In this presentation, I explore the permanent display in the Finnish National Museum (FNM) from the perspective of critical heritage studies, focusing on the production's outcomes and purposes. Presently, museums worldwide locate in a challenging position. Nationally, they must reply to the increasing expectations from policies and funding agencies. On ...
(Show more)In this presentation, I explore the permanent display in the Finnish National Museum (FNM) from the perspective of critical heritage studies, focusing on the production's outcomes and purposes. Presently, museums worldwide locate in a challenging position. Nationally, they must reply to the increasing expectations from policies and funding agencies. On a larger scale, they are a part of the international museum field, which is currently under existential negotiations about the definition and purpose of the museum. Additionally, Europe faces severe difficulties with exclusive and even radical nationalistic movements. National museums have had an essential role in producing the national identity, but these overlapping expectations highlight the urgent need of redefining their practices. These tensions are visible in the FNM's recent update on its permanent display. This presentation focuses on one part of the display, 'The Story of Finland' (2017), which creates a compelling narrative of the 100 years old independent Finland. 'The Story of Finland' was developed collaboratively with history researchers, visual professionals, and the FNM. The museum also appointed a film director to create the storyline. Essential questions are, how did the FNM use the exhibition, with what purposes, and what got excluded from it. The display locates at a rupture point for the FNM's exhibition practices and its broader role as a public institution. The presentation introduces the project and provides some answers to these critical questions.
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