In Search of Family Photos and Stories

The Museum of Ethnography’s new research project, Jelenarchívum (Archive of the Present), which draws on family and private photographs, is reaching out to local communities across the country through a series of workshops. The goal of the initiative is for participants to recall the everyday life of the recent past (1990–2025) through their own photographs and personal memories, and to collectively process these stories to make them part of a publicly accessible digital collection. The program will take place from spring to fall 2026 in 19 towns—including Dunakiliti, Vértesacsa, Debrecen, Kaskantyú, Felsőörs, and Kóka—creating an opportunity for people living in different parts of the country to join in the process of collective memory-building. 

The program focuses on the importance of preserving personal stories. Participants gain insight into the operations and philosophy of the Jelenarchívum, while also actively contributing to the collaborative effort: through selected photographs, they can share stories about family events, travels, and moments—whether ordinary or extraordinary. In this way, each image carries not only a personal memory but also sheds light on broader social and cultural contexts. 

The workshops are practice-oriented sessions: participants can explore the possibilities of processing and interpreting photographs, and receive assistance with the steps involved in digitization and online uploading. Museum staff provide professional support to ensure that the materials brought in are uploaded to the Jelenarchívum platform in the appropriate format. Through this collaborative work, participants not only learn about photographic techniques, but an open, welcoming atmosphere also develops, encouraging the sharing of memories and reflection on one another’s stories. 

One key insight from the program is that sharing personal stories often creates a sensitive and intimate atmosphere. For this reason, participation is always voluntary, and whether to upload content is entirely up to the participants. The workshops are thus not merely opportunities for collecting and digitizing photos, but community events built on dialogue, where the emphasis is on the opportunity of sharing and collective thinking. 

The long-term goal of the Jelenarchívum is to create a living, continuously expanding collection that includes personal memories of the recent past and to which participants can continue to contribute independently in the future. The initiative is being implemented as part of the MaDok program: this is a museum program for contemporary research, organized and coordinated by the Museum of Ethnography since 2003, which focuses on preserving the contemporary material world and on participatory documentation based on personal stories. 

The project is touring the country under the Petőfi Cultural Program, with support from the Ministry of Culture and Innovation and coordination by the National Institute for Culture. 

Dates for the 2026 workshop series: 

April 24, 4:30 p.m. – Dunakiliti, Community Center 

May 4, 10:00 a.m. – Vértesacsa, Vértesacsa Community Center and Library 

May 13, 1:00 PM – Debrecen, DEMKI Újkerti Community Center 

May 18, 2:00 PM – Kaskantyú, Kaskantyú Municipal Government 

May 29, 5:00 PM – Felsőörs, Felsőörs Municipal Government 

June 2, 5:00 PM – Kisharsány, Library 

June 4, 2:00 PM – Inke, Community Center 

June 11, 5:00 PM – Kővágószőlős, Andor Buzás Cultural Center and Library 

June 18, 2:00 PM – Doboz, Doboz Community Center and Library 

June 25, 5:00 PM – Kóka, Cultural Center and Krisztián Berki Sports Hall 

July 2, 4:15 PM – Fityeház, Cultural Center 

July 28, 4:00 PM – Szabolcs, Tomori Manor 

August 3, 1:00 PM – Szihalom, Community Stage 

August 6, 5:00 PM – Fedémes, Fedémes Community Stage 

August 11, 10:00 a.m. – Girincs, Cultural Center 

September 3, 5:00 p.m. – Csolnok, János Fódi Cultural Center and Library 

September 8, 5:00 p.m. – Harsány, Community Center