In Florence, world's great museums sign manifesto on museum identity during "Museology and Values" conference

The conference "Museology and Values: Art and Human Dignity in the 21st Century," which we told you about in this news story, was held in Florence. The meaning of the conference, which became part of theEuropean Year of Cultural Heritage 2018, was summarized by Timothy Verdon, director of the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, who reportedly said, “Museums are capable of changing people’s lives, but they must be able to welcome, include and speak to all kinds of audiences.”

The conference led to the signing of a manifesto on museum identity and mission, signed by several prestigious institutions, from the Uffizi to the Louvre, from the Hermitage to the Pinacoteca di Brera. Here are some passages from the document: “In the diversity of their cultural expressions, museums encourage an empathetic approach to differences, fostering openness and tolerance. By being hospitable, inclusive and respectful, they promote an awareness of a universal community as well as the belief that what unites people is more important than what divides them. The museum curator must interpret his or her role literally as one that ’cares’ for each visitor, offering a wide arc of encounters with beliefs, ideas and images capable of transforming tourists into eternal lovers of learning. There is a need to help adolescents and young adults recognize themes close to their interests and build ’museums of emotions’ in our galleries. Immigrants must see museums as places of emancipation and venues for citizenship, where cross-cultural storytelling reveals unsuspected affinities.”

The conference received from the Italian Head of State, Sergio Mattarella, the “Medal of the President of the Republic” and the patronages of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities, Council of Europe, Unesco, Tuscany Region, City of Florence, Florence Architects Foundation, Icom Italy.

In Florence, world's great museums sign manifesto on museum identity during "Museology and Values" conference

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