The Museum of Trust and Dialogue, a memorial honoring migrants who died trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea, is closing its doors on the small Italian island of Lampedusa due to a management conflict.
The closure was announced last week by the museum’s managing body, the October 3 Committee, which named itself after the tragic date in 2013 when 368 migrants drowned off the coast of Lampedusa. Since its inauguration seven years ago, the museum has welcomed 75,000 visitors, offering a unique and solemn space dedicated to the memory of those lost at sea.
The museum showcases a range of artifacts and artwork, including powerful drawings by Adal, a teenage migrant who documented the torture and abuse he endured in Eritrea. His poignant etchings have even been utilized by the United Nations as evidence against the oppressive regime in his home country. The museum also features a ‘refugee room’ with a multimedia experience that immerses visitors in the harrowing journey across the Mediterranean.
Despite its significant cultural and humanitarian impact, the museum is being forced to close due to disputes with the new management over operational terms. Tareke Brhane, president of the October 3 Committee, stated that the proposed new terms were untenable. “New management offered us an expensive convention which we couldn’t accept: 10,000 euros a year for only two rooms of about 50 square meters in total, with the obligation of having to reach an agreement on the type of installations,” Brhane explained.
Brhane expressed his disappointment over the lack of commitment to maintaining the museum. “I acknowledge the fact that, in spite of the efforts and work done, there was no intention of continuing to have a museum dedicated to migration on Lampedusa,” he said.
The museum’s closure marks a significant loss for Lampedusa, which has long been a symbol of both the hope and tragedy experienced by migrants. The museum’s unique exhibitions and its role in raising awareness about the plight of migrants will be sorely missed.