What the Migration Museum Learned from a Shopping-centre Home

When you think of a museum, a bustling shopping center might not be the first place that comes to mind. But for the Migration Museum in London, this unconventional setting has proven to be a fertile ground for innovative community engagement and storytelling.

At MuseumNext Live, Aditi Anand, the Artistic Director of the Migration Museum, passionately described their mission: “We consider ourselves as creating Britain’s Missing Museum. It’s shocking that we don’t have a museum that reflects how migration has shaped who we are as individuals and as a nation.” Established as a project over a decade ago, the museum has roamed through various locations, from cultural centers to train stations, each experience enriching their approach.

Update, October 2026: the Migration Museum’s final day at Lewisham Shopping Centre was 30 March 2025. Its current plans describe a permanent home in the City of London, due to open in 2028.

A Unique Home in a Shopping Center

At the time of Anand’s 2024 presentation, the museum occupied a former H&M store in Lewisham Shopping Centre. Initially intended as a six-month residency, the pandemic and shifting retail landscapes extended their stay to four years. This unexpected permanence has allowed the museum to reach audiences who might not traditionally visit museums. “We get audiences that are markedly different from other London museums, audiences that are much more reflective of our local community,” Anand notes.

One of the museum’s unique strengths is its accessibility. Unlike the grand, imposing entrances of traditional museums, the Migration Museum’s open, doorless entry in the shopping center invites casual passersby to wander in. “You get these wonderful moments of people passing by with their weekly shop, peering in, seeing what’s happening at the museum,” says Anand. This approach has led to spontaneous and meaningful interactions, turning casual curiosity into deep engagement.

The Migrant Makers Market

The museum’s innovative shop, the Migrant Makers Market, serves as both a retail and storytelling space. Designed by a local Lewisham designer, it features products from small-scale migrant-owned enterprises. Anand explains, “It’s a destination in its own right, and every product tells a story, adding to the museum’s narrative.” The shop is vibrant, reflecting the multicultural essence of the community it serves, and offers a variety of unique items that are not only beautiful but also deeply meaningful.

The market’s concept aligns perfectly with the museum’s mission. By providing a platform for migrant artisans and entrepreneurs, it not only supports local businesses but also enriches the cultural tapestry of the museum. Each item sold in the market has a story behind it, a story of migration, resilience, and creativity. This makes shopping at the Migrant Makers Market a truly immersive experience, where visitors can connect with the personal journeys of the makers.

Exhibitions That Resonate

The museum’s exhibitions focus on the everyday experiences of migration, aiming to make the topic relatable and relevant. “Our collection consists of everyday stories of people,” Anand says. “We’re trying to reframe migration as something that’s very familiar to us. It’s part of our lives.” This approach is evident in exhibits like “Room to Breathe,” which immerses visitors in the domestic environments of migrant families, encouraging them to engage actively by opening drawers and listening to personal stories.

One of the standout features of the museum’s exhibitions is their interactivity. Visitors are not just passive observers but active participants. For example, in the “Room to Breathe” exhibition, visitors can open kitchen drawers, listen to family stories, and even leave their own stories behind. This level of engagement helps bridge the gap between the museum and its visitors, making the experience personal and impactful.

Fostering Deep Conversations

Anand also highlights the museum’s role in fostering community conversations. “We get deep conversations that I don’t think I’ve had the experience of having with front-of-house staff in most museums,” she remarks. The museum’s front-of-house team is trained to handle emotional and challenging discussions, often sparked by the deeply personal nature of the exhibits. This commitment to open dialogue is crucial, especially in a museum dedicated to the complex and often contentious topic of migration.

The Migration Museum’s impact extends beyond its walls. Collaborations with local businesses and community projects, such as mapping migrant-owned enterprises and showcasing stories in the museum and around the shopping center, have created a dynamic, interconnected cultural hub. Their responsiveness to current events, like the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and campaigns highlighting the contributions of migrants to the UK, demonstrate their commitment to relevant and timely storytelling.

Looking Ahead: A Permanent Home

Looking ahead, the museum faces the challenge of moving to a permanent site near the Tower of London. Anand is optimistic but realistic about the transition: “We’re moving into a really different kind of space. How do we translate all this amazing learning into a space like this?” The plan involves prioritizing temporary exhibitions and continuing to engage with communities across the UK. This move marks a significant milestone for the museum, but it also poses new challenges and opportunities.

Anand envisions a model that includes both a permanent site and high street hubs across the country, collecting stories and engaging communities. “We’re learning a lot, and I’m sure lots of colleagues will have a lot to teach us about how we might go about doing this,” she says. This model aims to keep the museum’s mission alive and relevant, ensuring that it remains a vital part of the communities it serves.

What Other Museums Can Learn

For a museum considering an unconventional venue, Anand’s account shows how the entrance, shop, exhibitions and staff work together. People could arrive while doing their weekly shopping, discover products made by migrant-owned businesses and stay to share their own experiences. Front-of-house training mattered because the conversations could be emotional or difficult. These are useful design choices to carry into a new building, even when its location and audience change.

The overview of working with refugees and migrants brings together guiding, interpretation and artistic practice.

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This article is based on a presentation by Aditi Anand, Artistic Director of the Migration Museum at MuseumNext Live at the Royal Geographical Society, South Kensington in June 2024.