The Red Star Line Museum makes it possible to relive the journey of millions of people who left their country between 1873 and 1934 and took the boot in
Antwerp to America. However, the museum also collects and shows current migration stories. Multilingual volunteers visited squares, markets, schools, street parties and other events, in search of people willing to share their story. Which places were meaningful to them during the first years of living in Antwerp? Which places do they associate with joy, homesickness, hope, missing others, a sense of home? What kind of stories and emotions are related to these places? The stories illustrate that migration is not only a historical phenomenon. The stories were drawn out on a map of Antwerp and became part of the museum collection. The maps were folded into little boats. Each folded boat thus carried a unique and captivating personal story. These little boats were part of a temporary exhibition called ‘Thuishaven' ('Safe Haven’). Thus, the Red Star Line Museum became the home of all collected testimonials. A number of famous Antwerp residents supported this project and shared their personal story: stand-up comedian Geert Hoste, illustrator Fatinha Ramos, innovator/entrepreneur Deepak Mehta, student and Stampmedia journalist Mohamed Barrie and chef Fatima Marzouki. The Red Star Line story bus stopped at various events and locations in Antwerp. Everyone who wanted to share their story, could fill in a map on the spot or send it back later.
It was also possible to download a blank map, print it and filling it in.
| (A3 recto/verso) (illustration: Tom Schoonooghe) |
Where could you find the Red Star Line story bus?
For an overview of all data and bus stops, please visit this page. On request the story bus would visit schools, companies, organisations and events.
At home at the Red Star Line Museum
The story bus was also part of a larger project at the museum: 'Thuis in het Red Star Line Museum' (‘At home in the Red Star Line Museum’). Every year the museum receives 3,000 NT2 students. The museum wishes to further develop its role as an active and attractive learning place to practice Dutch for those who speak another language.
For this project the museum received additional subsidies in 2018 from the Flemish government, as part of the project group that focuses on practising Dutch language. More information on: http://www.integratie-inburgering.be/nederlands-oefenen-projectoproep. This project is a collaboration of various partners (including Atlas, FMDO, Tafels van vrede, Samenlevingsopbouw and Vormingplus).
