The Erasmus+ adult education staff mobility project „Inclusive museum - involving the community at the Estonian Open Air Museum“ was composed of five learning mobilities in the course on 2020-2022. As a result the Estonian Open Air Museum will be a sustainable and an inclusive museum, which following the example of other European open air museums and general museum developments in the world, will be a significant contributor in building a strong civil society in Estonia.
The project is supported by Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps Agency from the Erasmus+ programme.
Project objectives:
- Keeping up with the international museum developments and sustainability. Opportunity as a museum to contribute in the discussion on topical issues. On an international level the Estonian Open Air Museum is a considerable collaboration partner and a competitor. Establishing long-term relations with museums in Europe.
- The Estonian Open Air Museum becomes an active member of the society being an inclusive museum.
- Development of a viable volunteer engagement strategy by the end of the project. This increases the number of volunteers and diversifies their profiles.
- Development of various social responsibility programmes by the end of the project, including a programme already in plan for including the elderly (will launch in 2022) and specific programmes for young people and young adults discussing social issues (domestic violence, poverty, etc.).
- Organisation of an international conference about the Soviet era in autumn 2022 due to the translocation of a Soviet collective farm dwelling.
- Increasing the competence and motivation of employees. All museum staff will benefit.
Five employees of the Estonian Open Air Museum took part of job shadowing - the head of the Multicultural Center of Estonia, Head of Educational Department, Research Secretary, the Event Manager and the Communication Manager. Two of the job shadowing mobilities took place at Skansen in Sweden, two at the Hungarian Open Air Museum and one at the Lithuanian Open Air Museum. The main themes of the learning mobilities were the involvement of volunteers and people with special needs in an open air museum environment after the example of other European
open air museums. Unfortunately, participation in the planned conferences was canceled due to the pandemic.
Expected outcomes:
- Organisation of an international conference about the Soviet era in autumn 2022 due to the translocation of a Soviet collective farm dwelling.
- There is a systemised volunteer involvement strategy, an increase in the number of volunteers and diversification of volunteers´ profiles.
- Optimisation of museum management through volunteer work. Decrease in employees´ workload, increase in community´s satisfaction.
- Launch of the social responsibility programme for elders. There is a collection of ideas for various programmes for people with special needs that could be undertaken in the future.
- Discussion of social problems through special programmes and public events.
- Increase in the competence and motivation of employees. Increase in employee satisfaction.
Long-term benefits:
- Good reputation of the Estonian Open Air Museum on both Estonian and international level.
- Estonian Open Air Museum is an active member of the society.
- Estonian Open Air Museum is a recognisable contributor in the making of a strong civil society.
- Estonian Open Air Museum is an inclusive and a solidary museum.
- Estonian Open Air Museum helps to promote tolerance and solidarity in the society.
- Long-term international communication networks, which facilitate any future international cooperation and will give the museum a voice on topical issues.