The Centre for Cross-Cultural Research An Australian Research Council Special Research Centre The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200 announces the VISITING SCHOLARS PROGRAM National Museums, National Histories 21 June - 16 July 1999 Applications are invited from students already enrolled in an MA or PhD program to spend one month at the Centre for Cross-Cultural Research at the Australian National University in Canberra, working on the theme 'National Museums, National Histories'. The program Convened by Professor Nicholas Thomas and Dr Lissant Bolton, the program will focus on the presentation of history in national museums, especially in settler/colonial contexts such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa. National museums are often a key site for the imagination and presentation of national identity, and of an officially accepted national history. They are thus directed as much to the creation of the nation in the present and in the future as they are to reporting on the past. This is especially the case for the newer nations, such as those which are the focus of this program. Museums thus become the sites for conflicting perspectives - indigenous and settler histories, agricultural and environmental histories, histories of progress, histories of violence. In addressing how such conflicts are raised and resolved the program will draw in part on a number of case studies, looking at the process by which history and national identity are produced in exhibitions. The program will focus on settler/indigenous history. Discussion leaders during the program will include Dr Ruth Phillips, Director, Museum of Anthropology, University of British Columbia, Dr Amareswar Galla, Director of the Australian Centre for Cultural Diversity Research & Development, University of Canberra, Dr Annie Coombes, Senior Lecturer at Birkbeck College, London, and Dr Jock Phillips, General Manager, Heritage, Department of Internal Affairs, New Zealand. The program co-incides with the conference National Museums, Negotiating Histories, organised jointly by the National Museum of Australia and the Centre for Cross-Cultural Research at the Australian National University (12-14 July). In addition to the discussion leaders listed above, conference speakers will also include Dr Udo Kussel, Director, National Cultural History Museum of South Africa, Dr Hans-Martin Hinz, Stabstelle at the Deutsches Historisches Museum, Berlin, Dr George MacDonald, formerly Director of the Canadian Museum of Civilisation and now Director of Museum Victoria, Dr William Jonas, Director of the National Museum of Australia, and Professor David Lowenthal, author of "The Past is a Foreign Country". Visiting Scholars will attend the conference. Applications and grants to attend A limited number of participants will be selected from eligible applicants on a competitive basis. Students who have already participated in a Visiting Scholars Program offered by the Centre are eligible to apply, however, they will not be permitted to participate in more than one program each year. The Centre will provide successful candidates from Australia and New Zealand with grants to attend in the form of travel costs to Canberra, accommodation (but not meals or other living expenses), a small allowance for research costs and registration for the conference. Students from elsewhere are welcome to apply, but are not eligible for travel and accommodation support and will be required to pay a tuition fee of AUS$2000. Applicants must complete an application form and return it, together with the required attachments, to the Centre, by the closing date of 15 March 1999. Applicants must also arrange for the referee report form to be completed and returned to the Centre by the referee under separate cover. Application forms and referee report forms are available from the Centre for Cross Cultural Research, or from the Centre's website. Centre for Cross-Cultural Research The Australian National University Canberra, ACT, 0200 Australia Ph: (61 2) 6249 3901 Fax: (61 2) 6249 2438 Email: [log in to unmask] Web url: www.anu.edu.au/culture