“Handling collections”: potentials, challenges, and ongoing experiments at the Museum of World Culture, Sweden

Abstract

At the museum, tensions between preserving heritage and promoting public engagement with it underscore the necessity for innovative approaches. This article delves into the potentials, challenges and significances of one such approach: the activation and development of ‘handling collections’. Often marginalised within museum’s internal organisation, handling collections come frequently associated with less regulation compared to accessioned ones, which enables tactile experiences and an array of educational opportunities. Focusing on the case of the Museum of World Culture/Världskulturmuseet in Gothenburg, Sweden, we describe the trajectory of its handling collection and its past, present and projected uses. Incorporating literature on materiality, as well as handling and touching in museums, this article contributes to envisioning a museum landscape where handling collections play a vital role alongside ‘core’ collections, enriching visitor experiences and challenging traditional paradigms.

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