RECORDING LIFE STORIES AS A NEVER-ENDING PROCESS: INTERVIEWING PEOPLE BY THE MUSEUM OF THE HLUČÍN REGION AS A CASE STUDY ON SLOW MEMORY

This article examines the mnemonic work of the Museum of the Hlučín Region in Czechia using the emerging concept of slow memory. It elucidates how the institution endeavours to preserve and transmit the collective memory of the region, establishing a memory canon and disseminating it among younger generations. The mnemonic efforts of the museum are reinforced by its close engagement with the local community, where museum personnel view their role as preserving the region’s memory and cultural heritage for posterity – a process one museum employee describes as ‘rescue archaeology’. This study argues that the museum acts to safeguard the memory and identity of the Hlučín community in response to potential erosion due to generational shifts and the influence of Czech society. This case study provides insights into longue durée memory and the institutionalization of memories in the face of accelerated commemoration, emphasizing the significance of the individual agency of mnemonic agents.