Rijksmuseum family exhibition transfers to Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp
Publication date: 06 September 2023 - 13:27
Mission Masterpiece, the family exhibition where children and their families performed technical research on artworks from the Rijksmuseum collection, is transferring to the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA). Visitors to the exhibition at the Rijksmuseum, which closed last weekend, gave it exceptionally high ratings. Two other European museums have expressed interest in re-using the concept and materials for Mission Masterpiece.
Highest-ever rating
Last Sunday was the last day of Mission Masterpiece at the Rijksmuseum. Especially for this exhibition we transformed six galleries into laboratories where mission participants got to examine art objects – using the same methods and techniques as those used by professionals at the museum. They worked with microscopes, UV light and X-ray scanners to study textile fibres, gemstones, paper, tree rings and paint pigments. Since opening in late July 2023, 40,000 children and family members have completed Mission Masterpiece. On average, they awarded it a rating of 9.1. Never before has a Rijksmuseum exhibition gained such a high rating. Interest in the exhibition from other museums means even more young researchers are going to discover what goes on behind the scenes at a museum, and to think about the qualities an object needs to have to be a true masterpiece.
A few responses from children:
I look at things in a different way now. You ask yourself ‘how was this made’?
I didn’t realise it was possible to actually become a researcher at a museum.
It was so much fun. I just wanted to do it all over again.
Parents were equally enthusiastic:
What a fantastic exhibition – for adults as well as children. Being able to touch all the different materials and to work with the artworks made it an amazing experience.
Really great concept, brilliantly executed. Accessible for young and old alike. Encourages interaction. Offers a new perspective on the collection and work in the museum. Great fun to do.
Re-use
Mission Masterpiece is the first exhibition that the Rijksmuseum has ever designed especially for children and families, in partnership with NEMO Science Museum in Amsterdam. The KMSKA will be re-using the concept, research tables, sets and other materials from the Rijksmuseum. Mission Masterpiece at the KMSKA will focus on the host museum’s own collection and research stories, and run throughout spring and summer 2025. This was allow as many schools and families as possible to visit the exhibition.
In its role as a science centre, the KMSKA is fully committed to conducting technical and other forms of research, particularly on works of art. Carrying out this work enables us to safeguard the future of our masterpieces, and this show makes research accessible to families in an exceptional way. It means that Mission Masterpiece, a masterful exhibition from the Rijks, is a perfect match for the DNA of the KMSKA. We are delighted to be the first museum to get the opportunity to host this show in Flanders, Belgium.
Carmen Willems, Director of the KMSKA
By doing their own research, children and parents were able to experience for themselves just how much fun the profession of collection researcher is, and how multifaceted. Many visitors indicated that from now on they will always look differently at objects in the museum – it means Mission Masterpiece has made clear in a beautiful way why, as a museum, we continue to preserve, conserve, display and conduct research on art objects.
Taco Dibbits, Director of the Rijksmuseum
Mission Masterpiece was developed by the Rijksmuseum in partnership with NEMO Science Museum. The exhibition was designed by creative design agency NorthernLight and graphic designer Irma Boom, and built by Brandwacht & Meijer.
Missie Meesterwerk is made possible in part by ING, KPN, AkzoNobel, Zabawas and the Rijksmuseum Fund.
