Hmm, this has turned into a nasty little specimen of one of the most bitter
but silent contests in the museum world.

Alas, the museum profession is far from a unified, purposeful body.  It is
a conglomeration of competitive fiefdoms, almost all of them claiming the
highest moral ground, the purest commitment to preservation, the most
democratic reach to the public etc etc.  Conservators think curators are
unclean (so do registrars); curators tangle with designers; education
people are frustrated in being ignored by all three of the foregoing...

These competetions are sheer territorial warfare. The animal kingdom has
nothing on intra-museum turf wars.  How about we all grow up and agree that
we work in a common interest to shared ends, dropping the individualist,
ultra-professionalist image of being the best/only true carers of heritage.

Linda Young
Cultural Heritage
University of Canberra
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