UDK 069:008:338.48:316.7 FROM OBJECT TO NARRATIVE: CONCEPTUALIZING INTERPRETED MUSEUMS AS A TOOL FOR ACTIVATING HISTORY IN EUROPEAN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES

Abstract

The aim of the article is to provide a theoretical and empirical understanding of interpreted museums as a new museum-organizational model emerging within the transformation of the museum paradigm, and to define their role in activating history as a resource in European sustainable development practices.
The research methodology is based on systemic-analytical, comparative, historical-cultural and typological approaches, which made it possible to identify key patterns of paradigm transformation, analyze contemporary practices of historical interpretation, and develop a typology based on empirical data (23 institutions in 10 countries).
Research results. Contemporary museum practice demonstrates a stable shift from an object-centered model to a meaning- and experience-oriented one, where interpretation becomes the core mechanism of content construction. The concept of «interpreted museums» is introduced as a broader analytical category that goes beyond narrative museums and includes various forms of interpretive museification, particularly of immovable heritage. In these institutions, original objects play a secondary or optional role, while meaning is conveyed through spatial, multimedia, and scenographic tools. A typology of five types is proposed. These museums activate history by transforming it into a socially meaningful experience, contributing to local identity, social cohesion, and territorial attractiveness.
Scientific novelty lies in substantiating interpreted museums as a distinct model beyond the collection-based paradigm and integrating museum studies, heritage studies, and territorial capital theory.
Practical significance. The results can be applied in heritage management, territorial development, cultural policy, museum design, and education.