EMEE Project Publishes 5 Museum Toolkits and a Collection of Examples

'Eurovision - Museums Exhibiting Europe' (EMEE) is a project funded by the European Commission and coordinated by the University of Augsburg, Germany, which explores an innovative interdisciplinary approach for national and regional museums to re-interpret their objects in a broader context of European and transnational history. Implemented between 2012 and 2016, its theoretical and practical framework is developed, put into practice and evaluated by an international, trans-sectoral network bringing together the creative excellence of museums and cultural workers in a project based on the scientific expertise of history didactics in mediating culture. Following a mapping process of good practices and discourses, the project has recently published five toolkits that provide basic practical tips for museums in different operational areas: Toolkit 1: Making Europe Visible. Re-Interpretation of Museum Objects and Topics. A Manual: The Toolkit, written by Anna-Lena Fuhrmann, Jutta Schumann, Susanne Popp, Susanne Schilling and Oliver Mayer-Simmet, deals with the re-interpretation of objects showing ways to re-interpret collections with a trans-regional and multi-perspective approach. Toolkit 2: Integrating Multicultural Europe. Museums as Social Arenas: The Toolkit, authored by Kaja Sirok, Urska Purg, Katarina Kogoj, René Capovin, Janja Stefanic and Ursa Valic, provides an idea of the museum as a public, noncommercial space that offers possibilities for people to meet, to discuss and to get in touch with the cultural heritage. It shows how these enhanced functions of museums can be used for presenting and discussing trans-regional and European topics especially regarding current issues and present-day problems. In that way, it contributes to integrating multicultural Europe. Toolkit 3: Bridging the Gap. Activation, Participation and Role Modification: The Toolkit, written by Cinzia Angelini and introduced by Emma Nardi, deals with the development of different levels of the participation and activation of the visitor (for example hands-on, minds-on, user-generated exhibitions, guided tours conceptualized in the form of a dialogue, participation of different focus groups in the museum work, etc.). It develops programmes to encourage non-visitor groups to get to know the museum’s world. It also provides best practice examples with a focus on trans-regional/European topics. Toolkit 4: Synaesthetic Translation of Perspectives. Scenography – A Sketchbook: The Toolkit, elaborated by Uwe R. Brückner and Linda Greci, offers ideas how to present different perspectives not only as text but by means of designing the space, including ideas how to use music, light or even scent. It translates perspectives into other ‘languages’ and allows visitor participation. Toolkit 5: Social Web and Interaction. Social Media Technologies for European National and Regional Museums: The Toolkit, written by Anika Kronberger, Heather Kelley, Daniel Fabry, Günther Friesinger and Kerstin Halm, shows that the social web can be used not only for public relations but also for interaction (museum with visitors, museum with non-visitors, visitors among themselves, museum with other institutions). With this Toolkit, visitors and other interested persons will be given a possibility to get involved with the museum’s topics, to discuss, to exchange ideas, to reflect on exhibitions, etc. It offers ideas how to integrate the possibilities of web 2.0 in exhibitions in order to promote more visitor participation. In addition, a sixth publication entitled "European Perspectives on Museum Objects. Selected Examples on the Change of Perspective" (edited by Susanne Schilling, Cinzia Angelini, Günther Friesinger and Susanne Popp) presents examples which illustrate the 'change of perspective' proposed by partners of the EMEE project in the areas addressed by the five toolkits. In particular, a change of perspective is proposed as regards the European reinterpretation of objects, relations between museum experts and visitors, and international cooperation. Partners of the EMEE project include the University of Augsburg; Atelier Brückner, Germany; the National Museum of History, Bulgaria; Université Paris-Est Créteil; Università degli Studi Roma Tre; the Museu Nacional de Arqueologia, Portugal, the National Museum of Contemporary History, Slovenia; and Kunstverein monochrom, Austria. For additional information on the EMEE project toolkits and the broader project, please visit http://www.museums-exhibiting-europe.de/toolkit-manuals-activity-8/