Amsterdam's Hermitage Museum Uses New Narratives to Engage Community

The Hermitage Museum in Amsterdam is running the exhibition 'Dutch Masters Revisited' as part of the broader 'New Narratives' project, which aims to address overlooked perspectives in official museum narratives. The exhibition confronts the lack of depictions of people of color in 17th-century portraiture by juxtaposing historical works with contemporary photographs and adding texts that tell the stories of real people of color from that era. The museum also integrates LGBTQIA+ themes into its displays and programming, including LGBT tours co-organized with volunteers. These tours discuss concepts of masculinity and femininity, historical punishments for homosexuality, and the pink triangle in Holocaust contexts. The museum invites representatives from the Jewish LGBTQ community to contribute to collection decisions, reflecting an intersectional approach. The initiative goes beyond temporary activities, embedding inclusive practices into catalog updates, acquisition policies, and permanent displays. An online platform allows ongoing community contributions. The project runs until February 2, 2020, and is part of a city-wide effort by multiple Amsterdam museums to rethink representation.