An
ecomuseum is a
museum focused on the identity of a place, largely based on local participation and aiming to enhance the welfare and development of
local communities. Ecomuseums originated in
France, the concept being developed by
Georges Henri Rivière and Hugues de Varine, who coined the term ‘ecomusée’ in 1971. The term "éco" is a shortened form for "écologie", but it refers especially to a new idea of holistic interpretation of
cultural heritage, in opposition to the focus on specific items and objects, performed by traditional museums.