Originating in Berlin in 2015, Multaka (Arabic for “meeting point”) is an innovative intercultural museum-guiding initiative. Refugees and migrants fluent in Arabic and Persian are trained as volunteer guides in history and art museums, offering tours that weave together official narratives and visitors’ cultural memories. The core strength lies in its dialogical format—Multaka guides don’t just translate; they spark conversations, adding contextual richness that resonates with migrant audiences and fosters mutual understanding.
In recent years, the Multaka model has expanded across parts of Europe, including cities in the UK, Italy, and Switzerland. In each location, guides highlight meaningful connections between local museum collections and their own cultural heritage. These guided experiences enhance understanding by linking artifacts to broader stories about migration, identity, and knowledge-sharing. Visitors not only learn about history—they also witness how cultural memory lives on across borders.
Multaka transforms museums from static institutions into dynamic spaces of exchange. Visitors feel acknowledged when they see their histories reflected and valued. Migrants become cultural connectors, gaining confidence and purpose through meaningful roles. By reframing how we experience museums, Multaka demonstrates how inclusive storytelling can create bridges of empathy and shared belonging in multicultural societies.
