Missionary Museums

Abstract

The article addresses missionary ethnographic collections, with a particular focus on Polish museums. It aims at presenting works and profiles of those museums, considering their origin and underlying concepts. The author discusses the contemporary problems of these institutions, paying close attention to the specific character of their collections. The author addresses the question whether these frequently criticized museums and collections have actually lost their raison d’être in the 21st century, and whether they should be primarily associated with European colonial interference and the destruction of non-European cultures, as well as with outdated museology. The author further argues that missionary museums undoubtedly require a radical rethinking of their mission and character, but they still preserve their value, especially for comparative ethnographic research and popularization of the idea of interculturality.