Storie che costruiscono ponti: il ruolo del patrimonio culturale nell'inclusione delle persone migranti

The migratory phenomenon has taken over headlines; however, the cultural dimension of the issue is vastly underrepresented. This research aims to explore the social and cultural significance of the representation of the heritage of migration and migrant persons through the institution of the museum, arguing that it can be a powerful tool in fostering inclusion. With a contextualised bibliographical research spanning among the themes of museums, migrants and social inclusion, this study investigates the social role of museums and their potential, starting from the essential framework of the New Museology and drawing on key concepts such as the museum as a ‘contact zone’ and the recognition of cultural rights in the context of human rights. It dives into the history of transformations of the social role of museums, reaching contemporary representation practices. Contemporary practices and approaches will be examined through two case studies: the first – on the Musée National de l’Histoire de l’Immigration in Paris – delves into a changing approach towards representation of migrant persons and the second – on the Italian association Archivio delle Memorie Migranti – spotlights this project and its attempt at counter-storytelling to capture migrants’ experiences, widening the idea of what a museum can be rather than modelling narratives of migration to make them them fit into a preconceived idea of museum. These case studies spark questions and considerations on what impact these projects can have on migrants’ communities, on the importance of collecting the heritage of migration and ensuring a diversity of voices, while also raising ethical concerns on such representation within the framework of postcolonial studies.