Cseri Miklós - Bereczki Iboly - Kovács Zsuzsa (szerk.): Ház és ember, A Szabadtéri Néprajzi Múzeum évkönyve 21. (Szentendre, Szabadtéri Néprajzi Múzeum, 2009)

SZABADTÉRI MUZEOLÓGIA 40 ÉVE MAGYARORSZÁGON - Thomas Bloch Ravn: A szabadtéri múzeumok egy új kor hajnalán

Thomas Bloch Ravn Open air museums at the down of a new age The author as president of the Association of the European Open Air Museums feels honoured for being invited to the conference held at the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the foundation of the Village Museum Göcsej in Zalaegerszeg. The implemented system in the Hungarian open air museums - the central skanzen, the five regional museums, the in situ preserved building groups and the country houses included - is logic and appropriate and at the same time similar to the Scandinavian model. The thoughts of Arthur Hazelius - the founder of the Skanzen in Stockholm are nowadays more and more opportune and important. Following the founders' intentions, these early museums were oriented towards the public, they were sensible for new and changing situations but they formed their own profile. As soon as they became "professional", they were more attached to scientific circles than to the visitors. The principles, which were modern at the time of the museum's creation and put the visitor in the centre, are renewed today in more and more museums, as a sign of their adjustment to the present situation. It is a general trend in our days that open air museums become part of the market economy. Own income plays a bigger role, sponsoring is being exhausted, public funds are less and the number of visitors get more attention. Open air museums are in a situation of competition: commercial entertainment easily wins over visitors keen on adventure and relaxation. Museums have to consider in their developments the interest and the demand of visitors. If they present history with new and different methods, they will become multicoloured, and with the development of the quality of their services they improve the comfort feeling of the visitors, who spend there their off-day. Several European open air museums focussed on present history in their projects during the last few years, since visitors have more points of contact with the present (Maihaugen-Lillehammer, Oslo, Arnhem, Den Garnie By-Aarhus). Similar research referring to the 20th century is taking place in Szentendre, in the Hungarian Open Air Museum and in Sóstó too. It serves visitors' increasing interest, when a museum revives customs and traditions of human life. The Christmas program in Den Garnie By multiplied the number of visitors in such a way that the quality of the muséologie work and not at last, the income increased too. Historic knowledge and curiosities can be delivered through activities, which increase income - such as a choice of shops and restaurants selected by demanding, authentic muséologie activities. The key of the open air museums' future development is the creation of their own profile: to offer the visitors programs based on professional research, which they cannot find elsewhere, to offer high quality service competitive with the commercial area, and the capability of permanent renewal. 167