Museums Australia National Conference 2013

Museums Work: people, industry and nation at the

National Convention Centre, Canberra

Sculptor Patricia Piccinini takes her art to the skies, constructing a hot air
balloon in the shape of a whale, in honour of Canberra's centenary.

The impact of ‘megatrends’, international careers forged by Australian museum professionals, the amazing West Kowloon development in Hong Kong and Patricia Piccinini’s huge ‘Skywhale’ hot air balloon, were among the highlights of Museums Australia’s recent 2013 national conference held in Canberra on the weekend of May 17-20.

Regional Remote and Community Day

400 eager delegates representing all states and territories were registered across the 4 day conference. It commenced with the dedicated Regional Remote and Community Day (Friday 17), which included plenary presentations about the Buriganyja Wanggaya, Old People Talking Project from the Gascoyne Region of WA and an outline of record breaking programs run by the Bendigo Art Gallery.

To mark international museums day, the conference remained in plenary format throughout Saturday. Robyn Archer gave the first keynote reminding all that in celebrating ‘the past’ we should always connect to the present and future. All agreed that Robyn’s ‘SkyWhale’ commission for the Centenary of Canberra admirably illustrated her point.

Indigenous voices

Social Justice Campaigner and an elder from the Iwaidja tribal group (south-west Darwin/ Coburg Peninsula), Dr Tom Calma, connected all present with his call to create opportunities for Indigenous voices and stories to be heard. As Race Discrimination Commissioner, Dr Calma worked to advance Australia as an inclusive society. His keynote sought to highlight many successes and some key challenges for museums to continue their partnerships with indigenous Australians towards achieving reconciliation and respect.

Michael Brand

Michael Brand followed with a personal account of his career to date. In reflecting on his professional journey, Michael discussed his time as Director of the J Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles and referred briefly to the spark provided by his visit to Fatehpur Sikri, a city built just west of Agra in India, during the second half of the 16th century, by Emperor Akbar. It was abandoned some 15 years later due to a poor water supply and remains one of India’s most extraordinary examples of Mughal architecture.

Michael Lynch

There is no doubt that Michael Lynch has had a remarkable career. Having held leadership roles with the Sydney Opera House, the Australia Council & London’s Southbank Centre, he enthralled all with an outline of his current preoccupation, development of the West Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong. His presentation focussed on the ambitious M + component of the project – as a game changer for museums in the 21st century.

Megatrends

Megatrends got their airing in a fascinating keynote given by Dr Stephan Hajkowicz, a principal scientist with the CSIRO. Drawing on their ‘Our Future World’ report, Hajkowicz outlined key social, economic and environmental changes to be faced over the next decade under the following six identified megatrends – More From Less, Great Expectations, Going, Going, Gone, Virtually Here, Forever Young & The Silk Highway. 

Dr Brendan Nelson

The final Keynote provided delegates with an ‘outsiders’ view from a newcomer to the museum industry. Dr Brendan Nelson has had a distinguished career in public service, serving as a minister in two terms of the Howard Government. He passionately spoke about his new role as Director of the Australian War Memorial and of his deep conviction that Australia’s history is everything to do with its future.

As a networking opportunity and as a chance to re-charge professional batteries, How Museums Work: people, industry and nation was a great success and testament to outgoing MA President, Andrew Sayer’s vision for and contribution to, museums and galleries, large and small.