Thirteenth International Conference on The Inclusive Museum

Abstract

Museum activism is an emerging wave of political engagement, where museums have become spaces that take an active role in equipping its visitors to enact real change (Davies, 2012, Janes & Sandell, 2019). Current literature on the topic has explored it in relation to disability and agency (Sandell, Dodd & FarlandThomson, 2013), feminism (Vartlett & Henderson, 2013) and art galleries (Dofour 2002). Focusing on historical museums, this paper explores how museum activism can happen through the process of co-constructed occupations. The paper presents the case of the youth antiauthoritarian activist group Børnemagts (Childrens’ Power) occupation of the Workers Museum in November 2019. Using ethnographic research and interviews with museum staff and members of Børnemagt, the paper explores the event itself, the various actors’ motivation for engaging in political contestation and how this fits into a wider discussion on museum activism.