Verso un "museo partecipato": arti e tradizioni popolari a Roma

Abstract

This article presents the results of a longitudinal ethnographic research on the Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions in Rome, mapping its transition from storage of memories, traditions and cultural objects coming from different Italian regions to an open and participatory museum, with a strong connection to the surrounding area. The research has dealt with several central issues for the contemporary museum sociology, including: a) the problem of the multiple definitions of the museum identity; b) the relationship between museum and community and its ability to intervene in the conservation/redefinition and transmission of cultural values; c) the enhancement of the relationship with the public; d) the problems related to the mise en scene of both the intangible and tangible cultural heritages with their shifting boundaries and mutual overlapping.