The 8th international ‘Hands On! International’ conference ran in Ljubljana and Celje between 11 and 15 October 2011.

This was the first international gathering in Slovenia dedicated to children’s museums and other cultural institutions that develop programmes and offers for children and young people with the intention to promote and raise awareness about the meaning and value of cultural heritage. The central theme of this conference was Identity, cultural diversity and heritage: the role of children’s museums in times of rapid change.

The City of Ljubljana was the main sponsor of the conference, with implementation carried out with the Museum and Galleries of Ljubljana, Kinodvor, the Slovenian Ethnographic Museum, the National Gallery and the Celje Museum of Contemporary History. Mayor Zoran Janković hosted a reception for ‘Hands On! International’ conference participants in the Atrium of City Hall on the evening of Wednesday 12 October 2011.

Hands On! International is an international professional organisation that represents museums with collections devoted to children aged less than 14. It was first founded in 1994 and comprises a broad network of members from all around the world.