Upcoming Exhibition: Points of View. Visions of a Museum Partnership

Ethnographic Museum

University of Zurich

13 March - 28 October 2018

Ethnographic museums find themselves in a period of change, trying to devise new ways of representing different cultures. Furthermore, they need to account for their own history, because many objects in their collections – as well as their museum practices themselves – bear traces of the colonial past. In the process, cooperation between ethnographic museums in the Global North and museums, including other stakeholders, in countries of the South has become increasingly important.

Since 2015 three museums, the Uganda National Museum in Kampala, the Igongo Cultural Centre in Mbarara, southwest Uganda, and the Ethnographic Museum at the University of Zurich, have undertaken an unusual collaboration: They engage in joint research in Uganda and Switzerland, and in co-creating exhibitions in dialogue.

The subject of this exhibition is the innovative partnership project itself. It addresses the challenges of collaborating at an equal level in a transcontinental project, asking what can, what should, this look like today? You can expect to gain insights into an exciting shift of perspective in museum work. In addition, you get the chance to visit the exhibitions in the Ugandan museums, about milk culture in Uganda and Switzerland digitally. A film about the project links multiple points of views together and documents visions of museum partnership.

Re‐imagining the Museum in the Global Contemporary

ICOM‐ICME 51st Annual Conference 2018 

October 9‐12 2018

Estonia National Museum, Tartu, Estonia 

Keynotes confirmed: Wayne Modest, Pille Runnel, Philipp Schorch, Andrea Witcomb

CALL FOR PAPERS 

ICOM ICME invites proposals for contributions to our 2018 annual conference, "Re‐ imagining the Museum in the Global Contemporary.” We invite you to join us in Estonia to reflect upon the complex context(s) in which museums exist today, and to creatively examine the range of new and future roles we might productively employ in our respective and interconnected institutions. 

ICME is the international committee of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) devoted to ethnographic museums and collections from local, national, and/or global cultures and societies. Our annual conference brings together diverse museum scholars and practitioners from across the world. 

It has now been fifteen years since Andrea Witcomb published Re‐imagining the Museum, but her text remains relevant today. Museums are situated in a world of rapidly changing global politics, contested digital technologies, and increasing socio‐economic inequalities. Within this ‘global contemporary,’ we recognize that various ideologies and ethical perspectives greatly influence and impact our work, in regard to understanding collections, designing exhibitions, and various other aspects of museum work. 

As contemporary museum professionals, we may be asked to perform a range of roles that take us out of our traditional comfort zones, as we seek collaborative action across boundaries including: nation, ethnic identity, class, disability, gender and sexual preference. Museums have often ventured into difficult discussions and the engagement of diverse audiences. We might prioritise storytelling and sharing curatorial power so that myriad stories can be told in exhibition spaces, programmes and outreach to attract more diverse audiences. At the same time, such work can be seen as radical change threatening collections care, research and the place of the object in ‘new’ museums devoted to opening dialogue. 

With our conference, we present the question: Are these various positions mutually exclusive? We offer a space to consider that a ‘both and’ rather than an ‘either/or’ perspective may be possible, moving us beyond binary positions that put ‘progress’ and ‘tradition’ in unhealthy tension.  

We call for papers, panels and workshops (academic, practice‐based or any combination of the two) from colleagues who work on collections, exhibitions, and programming that aims to diversify audiences and reconsider interpretive practice, as well as from colleagues who wish to maintain, implement, and respect the legacies of more traditional practices. Together we hope to find new ways to express who we are to one another and those that visit museums, the actions we might take in the future, and the contributions we might make to the contemporary world of museology. 

We are interested in work that addresses a range of questions that have long concerned ICME, which include but are certainly not limited to: 

How does/can the museum problematize and/or diversify knowledge production?

How do technology and multisensory activities raise/elevate (or curtail) new voices and participatory
venues?

How can knowledge and power be productively shared in museums?

How have we questioned both ‘elite’ orthodoxies and new interpretive theories in productive ways? 

The conference is hosted by Estonian National Museum, in Tartu, Estonia 

Submitting an abstract
We ask that papers (15 minutes) or panel discussion proposals would not exceed 400 words. In addition we also welcome proposals for shorter papers (10 minutes) about current work in the ethnographic museum on the main theme.
The following information should be included with the abstract:
Name(s) of Author(s) Affiliation(s) & full address(es) Title of submitted paper Support equipment required
All submissions must include a 100‐word bio for each presenter. Please send proposals as soon as possible, but no later than 20.04.2018 as a Word Document attachment via email email 
The abstracts will be evaluated by at least two members of the Conference Committee.

