Abstract

The present paper is based upon the idea of Western museums as informal cultural forums. Specifically, it is concerned with Western museums, non- Western collections and the formation of local identity. I will argue that the formation of cultural identity can happen when a group engages (with museum collections) through their collective memories and histories; through objects and by providing opportunities for recollection and remembering, museums can capture and exhibit the most transitory, precarious and even difficult aspects of human life.