Programme

In the course of its history, Istanbul has been the centre of power of three empires and is today a cosmopolitan city on two continents with around 13 million inhabitants and more than 50 museums. On account of its historical significance and location, Istanbul has been shaped by two cultural spheres, which overlap and mix in the structure, appearance, and everyday life of the city. 

Museums primarily define themselves through their collections. The public is often told that one of the reasons for the expensive conversation of such collections is that the viewing of art works, for instance, is a joy and a pleasure, or that new knowledge can continually be gained from collections, which, when presented in the form of exhibitions, promises the public new potential insights. 

The American anthropologist Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett has stated that museum objects and in situ presentations are not given as such, but only come about through specific meta-cultural operations and museum practices. These always involve an interpretation of remains, which is inseparable from current world views and didactic concepts. 

For many visitors, taking a final, leisurely stroll through the shop is a natural part of any museum visit. For museum professionals, however, the topic of the shop is a particularly tricky one (...)