Subject: Event: Int. Workshop "Curating
climate. Museums as ‘contact zones’ of climate research, education
and activism
WHEN: October 28-29th 2019
WHERE: Klimahuset / University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
WHO: People working in the museum and
heritage sector, researchers, artists, activists and policy
makers.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
How do we narrate climatic change in a museum
environment and initiate dialogue across its stakeholders? How can
museums become ‘contact zones’ where science and education,
activism and entertainment, debate and tourism interact
productively?
Various cultural institutions have recently taken up the challenges of communicating climate change and engaging with their communities. They range from established museums to new, emerging and experimental spaces. All attempt to promote debate and tell the stories we desperately need to connect scientific results to human lifeworlds. Climate change is a complex phenomenon that crosses the register of nature and culture. Its ecological, cultural and technological impacts connect the global and the local. The importance of addressing climate breakdown in a global perspective reflecting the different challenges facing different regions makes museums revisit their collections, exhibition designs and expert networks as well as develop their cross-societal appeal. Under these challenging terms, they could provide a readymade infrastructure for climate change communication and co-creation as spaces for the intersection of climate research, dissemination and activism.
This workshop will explore the emerging,
dynamic and transgressive field of the ‘climate museum’. It will
trace a unique and highly interdisciplinary space of encounter
that connects the sciences and the humanities, academic and public
spheres, research and action. What are the competences museums
need to develop in order to engage with the multiscalar and
complex phenomenon? Do we need new institutions or are established
museums capable of rethinking their approaches and use their
resources to foster understanding and action to engage with the
global environmental crisis? Should the focus be on the
sustainable development goals, the Agenda 2030, climate change or
even the Anthropocene? The workshop will initiate cross-sectoral
collaboration within and beyond the museum sphere. It is aimed at
people working in the museum and heritage sector, researchers,
artists, activists and policy makers. It will engage a wide
variety of approaches in museum theory and practice for competence
building. It strives to make museums key actors in promoting
understanding and action to climate change. Confirmed key speakers
are: Henry McGhie (Manchester) and Molly Fannon (Washington).
We invite contributions to areas such as:
HOW TO APPLY:
The international workshop will take place in Oslo new Klimahuset and is free of charge. Subject to pending funding agreements, travel grants might be available for some applicants. Please send your one-page summary of your presentation and short CV by 15th August 2019 to: [log in to unmask]
APPLICATION DEADLINE:
August 15th 2019
Please share widely among your professional networks.
-- Prof. Dr. Dominik Collet Department of Archaeology, Conservation and History University of Oslo
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