Conference Committee:

Dr. Viv Golding (UK), ICOM ICME Chair / University of Leicester, Museum Studies

Dr. Ulf Dahre (Sweden), ICOM ICME Treasurer / Lund University, Social Anthropology

Dr. Pille Runnel (Estonia) / Estonian National Museum, Research Director 

Sylvia Wackernagel (Germany), ICOM ICME Secretary / Silesian Museum 

Mario Buletić (Croatia), ICOM ICME Webmaster / Ethnographic Museum of Istria

Brittany Lauren Wheeler (USA), ICOM ICME Conferences / PhD candidate, Clark University, Boston 

Agnes Aljas (Estonia), ICOM ICME Board member / Estonian National Museum, Research Secretary

Tibetan Monastery Collections and Museums: Traditional Practices and Contemporary Issues

We are delighted to announce our international workshop on "Tibetan Monastery Collections and Museums: Traditional Practices and Contemporary Issues", which will take place from 8th–10th November 2018 at SOAS, University of London. The workshop is organised by Dr Christian Luczanits, Dr Louise Tythacott and Dr. Chiara Bellini.

Potential participants are invited to submit an abstract (max. 300 words) by 31 May 2018 to Chiara Bellini Please include your name, title, affiliation, e-mail address, and the title of the panel to which you would like to contribute.

Applicants will be notified by 15 June 2018.

Job Vacancy: Curator of World Culture, Leeds Museums and Galleries

Salary details: SO2 - £28,485 to £30,153

Ref: 17383    

Application deadline: 31 March 2018 11:30 PM

Leeds Museums and Galleries seek to appoint a curator with a specialism in World Cultures.

Leeds Museums and Galleries has over 12,000 items in its World Cultures collection, making it the largest centre for this collection focus in Yorkshire. The collection is wide-ranging with Asia best represented (particularly China and India), then Africa, followed by the Americas, Oceania and lastly Europe outside the UK. It is our aim to represent global world cultures of the present day through our collections, to recognise the importance and significance of the diaspora and migrant communities in the life of our city and to continue to explore historical anthropology through material artefacts. 

A key part of the role is working with communities in Leeds in the display and development of the collection, so we’re looking for someone who can bring subject specialist knowledge, but also the ability to build relationships, reaching out across the city to work collaboratively. Based at Leeds Discovery Centre, but working across Leeds Museums and Galleries sites, the postholder will work with colleagues across the service to maximise the impact of our collections and the experience of our audiences. 

Given the wide-ranging nature of this collection, you may have a background in Anthropology, Cultural studies, International studies, World Art or other similar subject areas.

Apply online 

Himalayan Fashion will astound you with its variety and colour! Don’t miss this stunning new exhibition of fashion and textiles in a unique country house setting. Discover sumptuous silk brocades, geometric dhaka cotton weaves, fine Kashmir wool shawls and rainbows of printed prayer flags. 

See the whole range of fashion from costly court outfits and high end designer dresses to everyday wear and clothing worn by everyone from Buddhist monks to Gurkhas.

Leeds has a great range of costume from Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan, thanks to the purchases made by former curator, Veronica Johnston, who travelled in the region in the late 1980s and 1990s. Now we have teamed up with National Museums Liverpool, Leeds Nepalese Community and Harewood House to create this unique chance to learn about the role of fashion and textiles in Himalayan cultures. National Museums Liverpool are lending sumptuous official dress from the 1920s and a Bhutan stag mask from before 1914. Leeds Nepalese Community has lent contemporary best dress and David Lascelles, Earl of Harewood, is lending two masks and costume elements from Bhutan, from the inauguration of the Harewood Buddhist stupa in 2005. 

A Himalayan family fun day is being planned for late June and a seminar day for 10 September. 

Free with admission to Lotherton

UNIVERSITY OBJECTS’ JOURNEYS: From the stores to sharing with different user communities

UNIVERSEUM 2018 pre-conference training workshop

University of Glasgow, 11-13 June 2018

Hunterian Collections Study Centre at Kelvin Hall

(The main UNIVERSEUM conference takes place 13-15 June 2018)

Deadline for applications: 10 March 2018

Universeum is pleased to announce its 2^nd Training Workshop in collaboration with The Hunterian, at the University of Glasgow (Scotland). The workshop is aimed at Universeum members, either individual or institutional, and is open to anyone interested in becoming a Universeum member (for details on membership, see the Universeum website) who wish to develop their skills and knowledge in managing, documenting, interpreting, and disseminating university collections. The workshop is linked to Universeum’s annual conference which will take place from 13-15 June at the University of Glasgow.

