General Announcement: For those of you who have been in touch about the conference, we will get back to each of you.
Please Note: KEYNOTE SPEAKER; ADJUSTED DATES
Please forgive cross postings
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COMMONWEALTH ASSOCIATION OF MUSEUMS
CAM GENERAL PROGRAMME AND MEETING 2008
Supported by The Commonwealth Foundation, London
Museums & Diversity
Part 1 - Museums in Pluralistic Societies
Part 2 - World Watch One: Biodiversity & Conservation
April 18 to 22, 2008
Hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport
The National Museum of Guyana
Georgetown, Guyana
5 day Seminar plus Excursion to IWOKRAMA to follow for limited number of participants, April 23-26
Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Rex Nettleford, Vice Chancellor Emeritus
University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica
We are extremely pleased to have Dr. Nettleford with us. He was a Member of the Commonwealth Commission on Respect and Understanding and is an outstanding scholar, historian, political analyst and man of culture. He is highly regarded and recognized for his work on Caribbean identity and culture and actively contributes to many other facets of Caribbean and global life.
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Note: Arrival date April 17, Departure date to home or Iwokrama April 23.
Museums & Diversity
As institutions of civil society, museums must take into account the increasingly complex natural, social and cultural environment in which we exist. Not least of this complexity are the multiplicity of ethnic, cultural, religious and economic variations within our larger societies and the task of contributing to healthy communities, inclusive societies and a healthy world. To ignore the role of museums in civil society and community is at best to be irrelevant and undermine our requests and rationale for public support and, at worst, to work against peace and harmony and the survival of humanity.
The task involves the values of the Commonwealth often expressed in the declarations from the Heads of Government meetings and elsewhere: democracy, rule of law, human rights, free press, education for all, and gender equity as well as encouragement of young peoples in all spheres. Many of these are also topics of the Millennium Goals and concerns of UNESCO.
It is no longer sufficient for museums to deal with only the traditional past through historical, archaeological, artistic objects and works of art in homogeneous contexts. Room must be made in publicly funded organizations for both tangible objects and intangible heritage from other cultures and societies relevant to our constituents. Museums as an assemblage exist to benefit society and exist as a part of civil society. If our task is the preservation of cultural and natural heritage according to our mandates, then it is important for us to remember that each part of that heritage whether it be in a science centre or technology museum, ethnology, history or art museum, zoo or aquarium, involves different cultural perspectives and a larger context of beliefs, ideas and heritage. Our method is through material evidence and sensory expressions of intangible heritage and our ultimate aim is knowledge and understanding of ourselves and our environment as well as of the specific artifacts and manifestations of heritage that are the focus of individual museums. Thus diversity in this programme encompasses how museums deal with
< differences within the museum and heritage community,
< differences in the societies we live in and interact with,
< differences in our natural heritage, and
< interaction among those differences.
Part 1: Museums in Pluralistic Societies
This session will deal with the issues and challenges of museums in civil societies which are diverse, how individual museums of all kinds find direction for their particular circumstances and mandates, what methods can be or have been successful in creating inclusive and healthy societies.
Part 2: World Watch One
This session is intended to be the first of a series dealing with the human and natural environment of museums in their broadest context - the global perspective. It is intended as an alert to issues which have huge impact not only on museums but on all other organizations, systems and networks of society. It features a day in which to focus on one or more related issues along with an opportunity to reflect on what Commonwealth museums can and should consider as high priority concerns.
Part 1 of the conference does address one of the most important global issues but World Watch will take into account other issues and in Guyana one associated with the environment. In World Watch One, the opportunity to visit Iwokrama, a unique international organization for the preservation of the rain forest and its biodiversity, allows us to see ourselves as part of a larger group of museums including natural history museums and allows us to consider the role of museums in protecting biodiversity and promoting conservation. By extension, climate change is a factor in maintaining biodiversity and conservation an ingredient in maintaining climate stability.
