Theory as a Platform for the Education of Museum Staff. Development of the Centre for the Study of Museology in the Years 1967–1982

Abstract

AbstractThe aim of the presented study is to bring together almost fifteen years of the Centre for the Study of Museology of the Charles University’s Faculty of the Arts at the National Museum in Prague (herein - after referred to as the Centre), one of the most important contemporary methodological and educational centres in the field of museology. The subject of interest will gradually become an analysis of the factors and phenomena that led to its establishment in 1967, including the theoretical concept of the head of the Centre, Jiří Neustupný, which became the starting point for the final form of its curriculum. In addition to outlining the structure for the curriculum for the students of Charles University’s daily study and for the museum staff and introducing personalities who have participated in educational activities, the text also deals with its non-teaching activities (such as research and methodological activities, cooperation within both the domestic and the international museum organisations, while collecting and publishing museological literature). The work was created to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the museological centre which is recognised by international authorities and, as the first one, this work seeks to map its development.