The project «Mãos Pequenas, Vidro Quente: Histórias de uma Infância Roubada» (Small Hands, Hot Glass: Stories of a Stolen Childhood) by m|i|mo – museum of the moving image, in Leiria, has been recognized as a best practice in promoting cultural rights in the Ibero-American space. The initiative is featured in an international publication by the Ibero-American Observatory of Museums (OIM), as part of the Ibermuseus Program.
The selection follows a 2025 survey of museums in the Portuguese Network, aimed at identifying and valuing initiatives that promote access to culture, community participation, and the inclusion of vulnerable audiences. The m|i|mo project was chosen from various experiences across the Ibero-American space.
'Small Hands, Hot Glass' is an artistic and cultural education initiative that connects heritage, historical memory, and citizenship in an inclusive manner. It includes a dramatized visit to the exhibition «Artistas na Fábrica» (Artists in the Factory), followed by a painting workshop titled «Dar Cor à Infância» (Giving Colour to Childhood).
During the visit, a special education teacher role-plays a child labourer from the glass industry in Marinha Grande during the Portuguese dictatorship. This provides participants with insight into the reality of child labour and the living conditions, diet, hygiene, and education of children from that era. The activity uses dramatization, dialogue, and artistic expression to foster reflection on children's rights, the importance of education, and the fight against child labour, linking the past to contemporary societal challenges.
The initiative is a collaboration between the Municipality of Leiria, the School of Education and Social Sciences of the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, and the Learning Support Centre of the D. Dinis School Group. Its inclusive education strategies focus on adapting materials, diversifying communication and expression methods, and ensuring active participation of children, aiming to reduce barriers to cultural experiences.
This distinction acknowledges m|i|mo's work in bringing cultural heritage closer to communities and creating accessible, participatory, and socially relevant educational experiences. It also highlights Leiria internationally for a museological practice that prioritizes people, inclusion, and cultural rights.
The upcoming publication by the Ibero-American Observatory of Museums will showcase this experience, contributing to the exchange of knowledge and best practices among museum institutions from different countries.