World Watch sessions will take place from time to time usually in conjunction with other CAM activities to identify and consider action on urgent issues affecting life on earth.
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The meeting is open to all established members of the museum community world-wide and associates and partners. Travel assistance is open only to members from the Commonwealth developing countries. CAM will assist others as may be possible to tap alternative sources of funding.
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Call for Papers
Papers are invited from participants in the meeting and will be selected according to specific criteria by the Programme Committee. They may be on any topic related to the programme description. A separate call for papers was earlier distributed but the CAM Secretariat can be contacted directly for further information in any case. ([log in to unmask])
Programme Outline:
Arrival from international locations.
Day 1 - Official Opening, keynote address, conference theme and discussion
Day 2 - Papers on Museums in Pluralistic Societies
Day 3 - Papers on Pluralistic Societies
Afternoon Excursion
Day 4 - Papers on World Watch One
Day 5 - Meeting Resolutions & Wrap-Up
Business Meeting and Elections, Commonwealth Association of Museums
Afternoon Excursion
Conference Dinner, Cultural Event & Closing
Day 6 (1) - Departure or Travel to Iwokrama
Iwokrama - www.iwokrama.org
Limited to 15 persons
Day 1 (6) - Travel to Iwokrama
Days 1-4 - Activities and possible discussions depending on participants' wishes
Day 4 - Travel back to Georgetown
Day 5 - Departure
Accommodation:
Preferred Hotel for Commonwealth Association of Museums delegates:
Kings Plaza Hotel and Southland Suites
45 Main Street, North Cummingsburg,
Georgetown
(seven minutes walk from the venue)
Rates: $50 US plus 5% service charge plus 16% VAT which should come up to around $78 US. Additional breakfast will be $5 US
$60 plus 5% service charge plus 16% VAT for double rooms
Kitchenettes and coffee makers are available in some rooms
Tele: 592-628-7182
592-225-7775
592-227-0313
Email: [log in to unmask]
[log in to unmask] (email for the manager)
For those who are not subsidized and may prefer there is a more expensive hotel available.
Le Meridien Pegasus (two minutes walk from Umana Yana)
Transportation
The Ministry will be providing transportation from the airport and around Georgetown. Participants will be expected to notify the Secretariat of specific travel plans so that arrangements can be completed for individuals to be met at the airport.
Travel to Iwokrama is being arranged by CAM. There will be an additional cost of around $350-$400 inclusive. Accommodations are 5 to a cabin and quite basic. Specific excursion may vary the cost somewhat as they are different prices.
Registration
The final registration cost is $150 US for CAM members and $200 for non-members including most expenses except the excursion. Membership in CAM is available. The registration for the excursion will be calculated separately and included in the overall cost.
Please advise the CAM Secretariat is you are interested in participating.
Travel Documents
Passports are required. Visas may be necessary for both Guyana and other countries where flight changes may be required. Participants are urged to check routings and make inquiries at High Commissions for Guyana and other stops as soon as possible. Once participants have been accepted individuals may request letters of invitation from CAM to use for Visa purposes.
Participants are also advised that they bear sole responsibility for medical insurance unless otherwise notified.
Travel Assistance
Delegates are urged to find their own travel and conference expenses. Some assistance is available through the Commonwealth Association of Museums but is very limited.
To apply for travel assistance please contact the Secretariat indicating your interest in the program and attaching a resumé. Criteria for selection will take into account: geographical and gender representation, type of museum represented and museum expertise, ability of the participant to contribute to their own expenses and their need, and previous contribution to CAM. Because the intent is to achieve a balance in background and experience, specific qualifications cannot be specified.
Contact & Information
For further information and questions, please contact the Secretariat
Lois Irvine
Secretary General
Commonwealth Association of Museums
Tel & fax: 1-403-938-3190
email: [log in to unmask]
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Office:
Lois Irvine
R.R. #1
DeWinton, Alberta
T0L 0X0
Canada
Tel / Fax: 1-403-938-3190
email: [log in to unmask]
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