On Sat, 6 Apr 2002, Leonard Will wrote:

+++++ [CLIP] ++++++

> This is not always the case. For example, CIMAM charges an additional
> subscription of US$90 per three years for ICOM members who wish to join
> that International Committee. Does it have some different status? Is it
> the only IC that does this?

++++++ I HADN'T HEARD THIS. SO FAR AS I KNOW THIS IS COMPLETELY
UNCONSTITUTIONAL: EVERY ICOM MEMBER'S ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION GIVES THEM THE
right TO BELONG TO ANY ONE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THEIR CHOICE AS
"VOTING MEMBERS" WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL PAYMENT.  (HOWEVER, INTERNATIONAL
COMMITTEES CAN MAKE A CHARGE FOR NON-VOTING MEMBERS.) PERHAPS THE CIMAM
ISSUE SHOULD BE RAISED AT THE JUNE ADVISORY COMMITTEE?

> This is worrying, because I would have thought that training course
> staff would have the greatest need to keep up with developments
> throughout the world in many subjects. Are you saying that teachers
> would join a specialist organisation devoted to teaching but that they
> would not join an organisation devoted to the subjects they teach?

+++++ IT'S A VERY SAD FACT THAT THIS IS THE CASE.  IN THE TWO OR THREE
COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE BETWEEN THEM THE MAJORITY OF SPECIALISED MUSEUM
STUDIES COURSES THE PRESSURE FROM THE UNIVERSITIES IS FOR MUSEUM STUDIES
STAFF TO CONCENTRATE ON THEIR ACADEMIC SUBJECT "ROOTS" - ART HISTORY,
ANTHROPOLOGY ETC. - RATHER THAN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE AND APPLICATION.

ELSEWHERE THERE HAS BEEN A LONG HISTORY OF ICOM NATIONAL COMMITTEES NOT
ACCEPTING MUSEUM STUDIES STAFF AS "MEMBERS OF THE MUSEUM PROFESSION" AND
THEREFORE REGARDING THEM AS INELIGIBLE FOR ICOM MEMBERSHIP - AT LEAST IN
THE PAST.  MY SOUNDINGS SUGGEST THAT MUSEUM STUDIES COURSES WOULD BE MUCH
MORE LIKELY TO JOIN AN AFFILIATED ASSOCIATION AS INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERS ON
BEHALF OF THEIR STAFF AND STUDENTS - BUT WON'T JOIN ICOM BECAUSE OF THE
COST OF INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP (AND ALSO BECAUSE ICOM IS NOT SEEN AS
SUFFICIENTLY SPECIALISED).


Patrick Boylan

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