Dr Patrick Yarker

Dr Patrick Yarker is an independent researcher and an Associate Tutor in the School of Education and Lifelong Learning at the University of East Anglia. He edits an academic and campaigning journal: ‘Forum: for promoting 3 to 19 comprehensive education’, which is a platform for highlighting and supportively considering radical and creative educational initiatives in the state education sector and beyond it.

Dr Patrick Yarker will be speaking at the Creative Museums Summit 2026 :

Profound Play at the Art Museum

How does creative play help adults connect with museum collections? Join Learning Programme Manager Rach Anstey-Sanders, Associate Artist Dot Howard and UEA Research Practitioner Dr Patrick Yarker as they discuss a Sainsbury Centre research project exploring the role of creative play in adult engagement with art. This conversation examines the opportunities and challenges of introducing playful interventions within a curated museum setting, shares key findings from the research, and considers the implications for audience engagement, interpretation and learning practice. Discover how play can foster deeper, more meaningful connections between adult visitors and museum collections.