Museums lobbied by local communities: potential and actual place of the people in participatory museums of local history

Abstract

ABSTRACT The article discusses the establishment of two local museums which were co-created by local communities: the Museum of Podgórze in Krakow and the Praga Museum of Warsaw – two museums devoted to districts of major cities; however, neither of them is autonomous, but part of, respectively, the Museum of Krakow and the Museum of Warsaw. In both cases communities were critical in establishing the institutions, and once opened, both needed to renegotiate their positions in the community – they gained prestige and power, but lost flexibility, freedom and some energy. The main question in the article is whether local communities are treated as an object or have some real influence on museums, particularly in their programming and philosophy. The article demonstrates that while the public and local communities are largely involved in the process of creation of museums, their role in museums functioning diminishes when newly established institutions are opened. Formalisation and bureaucracy of museums, despite attempts of some staff members, considerably challenges and hinders participation.