Micromuseology in Lesvos: Reflecting on large ideas through “small places”

This article examines three grassroots museums on Lesvos to propose a theory of micromuseology, highlighting how small-scale, community-led institutions preserve personal and collective memory, support intergenerational learning, and foster cultural sustainability. These museums — focused on resin collection, refugee heritage, and local folklore — offer intimate, emotionally resonant experiences, rooted in gift economies and personal storytelling. Despite lacking professional standards, they function as vital spaces of identity and resilience, particularly in the absence of official narratives. The author argues these micro-museums challenge dominant museological paradigms and demand a rethinking of what museums are and whom they serve.