Open Talks 2024, DEMHIST: How to gather all the house museum nerds in one place? Just host a conference – DEMHIST knows how.
In 2024, we were supposed to meet in person at the DEMHIST conference in Georgia. After the amazing time we had in Belgrade in 2023, I was already picturing hallway conversations, deep debates about authenticity, and late-night chats about 19th-century kitchen utensils. But alas – it got canceled. Ouch.
Luckily, DEMHIST is resourceful. From the ashes of disappointment, Open Talks 2024 emerged – an online gathering that turned out to be an absolute treat. Because let’s be honest: when house museum nerds don’t have a place to talk, we start bugging our friends and families with passionate monologues about servant staircases and baroque ceiling reconstructions.
This was better. Much better.
Open Talks focused on a vital theme:
Historic House Museums and Their Communities.
Because – without visitors, neighbours, and people who care – these houses are just walls.
Day One: INSPIRE
The keynote was delivered by none other than John Orna-Ornstein from the UK’s National Trust – an institution that manages around 500 heritage sites (including 220 country houses!). Hearing about his work felt like peeking into a dream job for anyone obsessed with heritage and public access… but also slightly terrifying. One house museum is already enough stress, thank you very much.
The presentations celebrated the power of house museums to inspire:
• Liisa Oikari (Mannerheim Museum, Finland) introduced a moving exhibition on humanitarian values.
• Maria Szadkowska (Museum of Prague) offered a beautiful insight into the evolving role of women in domestic life.
• Virtual tours included:
– A fascinating peek into Pula’s Fort Center by Katarina Pocedić and Katarina Marić,
– And my own video tour from Slovenia’s house museums (Prešeren’s Birth House, Finžgar’s Birth House, Čop’s Birth House..) on Žirovnica Path of Cultural Heritage (yep, that’s me!).
Day Two: INTERPRET
This day dove deep into interpretation – how to connect the past with today’s challenges, emotions, and identities.
• Alicja Marika Lubowicka (Copernicus House, Poland) talked about the importance of “ugly” souvenirs – and why they matter.
• Nirit Shalev Khalifa shared the story of modest huts that once housed Israeli leaders – now museums.
• Denise Maior-Barron explored multicultural interpretations at the Balchik Palace in Bulgaria.
• Galina Lysyakova revealed efforts to revive Tolstoy-connected estates in Russia.
• My PhD mentor Verena Perko (Slovenia) moved us all with a reflection on interpreting the tragic fates of great figures – in this case, poet France Prešeren.
• And my doctoral colleague Lucija Perko took us on a video journey through Jože Plečnik’s House in Ljubljana – a poetic architectural gem.
Day Three: IMPACT
How can house museums change the world around them? Through empowerment, innovation, and connection.
• Elena Montanari (Italy) shared the Open Atelier project – new participatory formats from house museums in Slovenia, Iceland, Denmark, and Sweden.
• Sara Chafi (Algeria) presented the Ahmed Bey Palace as a symbol of resilience and social engagement.
• Ramesh Prasad Dawadi (Nepal) told the story of founding a museum inside a sacred temple complex – against all odds.
• Verónica Herrera (Mexico) showed us what community-based guided tours can really be.
• And Alexander Bogatyrev (Russia) introduced us to “the most honest manor in the Moscow region.” Intriguing, right?
So… what now? Open Talks 2025?
Open Talks 2024 was such a success that DEMHIST decided it’s here to stay. From now on, we’ll meet twice a year – once in person, once online. The best of both worlds.
And guess what?
At Open Talks 2025, the theme will be Parallel Narratives in House Museums. And the keynote speaker? None other than Frank Vagnone – the house museum anarchist himself, author of Anarchist’s Guide to Historic House Museums. A true rockstar for heritage rebels.
Oh, and yes – your friendly neighbourhood house museum nerd will be back again, with a brand-new video tour.
What an honour to be in such company.
What a joy to share this global nerdom.
Soundtrack: Wilco – Dawned on Me
House museums rarely hit you straight away. They creep in quietly.
Like a chorus you only really feel on the third listen.
Like backing vocals you barely notice – but without them, the song wouldn’t have a soul.
That’s how our houses are.
They don’t shout. They just stay.
And then one day…
it dawned on you.
More Information on Open Talks 2024
Official website: Demhist / Open Talks 2024 DEMHIST
Photos: Matjaž Koman / House Museum Nerd
Text: Matjaž Koman / House Museum Nerd
This post is part of the Ultimate House Museum Guide for Nerds – a personal project exploring the beauty, strangeness and magic of house museums around the world. Open Talks 2024