New Museology in Practice: A case study of Baan Hollanda - an information center of Thai-Dutch relation in Ayutthaya
Keywords:
New Museology, Theory in action, Audience Focused, Radical Transparency, Community ParticipationAbstract
This paper discusses how New Museology theory has been implemented into practice, based on a case study of Baan Hollanda Historical Information Center in Ayutthaya, Thailand. The author provides an overview of three basic parameters for New Museology according to Peter van Mensch, a prominent member of New Museology movement. These parameters includes community museology, inclusive museum, and “lieux de mémoire” or “place of memory”. Drawing on the author’s experience as a project consultant at Baan Hollanda from 2010, the article discusses four aspects of New Museology which have been embedded in the development of the center: 1) audience-focused exhibition 2) radical transparency in curational practice 3) community participation and 4) design. Following these guidelines, Baan Hollanda has gained wider recognition as well as positive feedback from visitors, museum practitioners and museum professionals. Baan Hollanda’s success can serve to encourage other museum institutions in Thailand to move from museum theory to practice where New Museology is one of the strong alternatives.
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