Conference
Legacies: Why Museum Histories Matter
- Date
- Tuesday 13 January 2026 - Thursday 15 January 2026
- Address
- To be announced
A conference that explores the meaning of inheritance
13–15 January 2026, Leiden University, the Netherlands
In January 2026, Leiden University’s Museum Lab hosts the international conference 'Legacies: Why Museum Histories Matter'. The conference reflects on museums with significant founding histories, broadly defined by their buildings, collections, commemorative functions, collectors or founders, that are currently engaged in some manner of institutional introspection, by way of exhibitions, acquisitions, restitutions, or renovations. International researchers and museum professionals from a range of institutions present their research and museum practices tied to museum legacies.
The three-day programme consists of twelve panels and four keynote speeches by Dr. Carole Paul (University of California, Santa Barbara), Monsignor Dr. Timothy Verdon (Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence), Prof. Dr. Emile Schrijver (Jewish Cultural Quarter and National Holocaust Museum, Amsterdam), Prof. Dr. Andrew McClellan (Tufts University, Boston). Also see the full programme.
To sign up for the conference, either for one or two days or for the full programme, please complete the registration form. The number of spots for conference attendees is limited.