Just in time for the sports holiday, Lund's Kulturen museum opens a new interactive play exhibition themed on Astrid Lindgren's Madicken. Children from a local preschool tested the exhibition beforehand and showed enthusiasm for its playful elements. The exhibition targets children aged 3–9 but is expected to attract adults as well.
Lund's Kulturen museum inaugurates on February 14 a new interactive exhibition based on Astrid Lindgren's stories about the mischievous girl Madicken. The exhibition, the eleventh in a series of play exhibitions from the museum, is designed to engage visitors through interactive environments inspired by the books. Producer Johanna Lisberg Jensen and designer Heidi Saikkonen selected Madicken for her well-known character, aesthetic appeal, and themes like civil courage and contrasts between rich and poor environments, which remain relevant today.
Ahead of the opening, a preschool class from Holken in Lund got to explore the exhibition. The children highlighted favorites like the slide and the doctor's room where they could measure their height—Edda Toulson, 4 years old, was measured at 108 centimeters. Other activities include playing in Madicken's and Lisabet's room, baking kringlor with Abbe, and listening to a ghost story in the brewery, narrated by Astrid Lindgren herself. The preschool's theme this spring is Madicken, including activities like planting peas, inspired by a scene in the book.
The children described Madicken as mischievous, much like themselves. Molly Karlsson, 4 years old, said: "I like everything." Mila Elettra Campanaro, 5 years old, shared: "I prank my mom and dad." Signe Ringblom and Grete Härlin, both 5 years old, dismissed the brewery as scary: "No!"
Johanna Lisberg Jensen noted that some iconic scenes, like Madicken's rooftop balancing, were omitted for safety reasons. She hopes the exhibition rekindles playfulness in adults: "I hope adults think it's fun to come here too. That they find their way back to their playfulness."
The exhibition runs until January 10, 2027. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday 10–16, extended to 20 on Thursdays. During the sports holiday, it also opens Monday February 16 from 10–16.
