Conference article

The House of European History

Taja Vovk van Gaal
Director of the Academic Project Team

Christine Dupont
Historian to the Academic Project Team

Download article

Published in: Entering the Minefields: The Creation of New History Museums in Europe: Conference Proceedings from EuNaMus; European National Museums: Identity Politics; the Uses of the Past; and the European Citizen; Brussels 25 January 2012

Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings 83:8, p. 43-53

Show more +

Published: 2013-02-11

ISBN:

ISSN: 1650-3686 (print), 1650-3740 (online)

Abstract

At the end of 2015; the House of European History (HEH) will open its doors in Brussels. The paper describes the genesis and the development of this museum initiative launched and supported by the European Parliament. It discusses the challenges the project has to meet. How to combine sometimes diverging political; historical and museological agendas? How to face legitimate questions about the budget; the contents; the concerns about political intervention? How to involve the visitor? How to deal with complicated issues in 24 languages? How to develop a balanced and critical narrative about the history of Europe? These are the challenges the HEH has to face in order to become a place of meeting; discussion and debate around the complex but fascinating history of Europe.

Keywords

No keywords available

References

Babelon; J.-P.; Backouche; I.; Duclert; V.; James-Sarazin A. eds. (2011) Quel musée d’histoire pour la France?; Paris: Armand Colin.

Cadot; C. (2010) ‘Can museums help build a European memory? The example of the Musée de l’Europe in Brussels in the light of “New World” museums’ experience’; International Journal for Politics; Culture and Society 23: 127-136.

Cannizzo; J. (1991). ‘Negotiated Realities: Toward an Ethnography of Museums’; Pocius; G.L. (ed.); Living in a Material World. Canadian and American Approaches to Material Culture; St. John’s; Newfoundland: Institute of Social and Economic Research; Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Charléty; V. (2004) ‘L’invention du Musée de l’Europe. Contribution à l’analyse des politiques symboliques européennes’; Regards Sociologiques 27-28: 154.

Committee of Experts (2008) Conceptual Basis for a House of European History; Brussels: European Parliament. HTTP: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2004_2009/documents/dv/745/745721/ 745721_en.pdf

Davis; A.; Desvallées; A. and Mairesse; F. (eds) (2010) What is a Museum?; München: Dr. C. Müller-Straten.

EuNaMus Report n°7 (2012) Nationals Museums Making Histories in a Diverse Europe; Linköping: Linköping University Electronic Press. HTTP: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-85590

Exhibiting Europe. The development of European narratives in museums; collections and exhibitions HTTP: http://www.ntnu.edu/ifs/research/exhibiting

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung; 28.01.2012. HTTP: http://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/europaeische-union/eu-museum-stolz-undscham- 11623924.html

House of European History. Aggregate report (2012) survey conducted by TNS Qual+ at the request of the European Parliament (Eurobarometer Qualitative Studies).

House of European History. International architectural competition. Exhibition 24.4.2012- 12.5.2012; Brussels.

Kaiser; W.; Krankenhagen; S.; Poehls; K. (2012) Europa ausstellen. Das Museum als Praxisfeld der Europäisierung; Köln; Weimar; Wien: Böhlau Verlag.

Korff; G.; Roth; M. (1990) Das historische Museum. Labor; Schaubühne; Identitätsfabrik; Frankfurt a.M.; New York: Peter Lang.

Martinez Martinez; M.A. (2011); quotation reproduced on the flyer House of European History printed for the Open Days of the European Parliament; May 2011.

Mazé; C. (2009) ‘Les musées de l’Europe; outil de production d’un ordre symbolique européen’; Regards Sociologiques 37-38: 60-80.

Mork; A. (2012) ‘The House of European History’; presentation at the first 1s t Symposium of European Institutions dealing with 20th century History; Gdansk; 13-15 September 2012 (to be published on line).

Press release (December 2012) of the Nobel Committee HTTP: http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2012/press.html

Press release (December 2012) of the European Union. HTTP: http://europa.eu/newsroom/highlights/eunobel/pdf/12_en.pdf

Svanberg; F. (ed.) (2010) The museum as forum and actor; Stockholm : Statens historiska museum.

Vovk van Gaal; T.; Itzel; C. (2012) ‘The House of European History project in Brussels’; Borodziej; W.; Von Puttkamer; J. (eds) Europa und sein Osten. Geschichtskulturelle Herausforderungen; München: Oldenbourg Verlag; 75-80.

Citations in Crossref