Museum Commons

About

"Museum Commons" is a project that aims to explore the role of museums in the production of community and the creation of civic engagement for the sustainable development of a city. The project also aims to create a "Commons" within a museum-like space that is open to all kinds of community, especially marginal groups.

As part of the Museum Commons, engagement projects will serve as platforms where people from different communities can participate in art and culture, and take part in art and creative projects that empower them to be active citizens. These projects motivate students to engage communities in Hong Kong, through curated exhibitions and collaborations with artists, curators, social groups (particularly ethnic minorities and migrant women), and cultural institutions.

Engagement Projects

Creative Citizens Project  

The project was led by Prof. Selina Ho, with the support of the Early Career Scheme (UGC Fund Project No. 23602520, in collaboration with the Diocesan Pastoral Centre for Workers – Ethnic Minority Service, artist Nanxi Liu, and the Chamber of Young Snow Art Exhibition Hall.

Creative Citizens Project is grounded in the belief that students are citizens of the city here and now, with the right and responsibility to participate in the civic and cultural life of Hong Kong. It aims to inspire students to think and act creatively about their role as creative citizens. 

In this project, students learned the theory and practice of creative citizenship, the role of creative professionals and their impacts on civic engagement and community development. In addition, students participated in an experimental programme to develop their creative citizen projects. The programme motivated them to explore and research civic issues, with focus on Southeast Asian minority groups in Hong Kong. They took fieldtrips to neighborhood places and held frequent meetings and workshops with Nepalese women and their family members. Finally, they collaborated on a series of artworks with a group of Nepalese women from the community partner. Their works were finally shown at the Art Gallery of the Lingnan University, at an exhibition, entitled “Home Away from Home (मातृभूमि)”, curated by students. The display emphasizes their cultural representation and participation, as well as their creative capabilities in practicing citizenship.
Website: The Creative Citizens Project

The Pokfulam Village Creative Project

The Pokfulam Village Creative Project was run in the spring semester of 2020/21 as part of the cluster course "Cultural Heritage and Sustainability" (CLE9034), led by Prof. Selina Ho. In collaboration with the community partner, Caritas Pokfulum Community Development Project, the project strives to promote the village's history and culture and enhance students’ understanding of living heritage.

Throughout the project, students focused on video production to highlight the Pokfulam village's community and cultural history. They attended an object handling session at Aberdeen's Caritas Centre to learn about the conservation work of the village’s collection and went on extensive trips to the village settlement to conduct field studies, interview residents and film the village. The project also included an introduction to the history and cultural legacy of Pokfulam Village by the community partner, meetings with the village leader and organisers, and video-making training sessions (with ITSC help). 
Website: The Pokfulam Village Creative Project.

Learning Resources

The Chamber of Young Snow Art Exhibition Hall

At the "Commons" of the Chamber of Young Snow Art Exhibition Hall, young people and members of the art and museum communities can engage in dialogue with museum professionals and curators on their cutting-edge research and practice. Seminars and exhibitions promote cross-cultural exchange and knowledge transfer in art, museum studies, and related disciplines. The Commons also serves as a gateway to curatorial knowledge and fosters collaboration within the professional museum community. 

Community Engagement and Curriculum Development

We introduce the concepts and practices of Museum Commons in the curriculum of Visual Studies:

• CLE9034 Cultural Heritage and Sustainability (Term 2, 2020–21) – In collaboration with Caritas Pokfulam Community Development Project
• CLB9016 Understanding Museums (Term 2, 2022–23) – In collaboration with the Chamber of Young Snow Art Exhibition Hall

The project is presented by the Department of Digital Arts and Creative Industries, Lingnan University.