Tate explores gaming as art teaching tool

Tate Liverpool is to release a series of online interactive games called Wondermind to teach children about cognitive functions, the institution has announced.

Wondermind, developed by independent studio Preloaded, is aimed to teach developmental neuroscience in areas such as memory, spatial awareness and language. The project is targeted for children aged 8 to 12.

Users will complete tasks such as finding out who painted the Queen of Hearts’ roses and helping Alice find the Cheshire Cat.

The game will be released on 4th November alongside the Tate’s Alice in Wonderland autumn exhibition, exploring the fiction’s “surprising and surreal world”.

“The human brain has intrigued and fascinated artists for centuries – and modern neuroscience is a pioneering field, full of fascinating discoveries and developments,” said Sharna Jackson, editor of the Tate Kids magazine.

“Wondermind has been designed to deliver this excitement to children, bringing complex concepts to life through art and play. We’re very proud of the exhibition and the games; perhaps they will inspire some of tomorrow’s brightest artists and scientists."

The online games will also be accompanied by a series of interactive videos that “allow players to have real conversations with scientists currently working in the field”.

Visitors to Tate Liverpool will be invited to join in on discussions about neuroscience and the link between art and science, with a competition for school’s that attend.

The game will be launched alongside the Tate’s Alice in Wonderland inspired autumn exhibition on 4th November, accessible at www.enterwondermind.com.