BS would you differentiate between Techniquest and a museum?
HW Right. I think, in, certainly in the UK there, there's, a fairly
hard demarcation line between museum and somewhere like Techniquest. The classification
thing, the grand imperial taxonomy, the phrase they use, to control things
by classifying them and having them in your collection and you've got one
of everything, and that sort of thing. So there's that aspect to museums.
The other aspect to museums, I mean, even if you look at the brand sign for
a museum, it's a temple with an "M" in it, you know, if you look at the front
of Cardiff Museum you have to go up the steps between the marble pillars and,
throw open the huge doors and then across the marble floor. It's about awe,
control and that sort of thing, you know, museums are changing but if you
come into Techniquest it should almost be like going into your front room.
You know, there's a carpet on the floor, there are bright things, there are
people relaxed and playing. People soak it up much more, much better. I mean,
the very structure of some museums says "this is not for you" but science
centres "no, this is for you, come in, have a go."
