Polyvocal Interpretation of Contested Colonial Heritage

PICCH explores how archival material created in a colonial mindset can be re-appropriated and re-interpreted to become an effective source for decolonization and the basis for a future inclusive society. The aim is to engender a polyvocality that can be incorporated into the archive itself providing new ways to enter and explore the past via a contemporary interpretative frame.

Many memory institutions across Europe hold records of a colonial past now contestated from both communities of origin, ethnic minorities and civil society at large. Professionals in the field ask what to do with this problematic heritage, from returning items when appropriate, to rewriting the historical context in a more critical and inclusive way. PICCH opens up a dialogue between the heritage and a variety of users, including archivists, researchers, filmmakers, and grassroots organisations.