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.

Vale Glen Johns

Glen Johns with Bob Williams at Working Spaces 3

Museums & Galleries NSW is deeply saddened by the news of Glen John's death on Monday 31st January. Since the late 1990s, Glen has played a significant role with the museums of the Lachlan Chapter of Museums Australia (NSW). Always ready to challenge the status quo, Glen's enthusiasm, thoughtful insight and wry sense of humour were always appreciated.

Glen became involved with the Boorowa and District Historical Society in the late 1990s and was instrumental in obtaining a grant from the Commonwealth Federation fund to refurbish the museum. The funding led to the redevelopment of the museum's exhibitions to highlight the local wool industry and the introduction of new technology through a DVD about Boorowa. Always keen to learn and improve the museum, Glen approached the Powerhouse Museum and M&G NSW to run a workshop focused on the museum's Hamilton Hume textile collection. And so began Glen's enthusiasm for coordinating workshops.

Hearing that M&G NSW had begun a standards program, Glen approached us about running the program with the museums of the newly formed Lachlan Chapter of Museums Australia (NSW). Along with others from the chapter, Glen's willingness to participate and capacity to encourage everyone else to join in made for a great year with the Standards program.

Within museum circles, Glen will probably be best remembered as the man behind the Working Spaces workshop based conferences held at St Clements, Galong. As a man who believed anything was possible, Glen approached us in 2006 about an idea for a volunteer museums conference with "no talking heads" and plenty of practical workshops. Before we knew it, he had convinced the major cultural institutions in Canberra to contribute staff to run the various workshops and the Working Spaces conference was born. The conferences are live in over a weekend and provide opportunities for museum workers to get together not only to learn but to have a good time. Trivia nights, Q&A sessions and Postcards from home have given those involved the opportunity to have some fun along the way. With four conferences under their belt, Glen has left the Lachlan Chapter and the volunteer museum community of NSW with a wonderful legacy.

Our thoughts are with the Lachlan Chapter, especially Glen's wife Elizabeth at this difficult time. Glen's unique and enthusiastic approach to life will never be replaced but I feel his legacy will allow a little of him to stay with us into the future.