TEACHING MUSEUM AND MANAGEMENT OF CULTURAL HERITAGE

Course objectives

The course aims to examine the aspects of museum communication in relation to the museum's mission and to transmit the knowledge and methods of application of decision support systems, planning and evaluation for the management of cultural heritage, with an international footprint , also through the practical analysis of case studies.

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Letizia Giardini Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
The course aims to explore the educational dimension of the museum in all its complexity, in relation to the management of cultural heritage, adopting a theoretical and reflective approach. Museum education will be examined as part of a project-based system that intersects with conservation, communication, scientific, and socio-political dimensions. Case studies and international best practices will also be analysed through workshop-based activities, enabling students to develop a critical understanding of models and strategies for the management and enhancement of cultural heritage. Programme: Introduction to contemporary debates in museology (8h); History of museum education in Italy: key figures, international exchanges, and best practices (8h); From education to learning: theory and approaches (8h); Developing an educational project (8h); Cultural production and management (16h); Cultural perspectives on sustainability (8h); Cultural heritage communication and display narratives (12h); Observing and comparing museum practices (12h); Discussions and final review (4h)
Prerequisites
A basic preparation in art history is required for effective participation in the course, together with an introductory understanding of current debates in contemporary museum studies and critical discourse. Familiarity with basic principles of cultural management and the ability to read and critically engage with scholarly literature in English are also recommended.
Books
TEXTS: - Musei e apprendimento lungo tutto l’arco della vita, a cura di K. Gibbs, M. Sani, J. Thomson, Ferrara, 2007 (available online free of charge). - M. Tamma, Cultura, Turismo e Territorio: parole chiave, traiettorie, percorsi, in Turismo e valorizzazione: verso una nuova visione di rigenerazione territoriale in chiave 2021-27, a cura di I. Candoni, Federturismo Confindustria, 2022, pp. 9-17 (available online free of charge). https://federturismo.it/it/documenti/documenti/12200-turismo-e-valorizzazione-guida-a-cura-di-italo-candoni-2022/file.html - A. Bollo, 50 sfumature di pubblico e la sfida dell’audience development, in I pubblici della cultura. Audience development, audience engagement, a cura di F. De Biase, Milano, 2014 (available online free of charge). https://www.fundraisingschool.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/50-sfumature-di-pubblico-e-la-sfida-dellaudience-development.pdf - E. Hooper-Greenhill, Nuovi valori, nuove voci, nuove narrative: l’evoluzione dei modelli comunicativi nei musei d’arte, in Il museo relazionale, a cura di S. Bodo, Torino, 2000, pp. 1-39 (available online free of charge). - R. Minello, Museo costruttivista: tra teorie della conoscenza e teorie dell’apprendimento non-formali e informali, in Formazione & Insegnamento, XVI, 1, 2018, pp. 93-108 (available online free of charge). One essay to be selected from the following: - I. Baldriga Musei di comunità e sviluppo territoriale: negoziazioni, patrimoni, governance, in L’officina del visibile. Musei ricerche, strumenti e prospettive, a cura di I. Baldriga, L. Filadoro, Firenze, 2024, pp. 9-26; - L. Giardini, Cultura della sostenibilità e sostenibilità culturale: tre esperimenti di didattica museale in Italia, in L’officina del visibile. Musei ricerche, strumenti e prospettive, a cura di I. Baldriga, L. Filadoro, Firenze, 2024, pp. 55-68; - A. Meunier, Musei e scuole: alleanze educative per il domani o come l’educazione museale contribuirà al successo scolastico, in L’officina del visibile. Musei ricerche, strumenti e prospettive, a cura di I. Baldriga, L. Filadoro, Firenze, 2024, pp. 211-236. The texts are available to students through the Google Classroom (6kmuissv). The same bibliography applies to both attending and non-attending students. Additional guidance on the bibliography will be provided during the course.
Frequency
Regular attendance is highly recommended, in view of the course’s practical, workshop-oriented approach.
Exam mode
The assessment will take the form of an oral examination based on the texts listed in the bibliography. It will consist of an interview of approximately 20–30 minutes, covering the principal themes addressed during the course, with questions relating to both theoretical issues and practical experiences. Students may also be asked to comment on selected texts or images. The examination is designed to evaluate both the student’s understanding of the subject matter and the acquisition of the methodological and critical skills necessary to engage with the course topics. A minimum mark of 18/30 is required to pass the examination. Preparation should be primarily based on the texts indicated in the bibliography. To attain the highest mark, 30/30 with distinction, students must demonstrate an outstanding command of the subjects covered during the course and the ability to integrate them in a coherent and logically structured manner.
Lesson mode
The course will include: lectures, focused on the presentation of theoretical issues and the discussion of methodological aspects; classroom exercises and debates, aimed at fostering the development of transferable and core skills and translating theoretical knowledge into practical actions and concrete outputs; and “flipped classroom” activities, in which students, individually or in groups of 2–3, will present selected readings from the scientific bibliography recommended by the instructor. These activities are designed to encourage students’ critical self-reflection.
  • Lesson code1055553
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CourseSustainable tourism science
  • CurriculumMANAGEMENT E GESTIONE DELLE IMPRESE TURISTICHE
  • Year3rd year
  • Semester1st semester
  • SSDL-ART/04
  • CFU12