design across time - Powerhouse Museum

+ 06 powerline spring 05
THE POWERHOUSE WAS A KEY
PLAYER IN THE 2005 MUSEUMS
AUSTRALIA NATIONAL CONFERENCE.
taking stock
Over 500 delegates,
navigation between two
venues, keynotes, workshops,
parallel sessions, lunches, tea
breaks, a trade show, posters
and social events — it was an
intense four days with
challenging logistics but the
2005 Museums Australia
National Conference was
celebrated as an unqualified
success.
Overall this year’s conference
was about ‘taking stock’ of the
place of museums as they
seek to redefine their role at
the beginning of a new
century. To achieve this, the
conference was organised
into three main themes: the
challenges facing museums
as they seek to assert their
continuing relevance in the
21st century; the contested
ownership of collections; and
exploring ways in which
museums can be proactive in
a time of transition.
Running parallel to these
sessions was the popular
remote and regional stream of
keynote speakers and
workshops. The aim of this
year’s program was to assist
small and medium-size
collecting institutions in
regional Australia by providing
delegates with an opportunity
to network and share
knowledge with other
professionals in the sector.
A substantial bursary program,
funded primarily by the
National Museum of Australia
and the Department of
Communication, Information
Technology and the Arts, was
offered to 52 people working
in regional museums — 60%
of whom were volunteers.
Bursary recipients came from
every state, and as far afield
as the Northern Territory and
Norfolk Island. Thirteen radio
interviews, co-ordinated by the
conference’s media
consultant, Martin Portus,
highlighted the importance,
the challenges and the
fragility of many of the
country’s regional museums.
At a welcome reception on the
Sunday evening, then NSW
Premier and Minister for the
Arts, the Hon Bob Carr,
launched the conference and
the Museum’s history
Yesterday’s tomorrows. The
following morning, Roger
Wilkins, Director General of
the NSW Ministry for the Arts
and head of the Cabinet
Office, and Senator, the Hon
Rod Kemp, Federal Minister
for the Arts and Sport,
officiated at the opening
plenary, following the welcome
to country by Powerhouse
curators James Wilson-Miller
and Fabri Blacklock.
The Powerhouse Museum was
a true colleague in the
planning of the conference,
hosting the opening welcome
event, all the parallel sessions,
many of the special interest
group meetings, the full
council meeting of Museums
Australia, the remote and
regional plenary, the trade
show, the Museums Australia
Publication Design Awards
(MAPDA) display of shortlisted
entries and a delegate’s
preview of the Greek
treasures exhibition. It was
also through the Powerhouse
that Museums Australia
received an introduction to the
ABC, which provided the
excellent Eugene Goossens
Hall for the plenary sessions.
The whole of the museums
sector and all divisions of
Museums Australia also got
behind the conference. The
Australian Museum hosted the
special event Proud traditions,
positive futures: Indigenous
people challenge museums,
the National Maritime Museum
was a generous sponsor for
the MAPDA Gala, the Historic
Houses Trust provided a focus
for the museum critique, the
University of Sydney Museums
hosted the conference dinner
at the Nicholson Museum and
MacLaurin Hall, and
Macquarie University, the
Museum of Contemporary Art
and the National Trust
provided venues for
conference meetings and
sessions. Regional, local and
specialist museums, three of
the association’s state
branches and eight special
interest groups, and Museums
and Galleries NSW also
contributed.
The Government of Canada
supported the participation of
keynote speaker Andrea
Laforet, the Goethe Institut
Sydney enabled Hans-Martin
Hinz to come to Australia and
the United States Information
Service assisted with travel for
John Simmons. Luna Media,
the publishers of Cosmos, and
the Australian Innovation
Festival were also sponsors of
the MAPDA Gala event.
The organisation of the
conference was undertaken
by a team of volunteers from
the NSW branch of Museums
Australia. They were led by the
NSW MA branch president,
Rebekah Schulz, and vice
president, Rebecca Pinchin,
with tireless support from
Susan Sedgwick, Danielle
Head, Serena Manwaring,
Cate Purcell, Paul Bentley,
Helen Pithie, Elissa Blair,
Maree Darrell and Julie Potts.
What was the impact on
delegates? This comment
summed up the general
feeling: ‘A very rich, diverse
and animated series of
speakers. The program left me
breathless. Where should we
go? What to choose? What to
hear? Congratulations to all
those involved. I will return
refreshed, enthused and
encouraged!’
Carol Scott, Immediate Past
President, Museums Australia
SCENES FROM THE CONFERENCE
WELCOME RECEPTION (FROM TOP
LEFT): FORMER POWERHOUSE
DIRECTOR DR LINDSAY SHARP WITH
DR KEVIN FEWSTER; THEN NSW
PREMIER & MINISTER FOR THE ARTS,
THE HON BOB CARR; CONFERENCE
DELEGATES GATHERED OUTSIDE
THE POWERHOUSE MUSEUM.
PHOTOS BY JEAN FRANCOIS
LANZARONE.