The Union of Tbilisi Municipal Museums
The Union of Tbilisi Municipal Museums unites nine memorial and thematic museums dedicated to Georgia’s cultural heritage, combining preservation with modern educational and social roles.
The Union of Tbilisi Municipal Museums was established on 29 July 2016. The union brings together nine independent museums under a single institution. Many of these museums have long histories of safeguarding Georgian cultural and historical heritage. Most are literary and memorial house-museums dedicated to prominent figures who played a key role in the development of Georgian culture during the 19th and 20th centuries. The only museum in the Union without memorial status is the Dolls Museum, which presents puppets and dolls from Georgia and around the world.
The mission of the Union is to define a new role for museums in contemporary society by combining traditional functions of collection, preservation, and research with an educational and social dimension. The Union prioritises communication with visitors and emphasises the social function of museums in modern life.
The Union of Tbilisi Municipal Museums includes:
- Ilia Chavchavadze Tbilisi Literary-Memorial Museum
- Galaktion Tabidze Memorial House-Museum
- Vakhtang Chabukiani Memorial House-Museum
- Zakaria Paliashvili Memorial House-Museum
- Merab Kostava Memorial House-Museum
- Nikoloz Baratashvili Memorial House-Museum
- Mikheil Javakhishvili Memorial House-Museum
- Kote and Soso Tseretelis House-Museum
- Dolls Museum
The Union pursues several goals: to preserve and promote the names and legacies of key Georgian cultural figures; to collect, document, and study materials related to their lives and works; to enrich collections through acquisitions and donations; and to conduct scientific research and publish findings. It also organizes permanent and temporary exhibitions in Georgia and abroad, using modern museography and new media to engage wider audiences.
Since its founding, the Union has undertaken significant rehabilitation and re-exposition projects. These include the reopening of the Vakhtang Chabukiani Memorial House-Museum (2017), the renewed exposition of the Kote and Soso Tsereteli Memorial House-Museum (2019), the rehabilitation of the Galaktion Tabidze Memorial House-Museum (2020), and the restoration and reopening of the Ilia Chavchavadze Literary-Memorial Museum (2021). Special attention has been given to integrating modern display strategies, animation, and 3D technologies to present historical figures in a way that resonates with contemporary visitors.
As a 2023 DASA Award candidate, the Union of Tbilisi Municipal Museums reflects a vision of museums as active cultural and educational institutions with a strong social role, combining the preservation of national heritage with innovative approaches to audience engagement.