Learning by cutting

Abstract

This report concerns the Museum of Blacksmith Art and Cutlery inManiago, which is embedded in the eco-museum network of the Western Dolomites.To engage local people and stakeholders in the process of local heritage, participatorymethods have been adopted. The active engagement of women, youth, the visuallyimpaired and other groups has stimulated self-awareness of the local community, creatingan emotional and affective archive of the memory of their past work and connectingit to the new generation. The heritage of knives becomes a process constantly underconstruction, and learning by cutting the stratified memories through the museum thatis negotiating the common background to redefine the meaning of local identities.