Indice dei fascicoli

Abstract: At the dawn of the 21st century, museums of cities have an increasingly important role as storehouses of collective memory. New technologies are transforming how we communicate and learn, globalization is a growing reality and urban populations are changing. These upheavals bring many highly stimulating challenges. Here Pointe-à-Callière describes its experience as it has been shaped by its unique nature, reflecting Montréal’s character as a city of trade and cultures, the Museum’s own personality and the many ways it looks at its urban surroundings. The Museum defines itself through the authentic remains it safeguards and its role as a place for visitors to learn about and encounter other cultures, through its interactions with other players in society and its close relations with visitors. But must a museum become a mirror of its community? How can it explore new concepts and compete with virtual attractions without abandoning its mission? Is there a future for museums of cities? How can they become vital components of their societies by creating a place for themselves within the cultural ecosystem?