AEOM Mission
The AEOM is an association of leaders of open air museums in Europe. It is affiliated to ICOM and collaborates with people and institutions worldwide. The aim of the AEOM is the exchange of scientific, technical, practical and organizational experience relative to open air museums, and the promotion of the activities of open air museums in general.
AEOM Board
Hilde Schoefs
President
Open Air Museum Bokrijk | Belgium
Dr. Zsolt Sári
Vice President
Skansen Szentendre, Hungarian Open Air Museum | Hungary
Dr. Zsolt Sári is the Deputy Director General of the Hungarian Open Air Museum Skansen in Szentendre, Hungary.
In 2019 he received the Ferenc Móra Prize, a Hungarian state award for museologists who have made outstanding professional careers.
Since 2022 he has been President of ICOM Hungary.
Åsa Magnusson
Board Member
Skansen, Stockholm | Sweden
Åsa Magnusson is Head of the Department of Cultural History at Skansen Open Air Museum in Stockholm, Sweden.
Åsa has a background in cultural history, museums and the wider heritage field and as conservator of built environments. Her focus has been and is on museum management, strategic planning and development, branding and communication. Åsa has a strong belief in the role of museums as change agents, and ‘activators’ towards more sustainable societies. A belief that has only been strengthened since she stepped into the world of AEOM and the open air museums in 2019.
Åsa is also a member of the Board of the Swedish Open Air Association and the Board of Falu Gruva/Stiftelsen Stora Kopparberg and the Zorn collections.
Kitt Boding-Jensen
Board Member
Den Gamle By | Denmark
Kitt Boding-Jensen is Head of Hospitality and Storytelling at Den Gamle By, Denmark.
Kitt is an ethnologist by training. She is involved in the strategic development of Den Gamle By with a special interest in commercial activities. Her focus is on the guest experience at the museum, across the different departments.
Before Den Gamle By, where she started in 2012, Kitt has worked in several cultural history museums on the topics of urban planning, the culture of daily life as well as industrial history.
Rhiannon Hiles
Board Member
Beamish, The Living Museum of the North | UK
Rhiannon leads the talented team of staff and volunteers, and is responsible for strategic development and operations at the award-winning County Durham open air museum, which brings the region’s history to life.
With over 30 years’ experience in the culture sector, Rhiannon has extensive curatorial, commercial, operational and development expertise, combined with a great passion for museums, heritage and the North East of England.
Working with national and international museum colleagues, Rhiannon is at the forefront of leading open air and independent museum practice, focused on sharing ideas, knowledge and supporting talent and progression across the sector. Rhiannon has a background in architectural design history and an MA in Museum Studies. Her professional experience includes the prestigious Oxford Cultural Leaders Programme, appointment to the board of the Association of European Open Air Museums, and being an active member of the National Museum Directors’ Council, Museums Association, Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, and the Association of Independent Museums. She is also a school governor, Museums Association mentor and Director of a local Learning Trust.
Jens Scheller
Board Member
Freilichtmuseum Hessenpark | Germany
Jens Scheller is since 2009 museum director at the Hessenpark Open Air Museum, Germany.
Jens is by training a banker, who worked from 1997-1998 as a freelance geographer and from 1998-2002 as research assistant at the Institute for Cultural Geography, Urban and Regional Research (Frankfurt/Main). From 2002 to 2008 he was the head of the Department for Regional Land Use/Planning in the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main Regional Association.
Today he is a Member of the German Academy for Urban Development and Regional Planning (DASL), the State Monument Council of Hesse and the Board of the Open Air Museums Section of the German Museums Association (DMB).
Eva Kuminková
Board Member
Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, National Open Air Museum | Czechia
Eva Kuminková is Deputy Director General for Research and Collections at the National Open Air Museum Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, Czechia.
Eva has a background in ethnology. In her museum she manages several projects concerning interpretation and strategic planning. As a facilitator of the UNESCO’s Convention for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage she actively seeks ways how open air museums can contribute to effective safeguarding and strengthening the viability of ICH.
She also participates in developing national strategies for its protection and transfers her experience to students at universities.
Contact Us
AEOM | Association of European Open Air Museums
p.a. Bokrijk, Bokrijklaan 1, 3600 Genk, Belgium
Email – [email protected]