International opening
A museum dedicated to the politics and people of Europe opened earlier this year. Chris Mugan asks its creative director, Taja Vovk van Gaal, what it hopes to achieve
As Brexit negotiations between the UK and Europe rumble on, this year marks the opening of a museum funded by the European parliament to improve the understanding of the continent, its history and its peoples.
The parliament’s president, Antonio Tajani, opened the House of European History on 6 May – the culmination of a project that started a decade ago. The aim of the museum, in Belgium near the parliament’s Brussels headquarters, is to explain Europe’s origins and evolution, and celebrate diversity, as well as focusing on more recent history as the continent moved from the conflicts of the 19th and early 20th century to today’s ongoing efforts at greater integration.
What began in a more positive period has emerged into a time of uncertainty for European institutions. The museum finds itself having to deal with Brexit amid a wider debate on the purpose of the EU. As Hans-Gert Pöttering, the former president of the European parliament and the current chair of the museum’s board of trustees, said at the opening: “The House of European History is intended to help citizens step into the future with confidence, a future which, from today’s standpoint, looks likely to be troubled and full of threats. It is a house that, by showing us the dynamics of European history, enables us to better understand recent history, as well as the present.”
The museum is building a permanent collection and also hosting temporary exhibitions, including the current one, titled Interactions – Centuries of Commerce, Combat and Creation, which highlights key encounters and exchanges throughout the continent’s past. Rather than define a European identity, experts working for the museum seek to stimulate discussion about shared memories and consciousness.
How did the House of European History come about?
Taja Vovk van Gaal: The project was initiated by Pöttering in his inaugural speech of 2007. The following year, a committee of historians and museum experts from various European countries drew up a concept for the project, which envisaged the House of European History as a modern exhibition, documentation and information centre that would reflect the latest museological thinking.
In January 2011, an academic project team was recruited from across Europe, which defined the vision and mission of the museum, developed the narrative for the permanent exhibition and worked on different fields such as the collecting and visitor policies, temporary exhibitions and learning programmes.
Were plans in place before the Brexit result?
The scenario for the permanent exhibition was finalised at the beginning of 2013 when we started working on design.
Did the EU referendum in the UK change how you have approached the venue?
From the beginning, the top floor was envisioned as an area for the permanent exhibition where the current issues facing Europe could be presented. During the referendum one of our curators was in the UK and we had a network of people collecting material for us, which was produced and distributed for that occasion. Some of the items have been displayed in the permanent exhibition.
Who is the museum aimed at?
The House of European History is aimed at Europeans from all parts of the continent, of all age groups and from all walks of life. No previous knowledge about European history is needed. The exhibition focuses on the main phenomena and processes that have shaped today’s Europe. It offers multiple interpretations and views in the 24 official languages of the EU.
What kind of building is the museum in?
The museum is in the Eastman building in Parc Léopold, close to European government institutions. The building was built in 1935 to accommodate a dental clinic for disadvantaged children, financed by a donation from the US businessman George Eastman, the inventor of Kodak film.
An architectural competition was held with a view to transform this structure into a museum. This was won by a group comprising Chaix & Morel and Associates from France, JSWD Architekten from Germany and TPF from Belgium. Their plans included the renovation of the facades to maintain the historic aesthetic of the building and extensions to the courtyards and roof.
Did you work with local communities on its development?
We have cooperated with several museums and other institutions as well as Brussels authorities to establish the museum as a strong contributor to the city’s life. We have aimed to engage a range of local communities, particularly in our learning programmes.
What can visitors expect to see at the House of European History?
The permanent exhibition covers nearly 4,000 sq metres and focuses on European processes and events since the 19th century, as well as some aspects covering the roots of the continent. We also have a temporary exhibition, which is currently on encounters and exchanges of people, ideas and goods throughout European history. Overall, we have more than 1,500 objects from around 300 institutions around the world, including items from the museum’s own collection. Visitors can explore European processes and phenomena as well as individual events, with help from a tablet set up in their own language.
Visitor feedback has been positive so far. Although they are sometimes surprised that they do not find any histories of specific nation states, they praise the richness of the stories that are intertwined using the chronological approach, with a balance between the rational and emotional. We have also received positive feedback regarding the fact that the presentation does not avoid contradictions or difficult issues from the European past.
What is in your collection?
A collection policy was written at the start of the work by the academic project team in 2011. We do not want to duplicate collections from museums in national states and we want to get as many objects on loan from as many institutions from across Europe as possible – not just EU member states. To this end we have cooperated with museums in the UK, which have loaned us a variety of precious objects. We have also purchased, or had donated, a number of items that are on permanent display.
What is your exhibition programme like?
There will be a temporary exhibition every year. The second one, which will open in 2018, is entitled Restless Youth and is about young generations in Europe after 1945. Besides that, we will be involved with preparing travelling exhibitions in cooperation with other museums.
How important do you think a museum of European history is in the wake of the Brexit vote?
The House of European History is the first museum to attempt to present the main processes and phenomena that originated in Europe and influence the development of the continent from a transnational perspective. This is important, not only in view of Brexit, but also in terms of the latest developments in general. The museum can help to look back and remember what the reasons for postwar divisions were as well as the cooperation and the unifications that were made.
