I have been reading the discussion on the suggestion for a Museum award with
some interest. Two things struck me - firstly despite everything we still
have a sense of humour - I greatly enjoyed the suggestion for an Ignoble
proize for the worst museum - I'm sure we could all name a few that would
richly deserve such an award. Amusing though this is it would not much help
the Museum profession , as the basic idea of any award is create public and
press interest rather than to make ourselves the oject of ridicule. We do
to make people more aware of the value of Museums.
The other thing that struck me is that successful Museums are operated by
teams. A successful exhibit usually involves a number of different
professionals working together as a team - If an award is given it should
reward the team responsible for the work - The team could involve curators,
designers, educators, lighting specialists, craftsmen, scientists, art
historians etc. It might even involve a Museum Director. Effective working
relationships with a wide variety of diffferent professionals is what
characterizes Museums hese days - it makes them interesting places to work -
It gives them an interesting role in society. Thus I argue any award should
be a team award.
David Grattan
----- Original Message -----
From: "John McAvity" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, October 06, 2003 7:23 PM
Subject: Re: An ICOM prize for the best museum?
> Bonjour Giovanni,
>
> I wholeheartedly agree and support your proposition that ICOM
> Internationally should get into the giving of awards. This is a very
good
> way to distinguish excellent projects on a world wide basis, as well as to
> help raise standards internationally.
>
> This will require much discussion, but it is a meritorous suggestion.
To
> my mind, nominations need to be properly documented and assured by the
> highest standards. This will cost ICOM funds to ensure the highest
quality
> and not simply accept the nominees own words. This cost will likely be
the
> biggest stumbling block, but I believe nevertheless that ICOM should
explore
> this possibility.
>
> Many countries already offer awards programs through their national
> professional associations, as well as some ICOM NCs. I suggest a
> partnership between national museum associations and National Committees
to
> make nominations that would truly be represenatative of the very best each
> country has to offer. One per country may work and reduce the costs to
> administer. Alternatively, ICOM could charge an administrative fee but
this
> will never cover the true cost to pronounce the world's best without some
> form of international verification that only site visits or independent
> inspections can judge.
>
> I like you idea very much. The challenge is to find a way to make it
work.
> Sponsorship by an international company or a body like the World Bank may
be
> the ticket as we know ICOM does not have the funds to devote to such a
good
> idea. I wish to state that I have no problem with sponsorship but some
may!
> This needs discussion as well as ICOM's ability to actually secure such a
> sponsorship! It is not easily done but I think we should let ICOM go for
> it.
>
> All in all, it will build a better and stronger museum community.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> JOHN McAVITY
> Canadian Museums Association
> Association des musees canadiens
> www.museums.ca
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Giovanni Pinna" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Saturday, October 04, 2003 11:34 AM
> Subject: An ICOM prize for the best museum?
>
>
> > As assigned by President Jacques Perot, I was representing ICOM on the
> > occasion of The Best in Heritage second edition,held in Dubrovnik from
> > 18 to
> > 21 September 2003.
> > The event aimed to present all those museum achievements - or other
> > achievements linked to cultural heritage - which have been awarded a
> > special
> > prize or mention during the last few years.
> > 18 projects were there to represent 16 countries and they showed the
> > current
> > trend of museology: this is the main value and the remarkable interest
> > of
> > the event.
> > The event also showed that several national and international awards are
> > assigned to museums every year. Among these, the very best known is the
> > European Museum of the Year Award assigned by the European Museum Forum
> > -
> > such an organization brings back to memory the activity and the passion
> > for
> > museums which qualifies Kenneth Hudson's life - .
> > However,all this has pushed me to wonder if ICOM, as representative of
> > the
> > museums community in the world, should create a yearly award for the
> > best
> > museum achievements in the world, or for the best paper or book on
> > Museology, or both:
> > a sort of "Nobel Prize" for museology, not excluding
> > extra-european museums, as it already happens for EMF.
> > This kind of award would have moreover many functions: for exemple it
> > would
> > provide ICOM with wide visibility all over the world thanks to an
> > international event, it would create a forum for debates,it would incite
> > researches as for what relates to museum communication, it would spur
> > museum
> > and their owners to renovate the production of museums achievements.
> > I here suggest this idea to the Executive Council, to the Advisory
> > Committee
> > and to all ICOM members, urging to open a debate on this.
> >
> > Giovanni Pinna
> > Member of the Executive Council
> >
> >
> > -- Giovanni Pinna -----------------------
> > e-mail: [log in to unmask]
> > web page: http://giovanni.pinna.cx
> > ------------------------------------------------
> >
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