Historical Artifacts as Markers of Organizational Identity in the Communication of Cultural Heritage Museums

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6239-803-0_25How to use a DOI?

Keywords

historical artifacts; organizational identity; museums; cultural heritage; communication processes; digitization

Abstract

Nowadays, museums face growing challenges regarding the representation of the past, the management of heritage in the present, and the construction of collective identities for the future, all of which are shaped by communication and technology. This research aims to analyze historical artifacts as markers of organizational identity in the communication of a museum that safeguards cultural heritage. It is based on the proposition that the identification of historical artifacts that form part of museum collections can be considered markers of identity within the institution that houses them. Using a qualitative single-case study methodology within the constructivist paradigm, the research is conducted at a private museum that safeguards tangible cultural heritage with high symbolic significance. Interviews are conducted with the museum’s senior management and specialists to identify the symbols that serve as markers, in relation to its physical and digital spaces, and their connection with the visiting public. In conclusion, historical artifacts are not merely material vestiges of the past, but symbolic markers of identity that can trigger memories, reinforce a sense of belonging, or open spaces for critical reflection within their communities. This study demonstrates that museums play a key role in the negotiation of the past and the shaping of collective identities. Their responsibility is not only to preserve, but also to reinterpret and redefine, through new communication processes.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Rita Azucena Segovia-Rojas
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/16
TI  - Historical Artifacts as Markers of Organizational Identity in the Communication of Cultural Heritage Museums
BT  - Proceedings of the VI International Conference on Communication and Applied Technologies 2026 (ICOMTA 2026)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 267
EP  - 278
SN  - 2667-128X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6239-803-0_25
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6239-803-0_25
ID  - Segovia-Rojas2026
ER  -