How do museums tell stories—and whose stories do they tell? In this episode, I sit down with Emily Croft, a PhD student whose research digs deep into the archaeological museums of Sardinia, Italy. Between 1861 and 1939, these museums were more than just quiet halls filled with ancient objects—they were political tools used to craft a national identity in a newly unified Italy. Emily takes us behind the scenes of curatorial choices, museum politics, and excavation histories, revealing how regional pride, central authority, and even personal rivalries shaped the way Sardinia's past was displayed.
Connect with Emily: https://www.queensu.ca/art/people/croft-emily
Follow the Nora Isthmos Project on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isthmosproject.nora
Learn more about the origins of Modern Italy: https://www.google.ca/books/edition/The_Antiquity_of_the_Italian_Nation/dXfcAAAAQBAJ
Connect with Liz at Matter of Art on the podcast website: https://matterofart.crd.co/
Episode art: Emily Croft, courtesy of.
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