Continuity and change:
cultural dynamism in the modern world

From 1 May 2009
Room 2
Admission free

This small display shows that as well as housing some of the finest objects from past global cultures, the British Museum’s collection represents living cultures and peoples that exist in
the world today.

The objects in the display are not arranged along geographical lines but are mixed to highlight common themes and concerns across different cultures. Old and newer objects will sometimes be shown together to give a sense of historical development.

Contemporary objects from Africa, Borneo, China, India, Iran, the Middle East, Sri Lanka, the Pacific and Australia demonstrate how people across the world have responded to the influences and modern pressures that impact on cultural traditions.

Each object or group of objects tells a story of cultural survival, revival, adaptation or radical breaks – often a combination of these. As such, the display is a celebration of the world’s cultures in the early 21st century.

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