Tracing Toxic Agency—Exploring the Open-Air Museums and Their Contaminated Vernacular Buildings

In Norwegian museums, the built heritage is closely connected to a conservation history that involves the heavy use of toxic substances. This article explores the role of these toxic substances within the context of contemporary cultural heritage. Viewing cultural heritage as a network of relationships, the article raises the following questions: In this network of relations, what type of agency or affect do the toxins have? To what extent do we observe their impact on power dynamics, discussions about restoration principles, restoration solutions, and the understanding of heritage ontology? Through three contemporary case studies from Norwegian museums, we discover that toxins affect both formal and informal built heritage networks, shaping power dynamics. Additionally, museum staff’s practices are influenced by these toxins as they engage with and manage the built heritage in novel ways. Furthermore, the materiality of museum buildings themselves is subject to change due to these toxic substances.