CALL FOR PAPERS 

 

ICOM-ICME/2012/Namibia (ICME
Annual Conference 2012)

12-14 September, 2012  

& Post-Conference Tour
15-18 September 

 

Introduction

ICME (the International Committee for Museums
of Ethnography) is an international
committee of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) devoted to ethnography
(ethnology, anthropology, folk) museums focusing on local, national and
international cultures.  ICME is
concerned with the challenges facing ethnographic museums and collections in a
changing world. 

 

ICME
will
hold its 2012
annual conference on 12-14 September, at the Safari Court Hotel and Conference
Centre, Windhoek, Namibia, in
collaboration with the ICOM Namibia and Museums Association of
Namibia.  Final details of the
ICME conference are forthcoming; the general format of the annual meeting will
consist of paper and discussion sessions and excursions to museums and cultural
sites in the area.  ICME/2012/Namibia
will offer a great opportunity to showcase Namibia to an international
audience of museum workers

 

2012 Conference Theme

 “Commodifying Culture? Cultural Villages and
Living Museums”

 

Museums
are increasingly conscious that many artifacts should not simply be displayed
as art.  Objects need to be
contextualised within the framework of the intangible cultural heritage that
provides them with meaning.  Ethnographic
exhibitions and museums strive to present a context that adds depth to the
‘reading’ of an object and to reflect the dynamic nature of culture.  In Namibia and other countries there has been
much debate about the best way to ‘preserve’ and ‘display’ culture since it is
such a fundamental aspect of a community’s identity.  How should museums reflect cultural diversity
in a way that preserves tradition, but also recognizes the dynamism of living
cultures?

 

On
the one hand, museums have sought to develop new exhibitions that have moved
beyond the static presentation of objects in glass cabinets using audio-visuals
to show the vibrancy of cultural heritage. 
These new forms of representation also showcase ‘living tradition’ and
aspects of continuity and change within traditional rituals, dance, music and
oration.  

 

However,
another approach presents an alternative format for the preservation and
preservation of intangible cultural heritage (in particular).  One of the major developments which has
transformed the traveller’s experience of communities they encounter have been
initiatives to create spaces where communities ‘speak for themselves’ and
provide musical performances and craft demonstrations to visitors.  The initiatives have often labelled
themselves as ‘Cultural Villages’ or ‘Living Museums’.  The formula has many variations; critics
complain that people at these centres are turned into exhibits, while advocates
argue the opposite – that such centres empower communities and provide them
with the opportunity to present and preserve their own intangible cultural
heritage.   The issue also raises
questions about the relationship between Museums of Ethnology and the communities
that they represent.

 

Submitting abstracts

ICME
invites you to submit an abstract for a full paper (20 minutes) addressing the
theme of the conference.  Abstracts of
between 250 and 300 words will be submitted for selection to the ICME Review
Committee, chaired by Annette B. Fromm ICME President. Abstracts submitted as
attachments should also be included in the
text of the abstract in the text of the e-mail itself.

 

Submissions
should be sent to [log in to unmask]
by May 15, 2011.  Speakers will be
notified by July 1.  

 

The
following information should be included with the abstract:

 - Title of submitted paper

-  Name(s) of Author(s)

-  Affiliation(s) & full address(es)

-  Abstract in English (between 250 and
300 words)

-  Support equipment required





Collaboration

ICME/2012/Namibia
will be co-hosted by the ICOM National Committee for Namibia and the Museums
Association of Namibia. The National Museum of Namibia, National Heritage Council
of Namibia and UNESCO have all been invited to be co-hosts of the
Conference.  

 

General conference information

Registration forms, registration fee
information, hotels, and other details will be forthcoming on the ICME web site
- http://icme.icom.museum

 

Programme

During
ICME/2012/Namibia, we plan to include several afternoon excursions to sites
including:  

1)
The San exhibition at the Owela Display Centre of the National Museum of
Namibia and the large new Independence Memorial Museum, due to be completed by
the time of the Conference;   

2)
Heroes Acre, a national monument on the outskirts of Windhoek;  

3)
A ‘Township or City Tour’ as ‘townshop tours’ are a new form of cultural
tourism that presents urban identities that in some ways confound and in other
ways confirm conceptions of ethnic identity; 

4)
A visit to a ‘cultural village’ at Okahandja about 1 hour’s drive north of
Windhoek.  Okahanda, a ‘cultural village’
at about 1 hours drive north of Windhoek. 


 

Venue & Accommodation

ICME/2012/Namibia
will convene at the Safari Court Hotel and Conference Centre.  

The
Safari Hotel (3 stars) is holding a block of rooms for participants in
ICME/2012/Namibia.  All wishing to stay
there will have to make their own reservations. 
The Conference Committee is making arrangements for reasonable rates and
anyone making a booking should clearly state that they are an ICME Conference
participant and send an email of their booking to the Namibian Organising
Committee at [log in to unmask] or
(fax2email) +26488629688.. 

 

Provisional Itinerary for
Post-Conference Tour (Program subject to change)

A
four day post-conference tour will introduce visitors to Namibia, a large and
diverse country.  Emphasis on the ICME
post-conference tour will be on culture, but with ample opportunities to also
view some of Namibia’s spectacular scenery and wildlife.  

 

Day
One        Drive to Omaruru.  Visit Damara Living Museum.  Evening Braai.  Sleep at Twyfelfontein Country Lodge or
Camping.  

 

Day
Two        Visit to Twyfelfontein World
Heritage Site. Visit to Burnt Mountain and Petrified Forest. Lunch at Khorixas.
Drive through Etosha National Park and arrive at accommodation at Halale

 

Day
Three     Drive through Etosha National
Park and exit via King Nehale Gate. 
Nakambale Museum (lunch) followed by drive to Tsumeb. Tour of Helvi Mpingana Kondombolo Cultural Village followed by supper.

 

Day Four       Tour of Tsumeb
Museum followed by drive to Okahandja. Lunch at Okahandja Cultural Village and
opportunity to visit crafts market before returning to Windhoek.

 

Post-Conference Tour Fee

250
Euros (N$2,500.00)

 

We
recommend that participants also consider staying on for an additional few days
so that they can take the opportunity to make a visit to the Namib Desert at
the coast or the Fish River Canyon to the south of Windhoek.  We could provide the contact details of a number
of tour operators who could help organise such trips or participants could hire
a car as many tourists to Namibia prefer to drive themselves and, thus, have
greater control over their time and movements.

 

 

 

 



Annette B. Fromm
3060 Alton Road
Miami Beach, Fl 33140
305-532-3530 		 	   		   		 	   		  
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