The Power of Play: How Play Can Engage Audiences and Drive Growth

How can cultural spaces harness play to engage audiences, drive growth and create meaningful visits?

In this joint session, Charlotte Derry (Playful Places) and Ameneh Enayat (The Story Museum) explore how play can be embedded into cultural spaces to transform the visitor experience. They will share practical approaches for developing playful ideas within teams, alongside a real-world case study of The Story Museum’s Small Worlds gallery — a successful ticketed play offer that complements the wider museum experience.

Join us for this insightful session with two experts in their field and gain inspiration and tangible takeaways to bring play into your own organisation.

The session will include talks from each speaker followed by an audience Q&A.

Speakers

Charlotte Derry is a museum professional and play trainer, working as a creative play practitioner and consultant. She is Founder of Playful Places, which champions play in cultural and public spaces. Playful Places offers consultancy, play audits, mentoring and training.

Playful Places - Play at the Heart of Public and Cultural Spaces

Ameneh Enayat is Head of Creative Programme, at the The Story Museum - leading the creation of immersive story-led galleries, events, outreach and digital experiences. The Story Museum highlights the human need for stories and celebrates the many ways that people can benefit from them. Their vision is to enrich lives, especially young lives, through stories.

The Story Museum | Family Museum In Oxford