University of Siena, Italy
13-14th Nov 2025
Deadline: 31st May 2025
We are delighted to invite papers for the international workshop ‘Museums in Motion: New Frontiers in Chinese Museum Studies’, to be held in person and online at the University of Siena on 13-14 November 2025.
Studying Chinese museums is both an intriguing and rewarding pursuit, offering a valuable perspective on the histories and cultures of China and its unprecedented transformations over the past three decades. These institutions house an extraordinary wealth of historical, artistic, and cultural artefacts, providing deep insight into China’s long and complex past, as well as its multilayered interactions with the world today. From ancient bronzes and calligraphy to contemporary art and political exhibitions, museums in China serve as dynamic spaces where history is preserved, interpreted, and debated. They shape narratives, influence national and local identities, and even serve political functions. The way history and culture are presented—what is emphasized, omitted, or reframed—offers a revealing glimpse into China’s evolving relationship with its past and present.
At the same time, questions of accessibility and representation remain central. While major state-run museums, such as the National Museum of China, present grand, state-approved narratives, smaller independent museums sometimes offer alternative perspectives, occasionally challenging official histories. This raises critical discussions about who controls historical narratives and how they are curated. Beyond their role as cultural and historical institutions, Chinese museums are at the forefront of technological and curatorial innovation. Digital exhibitions, AI-driven curation, and new approaches to audience engagement are transforming how visitors experience history and culture. But what does this mean for museum studies as a field? Are existing theories and methodologies sufficient to analyze these developments, or do we need new frameworks to understand this evolving landscape?
Furthermore, museums play an increasingly significant role in China’s modern cultural and economic strategies. The country has invested heavily in building and modernizing these institutions, signalling both a commitment to preserving heritage, and an effort to enhance cultural tourism internally and China’s cultural influences externally. Yet, this also raises fundamental questions: Are museums primarily spaces for education, instruments of soft power, or engines of commercial gain? How do they compare to museums in other parts of the world? Ultimately, studying Chinese museums is not just about appreciating artefacts—it is about understanding the intersections of history, culture, politics and society. Museums are not just neutral spaces; they actively participate in shaping national identity and public memory.
Objectives
Given China’s rapid cultural, political, and technological transformations, this workshop aims to explore the current landscape of Chinese museum studies. It seeks to foster international collaboration by bringing together scholars, curators, policymakers, and practitioners from diverse perspectives. The event will serve as a unique forum for critical dialogue, interdisciplinary exchange, and the rethinking of future directions in Chinese museum studies.
We aim to collect contributions to publish an edited volume with a leading publisher in the field in 2026/2027.
Scope
We encourage interdisciplinary approaches and welcome submissions in English that engage with a broad range of research topics, projects, and case studies, from practitioners, policymakers, and scholars from different perspectives and disciplines, including but not limited to: Archaeology; Art and Art History; Anthropological and Ethnographic Studies; Sociological Perspectives; Political Science and International Relations; Economic and Business Approaches; Media and Communication Studies; Museum Studies and Curatorial Practices; Conservation and Heritage Management; Exhibition Design and Interpretation; Education and Pedagogical Approaches; Gender and Feminist Studies; Postcolonial and Decolonial Studies; Science and Technology Studies; and Philosophical and Ethical Considerations.
Key questions the workshop seeks to address include (but are not limited to):
How are museums in China shaping and reshaping historical narratives?
What role do digital technologies play in Chinese museums?
How do Chinese museums engage with international audiences and collaborate with global institutions?
What challenges do museums face in terms of funding, curation, and public engagement?
How do museums navigate issues of decolonization, repatriation, and contested heritage?
What role do museums play in fostering community engagement, especially among local and ethnic minority groups?
How do privately funded museums contribute to or challenge dominant narratives?
How do museums address environmental sustainability and heritage conservation?
What ethical concerns arise with AI, VR, and big data in museum curation?
How are gender, diversity, and marginal voices represented in Chinese museums?
What role do Chinese museums play in international cultural diplomacy and soft power?
How do Chinese exhibitions and collections abroad shape global perceptions of Chinese culture?
What are the dynamics of collaboration between Chinese and foreign museums and how do these influence museum practices globally?
New methods and approaches to museum studies
Historical perspective on museum development in China
Museum development in Greater China and among Chinese diasporas
Dates: 13–14 November 2025
Format: Hybrid (Online & In-Person)
Hosting University: University of Siena (Department of Philology and Literary Criticism) – Arezzo Campus
Venue: Logge del Grano Hall, Piazzetta Logge del Grano 5, 52100 Arezzo, Italy
Presentation Format: Papers should not exceed 20 minutes, followed by a 5-minute discussion.
Submission Guidelines: Please send an abstract (250 words)along with a bio (max. 100 words, detailing affiliation, career stage and disciplinary background).
Important Dates:
Submission Deadline: 31 May 2025
Notification of Acceptance: 31 July 2025
Program Draft: 30 September 2025
Fee: Attendance at the workshop is free. Participants attending the in-person session shall cover their own travel and accommodation.
Proposal Submission: Please send proposals in a single email to all organizers at the following addresses:
Ornella De Nigris: ornella.denigris@unisi.it|Cangbai Wang: C.Wang6@westminster.ac.uk |Sofia Bollo: sofia.bollo@uzh.ch
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