Cover Page
The handle http://hdl.handle.net/1887/65998 holds various files of this Leiden University
dissertation.
Author: Ariese, C.E.
Title: The social museum in the Caribbean : grassroots heritage initiatives and
community engagement
Issue Date: 2018-09-27
Sidestone Press
THE SOCIAL MUSEUM
IN THE CARIBBEAN
Grassroots Heritage Initiatives and
Community Engagement
THE SOCIAL MUSEUM
IN THE CARIBBEAN
Proefschrift
ter verkrijging van
de graad van Doctor aan de Universiteit Leiden,
op gezag van de Rector Magnificus prof.mr. C.J.J.M. Stolker,
volgens besluit van het College voor Promoties
te verdedigen op donderdag 27 september 2018
klokke 16.15 uur
door
Csilla Esther Ariese
geboren te Amsterdam
in 1987
© 2018 Csilla E. Ariese-Vandemeulebroucke Published by Sidestone Press, Leiden
www.sidestone.com
Imprint: Sidestone Press Dissertations Lay-out & cover design: Sidestone Press
Image cover: The Social Museum in the Caribbean, photographs by Csilla Ariese- Vandemeulebroucke and design by Krijn Boom
ISBN 978-90-8890-592-6 (softcover) ISBN 978-90-8890-593-3 (hardcover) ISBN 978-90-8890-594-0 (PDF e-book)
DOI dataset: https://doi.org/10.17026/dans-zfm-yw7s
The research leading to this dissertation received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) / ERC-Synergy project NEXUS1492, grant agreement n° 319209.
The research visits to Jamaica & Grenada (2014) were sponsored by Leiden University Fund/Van Walsem.
Promotor
Prof. dr. Corinne L. Hofman (Universiteit Leiden)
Wijlen promotor
Prof. dr. Willem H.J. Willems (Universiteit Leiden)
Co-promotor
Dr. Mariana de Campos Françozo (Universiteit Leiden)
Promotiecommissie
Prof. dr. Jan C.A. Kolen (Universiteit Leiden, voorzitter)
Prof. dr. Maarten E.R.G.N. Jansen (Universiteit Leiden, secretaris)
Alissandra Cummins, M.A. (Barbados Museum & Historical Society)
Prof. dr. Ruurd B. Halbertsma (Universiteit Leiden & Rijksmuseum van Oudheden)
Prof. dr. Pieter J. ter Keurs (Universiteit Leiden & Rijksmuseum van Oudheden)
Contents
1. Introduction
11Museum History 13
Previous Research 16
Research Questions and Objectives 18
Outline 19
2. Theoretical Framework
23New Museology 24
Defining the Museum 33
Community Engagement 39
3. Methodological Framework
47Research Approach 48
Regional Museum Survey 49
Case Studies 58
Research Ethos 63
4. Caribbean Participatory Practices
67Museum Foundation & Organization 68
Grassroots Initiatives 68
Ecomuseums 73
Living Museums 76
Community Staffing 79
Museum Collections & Exhibitions 82
Research Collaboration 82
Object Donation 84
Contemporary Art 88
Local Achievements 90
Co-curation 92
Museum Visitation 95
Interactive Displays 95
Activities 99
Events 100
Summary 101
5. Case Study: Kalinago Barana Autê, Dominica
103 Brief History of the Kalinago in Dominica 104The Kalinago Barana Autê 110
Fieldwork: Aims and Experiences 115
Perceiving the Kalinago Barana Autê 119
Survey Demographics 120
Visitation of the KBA 120
Importance of the KBA 122
Benefits of the KBA 125
Associations with the KBA 128
Improvements for the KBA 131
Summary 139
6. Case Study: Bengal To Barbados Exhibition, Barbados
143 Brief History of the East Indian Community in Barbados 144 The Barbados Museum & Historical Society 152 The Bengal to Barbados Exhibition Project 156Fieldwork: Aims and Experiences 159
Perceiving the Bengal to Barbados Project 161
Survey Demographics 161
Community Identities 162
Project Awareness & Involvement 166
Exhibition Aims, Importance & Benefits 167
Project Associations 172
Representativity 173
Project Development 175
Summary 177
7. The Social Museum
189Grassroots and Governmental Museums 191
Locations 191
Dynamism 193
Sustainability 198
Participatory Practices 201
Multi-vocality 201
Museum Types 205
Linguistic Differences 208
Community Engagement Processes 211
Representativity 212
Investment 215
Negotiation & Conflict 218
Summary 221
8. Conclusions
225The Social Museum in the Caribbean 226
Recommendations 226
Acknowledgements
229References
231List of Figures
245Appendix
251Index: Caribbean Museums Database 251
Questionnaire: Kalinago Barana Autê 257
Questionnaire Results: Kalinago Barana Autê 258
Questionnaire: Bengal to Barbados 264
Questionnaire Results: Bengal to Barbados 265
