Enlightenment in the context of museum pedagogy as a foundation of national identity. the Ukrainian Museum of Australia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32405/2308-8885-2025-4(118)-2-7Keywords:
cultural diplomacy, museums of the Ukrainian diaspora, Ukrainian Museum of Australia in Melbourne, museum pedagogy, art education, exhibition projects, volunteer activity, enlightenment, Mykhailo KmitAbstract
The purpose of the article is to familiarize the Ukrainian educational community with the Ukrainian Museum of Australia's collection as a centre for preserving Ukrainian culture within one of the most geographically distant diasporas, and to highlight its significance in promoting Ukrainian culture, including within Australia’s multicultural environment. The collection and activities of the Ukrainian Museum in Melbourne are examined in the context of the mission of museums of the Ukrainian diaspora in various countries, which implement diverse activities aimed at popularizing Ukrainian art worldwide. The article highlights the importance of such activities in the current realities of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, particularly for cultural diplomacy and communicating the truth about the Ukrainians’ struggle. It is noted that diaspora museums not only preserve the connection of diaspora communities with their homeland, history, and culture, and maintain generational continuity among Ukrainians abroad, but also disseminate knowledge about Ukrainian culture and Ukrainian artists in the countries where these diasporas have formed.
At the same time, the authors emphasize that among Ukrainian diaspora museums, the museum in Melbourne remains insufficiently known, despite the fact that its collection and activities deserve far broader public attention. Based on archival materials, exhibition catalogues from different years, and other sources, the article provides an overview of the history and stages of the museum’s development, the involvement of prominent individuals in its activities, and additional facts that broaden Ukrainian teachers’ and students’ understanding of the cultural environment of the Ukrainian diaspora in Australia. The museum’s collection is outlined, including the works of the distinguished Ukrainian artist Mykhailo Kmit. The article also outlines the prospects for intercultural cooperation between Ukraine and Australia through the museum’s activities. The potential for using the article’s materials in the educational process of Ukrainian schools is emphasized.
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