design: Studio Martina Perrin, Zürich
  • Design production: Stahl und Traumfabrik AG, Schlieren
  • Lighting: Gradation GmbH, Zürich
  • Acoustics: Aer-Acousticiens experts, Lausanne
  • Horse sculptures: Galerie de l'Arche de Noé: Christian Schneiter, Viques
  • Decorator: Sabina Winkler, Zürich
  • Acoustic canvasses: Abrium, Renens
  • Printing: Goldschnitt, Zürich

Role-playing game

  • Idea and concept: Ana Vulić (dir.), Nathalie Annen, Marie-Hélène Pellet
  • Game content: Danijela Bucher (dir.), Ana Vulić
  • Story writer: Eugène Meiltz
  • Application development: Swiss-Development GmbH | Musée national suisse: Ueli Heiniger (dir.), René Vogel
  • Game's graphics: Studio Martina Perrin, Zurich
  • Teaching councils: Nicole Goetschi Danesi, professeure associée, UER art & technologie, HEP Vaud  et Florence Quinche, professeure associée, UER art & technologie, HEP Vaud

Manipulation game

  • Exhibition and graphic design: Flyingkoenig, Rivaz
  • Manufacturing: Graphico R. Margot SA, Pully

Conservation/restauration

  • General Management: Centre des collections du Musée national suisse, Markus Leuthard
  • Project coordination: Martin Bader
  • Conservation/restoration and installation of exhibits: Martin Bader, Nikkibarla Calonder, Anna Jurt, Véronique Mathieu Lingenhel | Raphael Luethi (Museum für Musikautomaten, Seewen)
  • Logistics and preparation of exhibits: Christian Affentranger, David Blasquez, Simon d'Hollosy, Reto Hegetschweiler
  • Loan services: Bernard Schüle (dir.), Maya Jucker, Angela Zeier

Lenders

  • Musée suisse de l'appareil photographique, Vevey | Museum La Truaisch, Sedrun

Audioguide

  • Management and production: Alain Laesslé Concepts, La Croix-sur-Lutry
  • Casting: Alain Laesslé Concepts, La Croix-sur-Lutry
  • Script (adults and children): Eugène Meiltz
  • Voices: Français: Evelyne Bouvier, Raphaël Michoud | Deutsch: Graziella Rossi, Helmut Vogel | Italiano: Mariagrazia Errigo, Diego Pitruzzella | English: Geoffrey Dyson, Maud Ladermann | Studio La Cigale, Fred Kohler (enregistrement), Puidoux | DIGILAB SAGL (enregistrement), Cureglia

Thanks

  • Everyone who contributed to the project
  • All lenders
  • For their essential financial support: Association des amis du Château de Prangins: Kirsti de Mestral, présidente