Over the past twenty years, scholars in museology, sociology, and cultural heritage have focused part of their research on the interplay between museums and values, highlighting the importance of developing museum practices capable of addressing issues such as the persistence of hegemonic interpretations and the debate on the neutrality or non-neutrality of museums. These studies examine the fundamental elements of the process of presenting collections, including the relationships between memory, identity, and cultural heritage, as well as the significance and range of values that artefacts assume once placed in a museum and exhibited within a specific historically characterised collection. On the other hand, the museum, according to the most recent definition by ICOM, maintains its nature as a public space that aims not only at the preservation and enhancement of its heritage but also at encouraging community participation and offering experiences of "reflection and sharing of knowledge". In this context, the initiatives promoted by the VAST project have contributed to raising awareness among museum professionals and educators regarding their role as communicators of values, encouraging them in parallel to present information fairly, providing context and different perspectives to promote reflection on values among visitors. Starting from historical texts and images to present values in their historical and cultural context, while keeping objects at the neutral level of their function, has facilitated reflection on past values. This approach has helped understand differences compared to current perceptions, highlighting the evolution over time of various perspectives and promoting awareness of their multiplicity.
-
Related Videos