MeLa Final Event - Envisioning 21st Century Museums

MeLa - European Museums in an age of migrations concluded its four years research programme with a three-day event, merging a critical overview on the main findings ensuing from its investigations and a forward-looking discussion about the future of European museums. A highly interdisciplinary panel of scholars and practitioners from all over the world triggerred a multi-perspective debate, bringing together the latest insights on contemporary museums’ challenges and chances in the framework of the contemporary global and multi-cultural scenario.

21st January 2015
OPENING | Politecnico di Milano | School of Architecture and Society, Aula Gamma

17.00 - 20.00
Welcome, registration and presentation of the MeLa Critical Archive, the online platform designed by Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design in collaboration with Politecnico di Milano (DAStU) research group as a tool to convey the project’s interdisciplinary results.

22nd January 2015
SYMPOSIUM | Triennale di Milano | Teatro Agorà

14.00 - 18.30
Selected international keynote speakers, renowned experts in the field of museum and cultural studies, exhibition design and contemporary art, animated a multi-disciplinary critical debate about the transformation and future of contemporary museums. The event took place at the Triennale di Milano, an outstanding institution for Italian artistic, architectural and exhibition culture, and one of the most relevant venues for exhibitions and conferences in the fields. Keynote speakers:

• Nélia Dias, Departamento de Antropologia, ISCTE - Instituto Universitário de Lisboa
• Jeffrey Schnapp, MetaLAB(at), Harvard University
• Michaela Gibelhausen, Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London
• Angela Dimitrakaki, History of Art Department, University of Edinburgh

23rd January 2015
SEMINAR | Politecnico di Milano | School of Architecture and Society, Aula Rogers

9.30 - 13.00
MORNING SESSION: European Museums in an Age of Migrations. Contributions by MeLa principal investigators: Luca Basso Peressut (Polimi), Chris Whitehead (Newcastle University), Iain Chambers (Università degli Studi di Napoli “L’Orientale”), Perla Innocenti (University of Glasgow), and Victoria Walsh (Royal College of Art).

14.30 - 18.00
AFTERNOON SESSION: European Museums for Reflective Societies. A "Sharing Session" involving representatives from the European Commission, experts from the museum field, the international research community and policy makers.
Debate and final remarks.