How to Revitalize a Museum Today: A Contemporary Approach to Exhibition and Communication

Illustration

When: May 30, 18:30
Where: Online via Zoom (the link will be sent to the email address provided during registration and shared in the KRCC Telegram channel)

This lecture explores practical approaches to museum work that can be implemented today. It introduces the concept of the "museum method" and examines diverse exhibition models and curatorial techniques that can reinvigorate museum practices without requiring significant resources—just a deep rethinking of existing approaches. A central focus is the influence of exhibition models on how museum objects are interpreted and communicated: how the same artifact can "speak" differently depending on its context. Special attention is given to working with materials from the Soviet period—how to engage with them critically and responsibly, rather than silencing them.
Core message: A museum object is not merely an illustration—it is the key bearer of meaning within an exhibition.We will dive into current trends in museology and examine the potential of the museum tour: is it a vibrant form of dialogue or a continuation of colonial narratives? The lecture will also cover the theory of active and passive visitor roles, and the foundations of museum communication—how a museum truly speaks to its audience and how this dialogue can be made lively and equal.
The goal of the lecture is to provide practical tools for rethinking museum work today, to reveal the transformative power of contemporary museological approaches, and to inspire change from within.
Speaker: Olena Zhukova – museologist, heritage specialist, PhD in Museum and Heritage Studies, associate professor, author of national higher education standards in the field, and a European-level expert in heritage and sustainability. She is currently a Guest Researcher at Kulturvård / Conservation, Uppsala University (Sweden). One of the few Ukrainian scholars conducting empirical research on the impact of cultural and natural heritage in Ukraine and abroad, with over 20 years of experience.
Her work focuses on the empirical study of heritage's innovative potential—its ability to stimulate local economic revival, boost cultural and creative industries, improve wellbeing, and attract funding.
This lecture is part of the “Reimagining the Museum” project, initiated by cultural manager Sviatoslav Mykhailov. The project aims to critically rethink the exhibitions of the Kryvyi Rih Historical Museum, challenge imperial narratives, and propose new, inclusive stories about local history. 
The project “Reimagining the Museum” is supported by the European Union under the House of Europe programme.Curator: Sviatoslav MykhailovInstitutional partner: Kryvyi Rih Cultural Centre / KRCC

About "Reimagining the Museum" project

KRCC is a civic initiative dedicated to the development of culture, art, and the creative industries in Kryvyi Rih. Its mission is to unlock the city’s cultural potential by creating a stimulating environment for creative industries through the work of the KRCC institution.

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