Synergies between Schools and Rural Museums: Insights from the Spanish Pyrenees

Abstract

This paper analyzes synergies between two rural museums and schools in the Spanish Pyrenees: Ecomuseu dels Valls d'Àneu and Espacio Pirineos. The foundation, organization, and development of these museums, neither of which has an education department, are examined via qualitative fieldwork (documentary analysis and interviews). Documentary analysis reveals differences in the conditions under which the museums were founded: Ecomuseu dels Valls d'Àneu was a collective initiative by local agents based on the new museology of the 1980s, whereas Espacio Pirineos was a political initiative by the town council with the aim of promoting tourism. These differences can be seen in each center's relationships with schools, the Ecomuseu dels Valls d'Àneu's network being more developed. Nonetheless, in both museums, activities and exhibitions to attract schools are of fundamental importance. The findings show that, in the absence of education departments in rural museums, it is vital to establish networks between museums and educational entities to consolidate relationships and museum education.