Public History as the New Citizen Science of the Past (PHACS) develops public history and participatory models for interpreting the past. PHACS facilitates interactions between academics, cultural institutions, groups, associations and the general public. The goal is to democratise not only access, but also the ‘production’ of history.
This project tackles a number of questions that are essential for the House of European History team’s work. How do we accommodate multiple and sometimes conflicting stories? How do we embrace and engage with divergent interpretations of the past? How are historical narratives produced and presented in a museum? What does ‘participatory history-making’ mean, and what is public history in the museum context?
Public historians from the University of Luxemburg's Centre for Contemporary and Digital History are working with the House of European History to explore the opportunities and challenges of sharing authority and co-creating exhibitions with audiences. The aim is to enrich historical interpretations within a section of the museum’s permanent exhibition by embracing public participation.
The project includes exchanges with practitioners that have engaged with participation methodologically and theoretically, through discussions and a round-table organised at the House of European History in December 2022. This aspect of the project allows a fruitful sharing of experiences on addressing conflicting views and presenting these in exhibition spaces or temporary installations.
A pan-European and interdisciplinary student cohort contributes new interpretations on the theme of European heritage to enrich historical interpretations within the museum’s permanent exhibition section “Shaping Europe - Memory and European Heritage”. Students research and collect sources in order to produce a historical narrative based on lived experiences and stories from their family archives. The result will be incorporated into an interactive installation to be exhibited in the museum in January 2024.
More information on the PHACS project website.
