Muséologies, les cahiers d’études supérieures
Université du Québec à Montréal

Committed to breaking down the barriers of museology…

It was to bridge a gap in the field of Québec publishing that a group of students and graduates in museology at the Université du Québec à Montréal and the Université de Montréal decided to establish the journal Muséologie, les cahiers d’Études supérieures in 2006. Museology is a recent and little known discipline and, until the half-yearly journal went to print, a Québec university publication on the subject did not exist. And the students can be proud of the progress they have made in only three years.

“A polished layout, diversified academic contributors, a different yet comprehensive perspective on museology and the collaboration of renowned specialists in the field gave Muséologie the credibility it needed.” This was the challenge the project’s founders decided to take up three years ago.

The daring idea of publishing a scientific journal aimed at giving the professional community greater visibility and allowing young researchers to diffuse their work required discipline and professionalism. As the journal would be intended for a restricted and erudite clientele, from the outset the project’s promoters called upon the support of a scientific committee made up of faculty members who were given the ultimate task of validating the quality and accuracy of the content.

And with the first issue, the journal instantly obtained the support of UQÀM’s Heritage Institute. Moreover, the Société des musées québécois decided to distribute the journal throughout its network. One thing therefore led to another and Muséologie has now become a reference in the field and an indispensable tool for specialists. “Thanks to its impeccable layout and the fine quality of the penmanship, Muséologie is an exemplary success not only within the university community but also in terms of Québec’s cultural achievements,” asserts Michel Perron, director general of SMQ.

Today, the journal has gone beyond the scientific frontiers of the milieu of museology experts by, among other things, making effective use of modern communications, notably the Net. It has even been recognized as an official scientific resource in museology by Québec’s Ministère de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition féminine and it also won the 2008 Grafika award in the category printed media. Better yet, because of its high quality, the journal has also crossed the borders of Canada and is now available at the Centre Pompidou and Musée du Quai Branly in Paris, the Musée Olympique in Lausanne and the Musée d’ethnographie in Geneva, to name just a few! And as one success only awaits another, the …cole du Louvre chose Muséologie to publish the proceedings of its international colloquium on museology held in Paris and Strasbourg in September 2008.

According to Yves Bergeron, director of graduate studies in museology at UQÀM, “the journal’s current standing in the university milieu and the international network of museums is without doubt a remarkable accomplishment that deserves to be acknowledged.” It goes to show that Québec innovativeness, by dint of its creativity and audacity, can transcend borders!

Muséologies, les cahiers d’études supérieures
Université du Québec à Montréal