The MeLa* Project
The Research Project MeLa* - European Museums in an age of migrations was a four year multidisciplinary and collaborative Research Project involving nine European Partners, which was funded in 2011 within the 7th Framework Programme of the European Commission.
The MeLa project ended in February 2015.
MeLa* Books
The main outcomes of the MeLa* Project are illustrated in the MeLa* Book Series, an collection of open-access digital publications currently including 11 volumes.
Access the MeLa*Books series Access the MeLa*Books seriesTwelve Propositions for 21st Century Museums
The objectives of the MeLa Project focused on the investigation of the impact of contemporary migrations of people(s), objects, information and cultures on museums, and on the identification of innovative policies and practices enhancing the role of these institutions towards a changing political, social and cultural context.
The main outcome of the research is summarised in a Final Brochure, providing an overview on the main Project findings. This is draught through twelve propositions, which come with a set of implications and recommendations; they are addressed to the scientific community, museum professionals, policy makers and the European Commission, in order to draw directions and clues for the enhancement of the role of museums in this “age of migrations”.
Download the MeLa Final Brochure Download the MeLa Final BrochureMeLa* Critical Archive
The MeLa* Critical Archive is a digital platform aimed at cohering, conveying and sharing the main investigations developed within the MeLa Project through a critical post-reflection. It has not been conceived as a mere repository of the research outcomes, but rather as a multipurpose tool.
As a communicative project, it aims at representing the complexity of the approaches developed by MeLa, and illustrating its findings as a unitary jet multifarious cultural proposal. As a research instrument, it has been implemented in order to enhance synergies among the different research activities and outcomes, fostering interdisciplinary cooperation and opening further perspectives.
The design of the Archive was developed to provide multiple possibilities in accessing its contents, which can be browsed through an index, or explored through the main interface. The latter exploits the metaphor of a sky map, and offers an unstructured navigation allowing the reconfiguration of contents.
To browse the archive:
https://www.mela-archive.polimi.it/ https://www.mela-archive.polimi.it/Research Fields
-
Research Field 01
-
Museums & Identity in History and Contemporaneity
Research Field 01
Museums & Identity in History and Contemporaneity Research Field 01 - Museums & Identity in History and Contemporaneity
RF01 examined the historical and contemporary relationships between European museum representations and identity within the contextual structure of place.
-
Research Field 02
-
Cultural Memory, Migrating Modernity and Museum Practices
Research Field 02
Cultural Memory, Migrating Modernity and Museum Practices Research Field 02 - Cultural Memory, Migrating Modernity and Museum Practices
RF02 examined the question of memory to reassess its relationship with identities and migration, and redefine its role in the social spaces of museums.
-
Research Field 03
-
Network of Museums, Libraries and Public Cultural Institutions
Research Field 03
Network of Museums, Libraries and Public Cultural Institutions Research Field 03 - Network of Museums, Libraries and Public Cultural Institutions
RF03 aimed to investigate, identify and propose innovative coordination strategies between European museums, libraries & other public cultural institutions.
-
Research Field 04
-
Curatorial and Artistic Research
Research Field 04
Curatorial and Artistic Research Research Field 04 - Curatorial and Artistic Research
RF04 explored new approaches to the relationship between art, migration and representation within the contemporary exhibition sector.
-
Research Field 05
-
Exhibition Design, Technology of Representation and Experimental Actions
Research Field 05
Exhibition Design, Technology of Representation and Experimental Actions Research Field 05 - Exhibition Design, Technology of Representation and Experimental Actions
RF05 explored and experimented with the potentialities of communication technologies in the renovation of museum approaches and practices.
-
Research Field 06
-
Envisioning 21st Century Museums
Research Field 06
Envisioning 21st Century Museums Research Field 06 - Envisioning 21st Century Museums
RF06 aimed to identify and envision innovative exhibition strategies, approaches and tools, enhancing the role of European museums in this “age of migrations”.