University collections are diverse and range from scientific instruments to anatomical specimens, from maps to drawings, from manuscripts to plaster casts, to mention only a few. The workshop will make use of The Hunterian’s diverse and rich encyclopaedic collections of over 1.5 million objects, but will also encourage participants to bring to the discussions the issues and ideas that relate to their own collections from their institutions across Europe. The diversity of university collections and the complex associations that they bring, present significant challenges to the professionals and scholars studying, managing, and communicating them to diverse users. 

The workshop sessions will be co-ordinated by cultural heritage professionals and academics from the University of Glasgow and The Hunterian, as well as by the broader Universeum network working on collections management, provenance, accessioning and de-accessioning, conservation, cultural heritage trafficking, interpretation using analogue and digital media, storytelling, and student engagement. Workshop participants will be actively involved in a variety of hands-on, interdisciplinary, group-based, and discussion sessions, rather than passively listening to traditional lecture-style presentations.

The workshop aims at demystifying and deconstructing the various processes that take place once an object enters a university collection. Participants will engage directly with objects and collections at the state-of-the-art recently renovated Hunterian Collection Study Centre at the historic and iconic Kelvin Hall building and engage in a dialogue with curators, museum directors, conservators, collection managers, educators, university lecturers and researchers. The workshop will include a combination of group and individual work.

Participants will be expected to work on a short presentation of the key issues that arose from the workshop (during the third day with access to computers and printing facilities provided at Kelvin Hall) to present at session during the main conference, so will be expected to stay in Glasgow for the whole week (11-15 June 2018) during which the workshop and conference will take place.

Workshop topics covered

Day 1: Building and managing collections: Object-based learning; Accessioning and De-accessioning objects; Objects’ provenance; Trafficking of antiquities and cultural property

Day 2 – Communicating and sharing collections: Working internationally and collaboratively in exhibitions; exhibition planning and curating; student engagement and museum education; digital interpretation

Day 3 am (half day) Preparation for presentation for main conference based on workshop experience and discussions

Who is it for? The workshop is aimed mainly at early career professionals working in university museums, archives, libraries, special collections, PhD students and early career researchers working with/on university collections

Registration fee: There is no fee for attending the workshop

Other costs: Lunch and coffee/tea during the day will be provided by Universeum. Participants, or their organisations, will be expected to cover their own travel and accommodation. Information and suggestions for these are provided on the Universeum2018 website. An optional evening meal will be organised for the first evening, 11 June 2018 to be paid by the participants who sign up for it

Maximum number of participants: To allow for hands-on and behind-the-scenes sessions and work in small groups, the workshop is limited to 16 participants

Grants: The Universeum Board is able to offer 5 travel grants of 500 euros each (250 euros for participants based in the UK) to cover travel within Europe and accommodation

Workshop dates: 11-13 June 2018, 2.5 days (before the main Universeum main conference which will take place 13-15 June. Post-conference study trips to Scottish university collections outside Glasgow will take place 16-17 June (more details about these will be provided at the Universeum2018 website nearer the time). Workshop participants are expected to attend also the main Universeum conference

Venue: Hunterian Collections Study Centre at Kelvin Hall, 1445 Argyle Street, Glasgow G3 8AW

Eligibility: 

·         Workshop participants should have paid the Universeum annual membership fee, either institutional or individual, for 2018 (so check if your institution is already a member). If you are interested in becoming a member, please check the membership section of the Universeum websites 

·         Participants should be researching or working with a University collection, museum, archive, or library (either as part of their work or PhD or post-doctoral studies/research) at the time the workshop will take place

·         Participants should be fluent in spoken and written English

Overall selection of applicants will take into account gender balance, as well as the diversity of their backgrounds, age, country, and museum/collection(s).

Participants should be prepared to do preparatory work before and during the workshop (e.g. readings and assignments), participate in its evaluation, and prepare a presentation for the main conference.

Application process: Applications should include:

1.      Completed application form (download from)

2.      A letter of motivation from the applicant explaining why they wish to participate and what they expect to gain from the workshop (1 A4 page)

3.      A short CV (up to 1 A4 page) indicating studies, training, work experience, publications, and current work responsibilities

Applications should be sent by email to Universeum2018@glasgow.ac.uk with the title: “application for Universeum pre-conference workshop 2018” before 10^th March 2018.

Contact: If you have any questions about the workshop, please send an email to Universeum2018@glasgow.ac.uk