Ethnographic museums and collections have moved, since the 1990s, from a relatively peripheral position in anthropology to becoming a locus for understanding how culture and history are made, and for social engagement. Ethnographic collections are housed in a variety of institutions ranging from universities, to municipalities, to national and universal museums. The repositioning of both collections and museums depends on research that is increasingly multidisciplinary and, while participating in historical moments and societal debates, aims to inspire curiosity and respect for human diversity. Curatorial responsibility in these houses of memory ranges from returning collections acquired through colonial violence, to multidisciplinary research and exhibition projects exploring both materiality and the contexts of art. Curatorship includes behind-the-scenes work with source communities and stakeholders as well as contributing to attracting new (local) audiences. Artistic dialogue with historical collections is one of the ways of making them present, and ensuring their future.