Putting Poverty in the Museum: Can public galleries be agents for inclusive change?

Lisa Anderson (UTS Shopfront), Michael Huxley (Museums and Galleries NSW) and Vanessa Kredler (UNESCO)

In an event partnered by UTS Shopfront Community Program and the Research Centre for Creative Economy and Cultural Practice, and Museums and Galleries NSW, Vanessa Kredler, Program Specialist, UNESCO Cultural Sector, gave an illustrated talk on her experiences working on the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation in Cairo. UNESCO focuses on capacity building, including in this example and in previous work with the establishment of the Nubia Museum in Aswan (opened 1997), working with the Egyptian government on major capital works, training museum staff and providing technical and specialist assistance.

Questions on the nature of poverty, defined as 'capacity deprivation', the role of UNESCO in 'human development' and the link between culture and development were explored. Vanessa led a discussion based on her international experience on the nature of successful inclusive practice, its many challenges including cross cultural differences and ethical considerations and invited the audience to discuss projects with similar aims of social inclusiveness in which they were involved.

Michael Huxley, General Manager, Finance and Administration, Museums and Galleries NSW, presented the findings of the three year Australia Council core project funded audience research ‘Guess Who’s Going to the Gallery?’ 7000 responses from visitors to 41 galleries from across New South Wales were analysed to provide information on the composition and characteristics of gallery audiences. These results, useful for sector advocacy, are available at www.mgnsw.org.au.

Thirty cross-sector representatives participated in the lively and interesting discussion and networked afterwards over drinks.