Defining ‘micromuseum’ - a Mediterranean insular curators’ perspective

Abstract From a Mediterranean insular perspective, this study intends to provide a basic definition for micromuseum. The research among twenty-one micromuseums on eight Mediterranean islands was guided by a semi-structured interview with curators of independent, private, and state micromuseums on the Maltese Islands, the Ragusan Province of Sicily, and other islands for comparative reasons. All information gathered was analyzed and findings show that there are specific factors that provide for a definition of micromuseum and which differ the micromuseum from the definition applied to traditional establishment museums. Following a comparison to earlier literature on micromuseology, the study found that among others, micromuseums present specific or focused themes and collections not found in establishment museums, are rarely noticeable, have a multitasking staff, appeal to special-interest visitors, area-specialist curators, and seek high curator-visitor interactions.