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Description
The project “Dear Archive. Laboratory of Museum Innovation” develops new approaches on the promotion of heritage collections and funds of the Ethnological Archive at the National Museum of the Romanian Peasant. The project aims to formulate a model of entrepreneurial thinking for a museum archive, taking into account the current challenges and limitations of the cultural sector: the recent decrease in financial operability of the entire cultural sector, limited professional capacity to face the challenges of an ever-changing environment etc. This model will involve the creation of custom tools adapted to an active cultural market, transferable on a wider scale within the Romanian museum sector (strategy making sessions, specialized training). Welcoming the growing interest in archives as cultural venues, the project aims to enhance public access to archival funds of NMRP, for a projected audience of 20000 persons. This will involve the development of new activities and interaction tools tailored for specific audiences (guided tours, workshops, exhibitions under construction, new models of online interactions). In doing so, the project aims at a better understanding of, and interaction with groups and communities already connected to the Ethnological Archive, as well as to engage new, inactive audiences. The project will support new approaches in cultural heritage through a contemporary art lens. The Image and Sound Gallery (part of the future permanent exhibition of the Museum), the artistic residency involving the Norwegian partner, and the six contemporary art events scheduled (experimental concert, video creation, analogue art photography workshop) address this objective. In this context, the partnership between the Museum and the Norwegian Praksis organisation will facilitate the transfer of knowledge and organisational practices.
Summary of project results
The project sought to develop innovative approaches to enhance the visibility and relevance of the heritage collections and the Ethnological Archive of the National Peasant Museum of Romania. It focused on three complementary objectives: exploring new artistic expressions to reinterpret and showcase the archive’s materials, positioning the archive as an active player in the cultural market, and expanding its social impact by engaging new and diverse audiences. By integrating these approaches, the project aimed to bridge the gap between traditional heritage preservation and contemporary artistic and cultural practices, ensuring greater accessibility and relevance for a wider public.
The project implemented an open and community-engaged institutional archive model, designed to address both public and cultural sector needs. This approach redefined the role of the Ethnological Archive of the National Peasant Museum of Romania, making it more accessible and relevant to contemporary audiences. A key initiative was the development of The Image and Sound Salon, a contemporary art creation that introduced new technologies and innovative curatorial methods to showcase archival materials. By addressing exhibition needs that could not be met through traditional museographic solutions, the project demonstrated new ways of interpreting and presenting heritage collections.
The exhibition preparation process was highly participatory, featuring guided tours and work-in-progress visits that provided the public with behind-the-scenes access to the practices of working with archival materials. This transparency allowed both general and specialized audiences to engage with the process of museum curation, fostering a deeper connection to the institution. Efforts were made to engage audience segments previously unfamiliar with archival materials, particularly young people such as adolescents and students. A particularly striking reaction from a child attending a museum education workshop captured the impact of these efforts: "Madam, we didn’t want to come to this museum, and now we don’t want to leave."
Additionally, museum staff participated in a series of non-formal education workshops that introduced new methods for public engagement. For example, a workshop on museum accessibility heightened staff awareness of the experiences of visitors with disabilities, equipping them with tools to approach cultural mediation with greater empathy.
The project contributed to job creation, with two new positions established, strengthening the museum''s capacity for innovative cultural programming. Five innovative approaches to cultural heritage were developed, aimed at expanding audience engagement and offering new ways to experience archival materials through contemporary artistic expressions. The project also supported five contemporary art activities, enriching the cultural landscape and providing artists with opportunities to explore and reinterpret historical materials. A total of 21 professionals enhanced their skills and expertise through specialized training, gaining new competencies in museum accessibility, audience development, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The impact extended beyond the professional sector, with over 20,000 participants engaging in cultural activities facilitated by the project. Through interactive exhibitions, workshops, guided tours, and educational initiatives, the project successfully broadened public interest in archival heritage, fostering deeper connections between historical narratives and contemporary artistic and cultural practices.
Summary of bilateral results
The bilateral cooperation with the Norwegian partner PRAKSIS played a key role in expanding the creative potential of the Ethnological Archive, leading to the development of an artist residency program. Through mentoring sessions provided by PRAKSIS and invited experts, the program was designed to foster interdisciplinary artistic research and engagement with archival materials. A significant outcome of this partnership was the remote residency of a Norwegian artist, who created a digital video montage inspired by both Romanian and Norwegian archive collections. This artistic experiment strengthened the exchange of ideas and creative methodologies, demonstrating how historical materials can be reinterpreted through contemporary digital media.