The Project
Art Explora’s Time Odyssey programme connects KS2 pupils with national heritage through digital storytelling, in-museum quests, and targeted transport support. Despite strong participant engagement, there has been limited longitudinal evidence of its sustained impact on children’s cultural engagement, learning, and sense of identity, particularly in underserved communities where access to museums is lower.
This two-year research project will provide the first rigorous, mixed-methods evaluation of Time Odyssey. Beginning in January 2026, the study will combine baseline pilot testing (Spring 2026) with two main waves of school: museum visits (Autumn 2026 and 2027), followed by final analyses and reporting by March 2028.
The research will explore how Time Odyssey experiences build cultural confidence, defined as children’s sense of cultural self-efficacy (Bandura, 1997) and belonging in cultural settings (Martin, 2017), and will assess how digital and museum components interact to support equitable participation. A participatory student co-researcher strand will further investigate museum inclusivity from pupils’ perspectives, generating practical insights for teachers, museum professionals, and policymakers.