Chris Mugan is a freelance journalist
www.historia-europa.ep.eu
Main funder European parliament
Architects Chaix & Morel and Associates; JSWD Architekten; TPF
Exhibition design Acciona Productions and Design
Admission Free
The parliament’s president, Antonio Tajani, opened the House of European History on 6 May – the culmination of a project that started a decade ago. The aim of the museum, in Belgium near the parliament’s Brussels headquarters, is to explain Europe’s origins and evolution, and celebrate diversity, as well as focusing on more recent history as the continent moved from the conflicts of the 19th and early 20th century to today’s ongoing efforts at greater integration.
What began in a more positive period has emerged into a time of uncertainty for European institutions. The museum finds itself having to deal with Brexit amid a wider debate on the purpose of the EU. As Hans-Gert Pöttering, the former president of the European parliament and the current chair of the museum’s board of trustees, said at the opening: “The House of European History is intended to help citizens step into the future with confidence, a future which, from today’s standpoint, looks likely to be troubled and full of threats. It is a house that, by showing us the dynamics of European history, enables us to better understand recent history, as well as the present.”
The museum is building a permanent collection and also hosting temporary exhibitions, including the current one, titled Interactions – Centuries of Commerce, Combat and Creation, which highlights key encounters and exchanges throughout the continent’s past. Rather than define a European identity, experts working for the museum seek to stimulate discussion about shared memories and consciousness.
How did the House of European History come about?
Taja Vovk van Gaal: The project was initiated by Pöttering in his inaugural speech of 2007. The following year, a committee of historians and museum experts from various European countries drew up a concept for the project, which envisaged the House of European History as a modern exhibition, documentation and information centre that would reflect the latest museological thinking.
In January 2011, an academic project team was recruited from across Europe, which defined the vision and mission of the museum, developed the narrative for the permanent exhibition and worked on different fields such as the collecting and visitor policies, temporary exhibitions and learning programmes.
Were plans in place before the Brexit result?
The scenario for the permanent exhibition was finalised at the beginning of 2013 when we started working on design.
Did the EU referendum in the UK change how you have approached the venue?
From the beginning, the top floor was envisioned as an area for the permanent exhibition where the current issues facing Europe could be presented. During the referendum one of our curators was in the UK and we had a network of people collecting material for us, which was produced and distributed for that occasion. Some of the items have been displayed in the permanent exhibition.
Who is the museum aimed at?
The House of European History is aimed at Europeans from all parts of the continent, of all age groups and from all walks of life. No previous knowledge about European history is needed. The exhibition focuses on the main phenomena and processes that have shaped today’s Europe. It offers multiple interpretations and views in the 24 official languages of the EU.
What kind of building is the museum in?
The museum is in the Eastman building in Parc Léopold, close to European government institutions. The building was built in 1935 to accommodate a dental clinic for disadvantaged children, financed by a donation from the US businessman George Eastman, the inventor of Kodak film.
An architectural competition was held with a view to transform this structure into a museum. This was won by a group comprising Chaix & Morel and Associates from France, JSWD Architekten from Germany and TPF from Belgium. Their plans included the renovation of the facades to maintain the historic aesthetic of the building and extensions to the courtyards and roof.
Did you work with local communities on its development?
We have cooperated with several museums and other institutions as well as Brussels authorities to establish the museum as a strong contributor to the city’s life. We have aimed to engage a range of local communities, particularly in our learning programmes.
What can visitors expect to see at the House of European History?
The permanent exhibition covers nearly 4,000 sq metres and focuses on European processes and events since the 19th century, as well as some aspects covering the roots of the continent. We also have a temporary exhibition, which is currently on encounters and exchanges of people, ideas and goods throughout European history. Overall, we have more than 1,500 objects from around 300 institutions around the world, including items from the museum’s own collection. Visitors can explore European processes and phenomena as well as individual events, with help from a tablet set up in their own language.
Visitor feedback has been positive so far. Although they are sometimes surprised that they do not find any histories of specific nation states, they praise the richness of the stories that are intertwined using the chronological approach, with a balance between the rational and emotional. We have also received positive feedback regarding the fact that the presentation does not avoid contradictions or difficult issues from the European past.
What is in your collection?
A collection policy was written at the start of the work by the academic project team in 2011. We do not want to duplicate collections from museums in national states and we want to get as many objects on loan from as many institutions from across Europe as possible – not just EU member states. To this end we have cooperated with museums in the UK, which have loaned us a variety of precious objects. We have also purchased, or had donated, a number of items that are on permanent display.
What is your exhibition programme like?
There will be a temporary exhibition every year. The second one, which will open in 2018, is entitled Restless Youth and is about young generations in Europe after 1945. Besides that, we will be involved with preparing travelling exhibitions in cooperation with other museums.
How important do you think a museum of European history is in the wake of the Brexit vote?
The House of European History is the first museum to attempt to present the main processes and phenomena that originated in Europe and influence the development of the continent from a transnational perspective. This is important, not only in view of Brexit, but also in terms of the latest developments in general. The museum can help to look back and remember what the reasons for postwar divisions were as well as the cooperation and the unifications that were made.
Chris Mugan is a freelance journalist
www.historia-europa.ep.eu
Project data
Cost €55.4m (£49m)Main funder European parliament
Architects Chaix & Morel and Associates; JSWD Architekten; TPF
Exhibition design Acciona Productions and Design
Admission Free