Small museums in socially deprived areas and identity

Abstract

The study is an analysis of the potential functions and practices related with small museums situated within stigmatized communities. This paper explores which pedagogical practices can help empower residents living in such area, by critically assessing those adopted by Bir Mula Heritage, a small museum located in Bormla. Literature demonstrates that the small museum can provide different activities and learning opportunities which can help in one way or another to decrease the stigma with groups located outside the community, and help residents to build a more positive self-identity. With this literature in mind, this paper explores whether Bir Mula Heritage was capable of providing and facilitating inclusive museum pedagogy, and whether this helped to ameliorate the community’s identity among the residents and outsiders, and how it went about to achieve these goals.