31/01/2025

Read more about case #6: 

The Heritage House of South Holland ( Erfgoedhuis Zuid-Holland-HHSH) in Delft.

Co-curating history: The Bestemming bereikt? exhibition.

An interview with CREARE Social about the research conducted by Lyudmila Petrova and Arjo Klamer for GLAMMONS project.

ECHN: When you think of exhibiting cultural heritage, what comes to mind?

CREARE: At Erfgoedhuis Zuid-Holland (HHSH), the Bestemming bereikt? exhibition challenges conventional ideas about heritage by transforming the curatorial process. This initiative involves local migrant communities as co-creators, inviting them to share their personal migration stories and objects that symbolize their histories. The result is a collaborative, co-created exploration of cultural heritage.

ECHN: Why co-curation matters?

CREARE: Co-curation breaks away from the traditional top-down approach to museum exhibitions. At HHSH, this process gave members of the community—not just experts—a voice in determining what was displayed and how it was interpreted. Through engaging activities, such as “archaeological dinners”, participants shared personal stories and objects, fostering a meaningful connection between their lived experiences and the exhibition.

ECHN: Can you describe their core values: diversity, empowerment, and belonging?

CREARE: The Bestemming bereikt? exhibition transformed traditional heritage curation by focusing on personal stories and collective participation. Instead of simply displaying artifacts, it highlighted individual narratives, making history more relatable and contemporary. It brought underrepresented perspectives to the fore and promoted inclusivity and belonging. This approach amplified the voices of migrant communities. A sense of empowerment and ownership was created as participants became co-creators. Beyond education, using heritage as a bridge to address contemporary issues, the exhibition encouraged dialogue on migration and social cohesion.

ECHN: Why is it a new approach to heritage?

CREARE: What sets Bestemming bereikt? apart is its pioneering shift from traditional curating to a collaborative, community-focused process. Professionals and local people worked hand in hand to create an exhibition that celebrated the stories and identities of its creators as much as the objects on display.

ECHN: The result?

CREARE: An inclusive project that redefines how we view and engage with heritage, proving that history is more powerful when we tell it together.

Do you have a similar co-curation initiative with your communities? We want to learn from your stories.  Feel free to share your experience.