MUSEOLOGY

This is one of the core courses of the Master’s Degree Programme in “History of Arts and Conservation of Aristic Heritage”. The course deals with historiographical, critical and technical-scientific aspects on the international museum debate and quality standards for cultural institutes and places.

At the end of the course, in addition to knowledge related to the evolution of museums in the Twentieth Century, students will acquire specialized skills regarding the planning of the various activities of the museum institution, the organization, management and care of the collections, communication and relations with the territory, mediation and inclusion activities, including through the analysis of the contemporary international debate on the social role of the museum.

Knowledge of lineaments on the evolution of the museum form in history is desirable. Basic knowledge of cultural heritage legislation may be useful.

The course aims to address the history of museum enhancement from the Unification of Italy to the enactment of the Uniform Levels of Quality for Italian Museums (DM February 21, 2018) and the recent debate on the definition of a museum. The historical-critical dynamics of evolution of the museum institution, the history of valorization, understood as the need to expand services to the public, improve communication and boost museum education, and relate objects to the territorial context of reference, from the late 19th century to the present will be studied. Special attention will be paid to the national and international figures who have most influenced critical thinking in the 20th century. The last part of the course will examine the international evolution of museum management culture, leading to a detailed examination of the 2018 Ministerial Decree, which provides objective and standardized elements of museum endowment and performance. Aspects related to: organization, collection, accessibility, inclusivity, communication and relations with the territory will be explored.

Adopted and recommended textbooks:
(A) P. Dragoni, Processo al museo. Sessant'anni di dibattito sulla valorizzazione mussale in Italia, Firenze, Edifir, 2012;
(A) L. Cataldo, M. Paraventi, Il museo oggi. Modelli museologici e museografici nell'era della digital transformation, Milano, Hoepli, 2023;
(R) S. Costa, P. Callegari, M. Pizzo a cura di, L'Italia dei musei. 1860-1960, Bologna, Bononia University Press, 2018 pp. 7-84 e 193-203;
(R) A. Emiliani, Il museo alla sua terza età. Dal territorio al museo, Bologna, Nuova alfa editoriale, 1985.
Adapted texts are to be considered mandatory.

The final examination will be in written form and will consist of three open-ended questions and one additional question. The additional question will be reserved for those who have not turned in the individual or group paper on the history and self-assessment of a museum of their choice. The outline for writing the museum paper will be provided during the first class and made available in the course Moodle space.

Lectures and dialogues, anal si case studies and developmental forms, small group exercises, media literacy techniques.

Italian

Additional materials will be provided in the course of the lectures. Access to the course Moodle space is mandatory.

written

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development