On the Move
Illustionary Equality? : Museum Politics and Immigrant Heritage
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Grete Swensen
At present Norway is, in line with a series of other European countries, experiencing immigration. Ways of handling a new diverse society is a topic that appears in a series of national strategy documents. The traditional museum concept has been challenged and new ways of mediating history are introduced. Documenting modern migration from the 1960s and onward raises new opportunities for museums. We ask what means and approaches Norwegian museums use today to involve migrants in museum work and how they include stories and experiences from modern migrants in their collections? Three museums have been selected as cases for further study. The main source material is interviews with museum professionals. The findings from the case study will be analysed in view of national cultural policies, museum guidelines, and integration strategies. There is a risk that immigrant heritage mainly is being identified with its more "folklore" aspects (festivities, national costumes, food) and defined on the premises of the major national culture. It is important that immigrant heritage is included as part of the national story to escape illusionary equality.
Can Space Foster Dialogue?: An Analysis of the Museum of Immigration at 19 Princelet Street
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Mairead Quinn
What constitutes an intercultural space? Can the history of a building naturally foster cross-cultural engagement and intercultural dialogue, or do we, as museum professionals, actively shape and prioritise elements of its history to create a shared space? How do we use intercultural spaces to foster and promote dialogue, interaction and cognitive change within diverse communities? The Museum of Immigration at 19 Princelet Street, in the historically diverse East End of London, is a microcosmic representation of the waves of migration and diversity that came and settled in the surrounding area. Since its construction in 1719, the building has housed a range of incoming migrant groups and acted as a religious and cultural centre point for others. Having been bought by the Spitalfield’s Centre Charity in the 1980s, the building was transformed into the Museum of Immigration. Based on findings from PhD research, this paper presents a case study of the Museum of Immigration to analyse how the tangible and intangible markers of history that exist within the building are used to foster ongoing engagement and intercultural dialogue with diverse communities. I explore such elements as the relationship between the Museum and the surrounding area, consider how the use of intercultural space actively fosters physical engagement with history and the experiences of others, and how the process of engagement and dialogue can be built and expanded upon with each new set of visitors.
