Play Is the Point: Caroline Payson and the Providence Children’s Museum
Caroline Payson didn’t grow up going to museums. She was raised in South Boston by deaf parents and was the first in her family to go to college. From there she found her way to the Cooper Hewitt in New York. Today she leads the Providence Children’s Museum, which turns 50 next year.
In this episode, Caroline explains why the museum is built around play and what it means to give kids “ownership” of a place so they’re never intimidated by a museum again. She talks about how roughly 40% of visitors come in free or at a reduced rate, shares her favorite thank-you note from a parent, and walks us through how a new exhibit goes from idea to museum floor.
We also get into insider tips for visiting: why you should never start in Waterways, how fast a membership pays for itself, and the 4:00 trick that lets the museum be the bad guy at closing time. Plus, she previews the museum’s fall events and the return of sock skating.
If you’ve ever had to peel a kid off the doors at closing time, this one’s for you.