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Museums, Heritage and Collections

Minor

Museums are powerful and influential institutions in their ability to shape knowledge and contribute to our identity. What we preserve and how we present our collections and heritage (and of course what we do not preserve and do not exhibit) is closely connected to our identity and culture.

In this multidisciplinary Minor, students will become acquainted with the social and academic debates on museums, cultural heritage and collections.

Many different types of museums and collections shall be discussed including art museums, (natural) history museums and ethnographical museums. Students will gain insight into the functions and challenges of these different types of museums and various exhibition concepts and gain an understanding of the pressing ethical issues connected to museums and heritage.

Maximum number of participants: 25

Prospectus number: 5000MUSEAN

Class number: 7855

Language of instruction: English

Registration: via EduXchange

LEI students 8 May to 15 July 2023

TUD and EUR students 8 May to 31 May 2023

Courses

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2

First semester
The History of Museums 10
Artivism 5

It is possible to do an internship for 10 or 15 ects in this minor, replacing one or two obligatory courses:
BA Stage Kunstgeschiedenis 10/15/20

Second semester

Student may choose 15 ects from the following courses.
Cultures of Exhibiting 5
Seminar BA3: Politics and Ethics in the contemporary museum 10

It is possible to do an internship for 10 or 15 ects in this minor, replacing one or two obligatory courses:
BA Stage Kunstgeschiedenis 10/15/20

More info

Information

  • Extent: 30 ECTS (spread either over one, or over two semesters)

  • Intended for: the minor Museums, Heritage and Collections is relevant for students interested in studying and/or working in the field of museums and cultural heritage.

  • Language of instruction : English (internships are usually in Dutch)

  • Website: Minoren

  • Coordinator: for questions about the minor programme, please contact the study coordinator

  • Board of examiners: Kunst- en cultuurwetenschappen

  • Registration:
    LEI students 8 May to 15 July 2023
    TUD and EUR students 8 May to 31 May 2023
    Register for the minor activity via EduXchange (applies to all students)
    From July, register separately for the courses via MyStudymap (only applies to LEI students).

Other students may send an e-mail to: stuco-ba-kg@hum.leidenuniv.nl

Remarks

The museum landscape is in constant flux. Controversial exhibitions can ignite heated social debates. Political and social developments throughout the world are changing the curatorial narratives in our museums. In this post-colonial, globalized era, museums are challenged in their exhibitions and collection strategies to cater to both local and international communities.

The lecture series ‘The History of Museums’ (10 ECTS) forms the intellectual core of this Minor. It provides for an academic reflection on the collecting, presenting, managing and preserving of cultural heritage and on the history and theory of museums and collections in national and international context. Students will also take courses in which they will gain more in-depth knowledge. It is possible to take an internship for 10, 15, or 20 ECTS in this Minor, replacing other courses in the programme. However, the course 'The History of Museums' is mandatory for all students.