Professional paper

The Madeira Whale Museum: "Live creature"

Luís Freitas ; Muzej kitova (Madeira Whale Museum), Madeira, Portugal

Abstract

The Whale Museum, was founded in 1990, the objective being
to preserve memories of whaling in the Madeira archipelago,
to do honour to the whalers and promote research into and
protection of the cachalot and other cetacean species. The
Museum, located in a little building of the former Caniçal fish
market, opened its door to the public on May 28, 1990.
The permanent display related to whaling occupies 80 square
metres of floor space.
The Madeira Whale Museum is assuming an ever great cultural, museological, scholarly and educational role in the
regional context, and is the main regional tourist attraction
with an important effect on the local economy. Its importance
was recognised by the Portuguese Museological Association,
which gave it public recognition in the category of best Portuguese museum in 2012.
In 2014 it was acknowledged at the international level, as
finalist in the European Museum of the Year Prize awarded by
the Council of Europe and the European Museum Forum.
The work of the museum is based on its mission, and is governed by its vision: to be recognised by society as a whole
and similar national and international establishments as a
dynamic, creative, innovative, multidisciplinary cultural centre
in which the museum’s space is rethought in the context of
educational and academic research, and thus actively contributes to the development of citizenship – a door open to
knowledge and a window onto the sea.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

176845

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/176845

Publication date:

2.9.2016.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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