Red Star Line
Between 1873 and 1934 the legendary shipping company Red Star Line transported more than two million passengers from the Scheldt city to America. Poor European emigrants in search of the American Dream, but also affluent passengers travelling for business or pleasure left for New York.
On the Rijnkaai on Antwerp's Eilandje stand three historic port warehouses which were owned or used by the Red Star Line. For many passengers they represented the last stop on the European mainland. It was here that, just before their departure, the emigrants travelling in third class underwent a medical examination and were disinfected, whilst clerks scrutinized their documents.
The Red Star Line buildings are protected monuments. They are part of Antwerp's communal memory. They had long been standing empty and were pleading for a new purpose. In April 2005 they were purchased by the city of Antwerp. In the spring of 2012 Red Star Line / People on the Move will open its doors at this historic location. It will be a place of remembrance, experience, debate and research into international mobility, both past and present. The story of Red Star Line and its passengers will be brought to life once more.
Collection
Below you will find more explanation about the Red Star Line collections from which the future museum can draw.
The city of Antwerp is appealing to half a dozen public and private collections for the realization of its Red Star Line | People on the Move museum. Sometimes these collections overlap, sometimes they complement each other.
The Red Star Line has conducted diverse promotional campaigns, which will be visible in the collection.
Numerous Antwerp artists will also be represented, because migrants have always been a source of artistic inspiration. The atmosphere in the port and the throngs of emigrants who, just before their departure, walked through the streets of Antwerp, have been immortalized by numerous artists in drawings, paintings, poetry and prose.
Falconrui 53
2000 Antwerp
tel. +32 3 206 03 50
redstarline@stad.antwerpen.be
www.redstarline.org
As the main topic for the presentation at the Annual Meeting of AEMI (29 September-3 October 2010, Bilbao, Spain) “Migration Studies and ICTs” has been proposed for the call of papers. Deadline: May 25, 2010.
The Histories of Home Subject Specialist Network’s Second Annual Conference, Multiple Belongings: Diaspora and Transnational Homes will take place on Friday 21 May at the British Library Conference Centre in London and will bring together academics, museum professionals, librarians and archivists. Booking deadline: Friday 14th May.
