Ecomuseums and the Democratisation of Japanese Museology

Author: Peter Davis

Source: International Journal of Heritage Studies, Volume 10, Number 1, March 2004 , pp. 93-110(18)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

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Abstract:

The idea of the 'integrated museum', a more socially inclusive form of cultural institution, was a key outcome from the UNESCO/ICOM 'Round Table of Santiago' in 1972. Many of the concepts embodied in this idea became part of ecomuseum philosophy and practice during the 1970s and 1980s, in particular the need to involve local communities and make museums more democratic. The ecomuseum has the potential to be a socially inclusive mechanism and is now a worldwide phenomenon. Many of its tenets (the museum as territory, fragmented sites, in situ conservation and community leadership) are used--in a variety of ways and with varying success--as a mechanism to conserve cultural and heritage resources and to construct and promote local or regional cultural identities. Although the philosophy and practice of ecomuseums has been subject to criticism, they are still being created, mainly in rural areas, as a means of conserving traditional landscapes and ways of life. Japan has embraced the ecomuseum philosophy, and three contrasting ecomuseums (Hirano, Asahi and Miura) are described here, their roles analysed and their democratic nature questioned. It appears that the ecomuseum does have the ability to be a truly democratic method of heritage conservation, but that ultimately much depends on leadership and the identification of the local community as the key stakeholder.

Keywords: Ecomuseums; Cultural Heritage; Social Inclusion; Japan; Museums

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1352725032000194268

Publication date: 2004-03-01

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