Dr Aleksandra Kubica (KCL) - 2015-16 Students
aleksandra.kubica@thebridgegroup.org.uk

Collaborative museum-making: an analysis of collective memory about Jews and the Museum on Wheels in rural Poland (2014-2017)

Museum studies have largely overlooked the potential of collaborative engagement, often limiting it to exhibition design. This research addresses this gap by examining the diverse interests of actors involved in the “Museum on Wheels” project by POLIN Museum, with a particular focus on the negotiation of difficult memory. While the project integrated community contributions, findings suggest the institution often underutilised the transformative potential of these collaborations, prioritising narratives aligned with its own goals over the complexities of local perspectives. By integrating museum and memory studies, this research offers new insights into how difficult collective memory is negotiated at the vernacular level, particularly regarding Jewish-Polish history in rural, post-communist contexts.

The thesis is available here.