Using ethnographic methods this project aims to analyze how cultural and economic factors affect the framing, understanding, preservation and management of heritage in cultural environments such as historic houses and open-air museums. How are the ethical issues of how heritage is valued (and whose heritage is valued) handled over time in the face of economic pressures?

The project studies how heritage institutions that feature historic houses and heritage environments are affected by the changing cultural and economic context in which they operate as market forces that include business models derived from the private sector are increasingly adapted to operations of public heritage institutions in Sweden. Focusing on four heritage institutions in Sweden, the study uses ethnographic methods to examine the opportunities and problems encountered by these institutions as they work in this mixed economy, and it asks how this context affects the framing of heritage, as well as the ethics involved in choosing whose heritage is deemed most relevant to showcase.

Working with ethnographic methods, the project critically analyzes the manner in which museums’ ability to utilize and exhibit heritage is affected by the cultural economic preconditions under which they work. To do this the project: 1) conducts interviews with the leadership, staff, and visitors at four Swedish heritage institutions. 2) analyzes policy docs and annual reports. 3) examines how national, regional and municipal policies, and processes of resource allocation are interpreted by heritage institutions. 4) conducts participant observations at the 4 museums analyzing back-stage decision making processes & front-stage stagings and public receptions/contestations of heritage exhibits.