The lecture considers the role of museums in times of political turmoil, drawing on the experience of the Tbilisi Union of Museums (2016–2024). It explores how museums can act as guardians of democratic values and active participants in civil society.
Museums have outgrown their traditional function as custodians of artifacts and have become dynamic platforms for civic dialogue and social transformation. In today’s increasingly polarized and fragile global context, cultural institutions are called upon to redefine their mission — not only to preserve memory, but also to participate in shaping an ethical, inclusive, and democratic future.
The example of Georgia, a post-Soviet country undergoing a process of democratic consolidation, highlights both the potential and vulnerability of museums as public actors. This presentation invites reflection on how institutional courage, ethical leadership, and cultural responsibility intertwine in the museum sector — and why silence can sometimes contribute to the erasure of history.
This programme is in English.
- 5/9/2025, Friday / 10:00–11:00 (English)
