New publication: Mission history collections today – The museum as a contact zone

In November 2023, the conference volume "Missionsgeschichtliche Sammlungen heute: Das Museum als Kontaktzone" was published. The volume goes back to a conference organized by the two editors, Patrick Felix Krüger and Martin Radermacher, at CERES in June 2022 and brings together the contributions of the speakers. The book focuses on missionary collections, which are seen as an important, albeit controversial, part of European cultural history. 

In the current debate about missionary collections, it is clear that many of these valuable collections are under acute threat. Financial bottlenecks and the imminent dissolution of their supporting institutions pose a threat to the preservation and research of this cultural heritage.

The contributors to this book reflect on the complex challenges facing missionary collections and at the same time open up a dialog about the opportunities offered by this field of tension. The authors contribute their expertise from various disciplines such as cultural and religious studies, history, art history and theology.

This book not only offers a comprehensive analysis of the current situation of missionary collections, but also encourages readers to discuss models for the future handling of these collections and museums. Readers can expect a book that aims to make a contribution to the preservation and research of these important cultural testimonies.

The book is published by Transkript-Verlag: https://www.transcript-verlag.de/978-3-8376-6585-7/missionsgeschichtliche-sammlungen-heute/?c=310000020.