Abstract
Museums have long been stewards of collective memory, but what happens when the stories that shape us are too personal, too intimate, or too dispersed to be housed in institutional archives? In this talk, Buli Eizenstien Dayan—Legacy Curator and founder of B-About—proposes a new dimension of heritage: the deeply personal narratives passed down within families, and how these can be preserved, honored, and shared as cultural artifacts in their own right. Drawing on her work helping individuals articulate their life stories through handcrafted jewelry, personalized books, and memory-based rituals, Buli explores how legacy can be expressed not only through historical documentation but through lived, creative, and emotional experiences. She will examine how private memory intersects with public identity, and how individuals and communities can take active roles in curating their own heritage—especially in contexts where traditional institutions have overlooked or excluded certain voices. Through real-world examples and reflective tools, this session invites attendees to reimagine legacy work as a vital practice of inclusion, identity-building, and cultural continuity. It speaks to museum professionals, educators, artists, and community leaders seeking new ways to make memory visible—beyond the museum walls.
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
2026 Special Focus—The Future of Museum Narratives
KEYWORDS
Legacy Curation Personal Heritage Storytelling Cultural Identity Memory and Belonging
