My twins and I

New Access to Local History Thanks to Citizen Science

After ten years in hibernation, the Allschwil Museum has been revitalised, featuring a new, modern exhibition and an innovative participation project.

'My Twins and I' is bringing fresh air into the museum: The goal is to make the museum's historical and ethnological collection visible and to explore it together with the public.

This participatory approach follows the principles of citizen science, whereby citizens are actively involved in scientific work. Fourteen Allschwil residents of various ages contributed personal everyday objects and related them to historical collection pieces. This creates new perspectives on local history, coming directly from the heart of the community. 

Co-Creation of Museum Work by Residents

Allschwil has undergone a profound transformation over the last 100 years, evolving from an agricultural community into a modern municipality with a growing population and industry.

This recent local history is barely reflected in Allschwil's current museum collection. Who could document this development better than those who experienced it first-hand?

This is where the citizen science approach comes in. Residents can contribute their knowledge, memories and stories, and play an active role in shaping the work of the museum.

The exhibition 'My Twins and I' is the first step in this new collaborative exploration of local history. 

An Ongoing Process

The contributions of the citizens are currently on display at the Museum Allschwil until 29 June 2025.

New insights gathered by visitors during the exhibition period are continually incorporated into the objects' documentation. This makes the museum a vibrant hub for citizen science, where local history is continually being co-written. 

In the Media: 

Report on the museum's reopening on Tele Basel:

https://telebasel.ch/sendungen/punkt6/227185?t=236 

Audio story of the "Twins" by Anouk Fortes, 6 years old: https://www.museumallschwil.ch/audio-09 

Client: Museum Allschwil – House for Culture and History

Project Partners: Foundation for Art, Culture, and History SKKG, Atelier Herzog, Stephanie Meier Photography

Our Role: Idea, Concept, Participation, Co-Curation, Exhibition Design