Decolonizing European Museums:
Sociomuseological Approaches in Dance, Performance and Conceptual Art
My doctoral research in Sociomuseology (Universidade Lusófona, Lisbon) is about to be published as a book by Transcript Verlag, in open access, so it will be freely available to read and share.
As institutions deeply shaped by and contributing to coloniality, museums have an immeasurable influence on how knowledge, people, and nature are classified and documented in Europe. Arantxa Ciafrino brings together ten case studies, ranging from contemporary dance choreographies and performances presented in prestigious institutions across European capitals to everyday rituals by artists and conceptual art exhibitions that place the public in relation to one another. Grounded in Sociomuseology, Dance and Performance Studies, and Decolonial Studies, the research draws on interviews with choreographers, artists, and museum professionals to reflect on how performance and dance can offer decolonial approaches to museum collections and practices.
This research was developed with the support of the UNESCO Chair in Education, Citizenship and Cultural Diversity. It was carried out at the Department of Museology of the Universidade Lusófona in Lisbon, Portugal, and, as a doctoral researcher, at the Research Center Intervening Arts at Freie Universität Berlin, Germany.
Publication details and download link coming soon.
Universidade Lusófona, Lisbon
February 2022 - February 2026