September 28, 2011

Keeping Places & Beyond: building cultural futures in NSW

Keeping culture strong through communities was a central theme of the M&G NSW organised Keeping Places & Beyond: building cultural futures in NSW summit, held at CarriageWorks on September 19/20 2011.

In bringing together, for the first time, over 150 people from across the Aboriginal arts, community & professional organisations, NSW cultural institutions, government agencies, the education sector, small business, Elders groups and individuals, the summit’s main aim was to discuss and shape the future for NSW Aboriginal cultural practice, local knowledge, heritage and language. This blackfella/whitefella meeting has been hailed a huge success by nearly all who attended.

People traveled from throughout NSW. Those who arrived on the Sunday could sample Barani Barrabugu, the city’s new heritage walking trails of significant Aboriginal sites or use their complimentary entry to the Australian Museum. Many travelers caught up with the city mobs at the welcome BBQ, put on by the City of Sydney, at Redfern Community Centre in the evening.

The Smoking Ceremony and Welcome Dance in the CarriageWorks main foyer started proceedings on Monday morning. Uncle Max Eulo conducted the ceremony which was followed by a culturally strong performance from the Doonooch Dancers, Yung Nooky (on didj) and boys from the East Nowra Public School. The dancers then led delegates into the meeting place. Delegates were welcomed to country by Auntie Millie Ingram, from the Wyanga Elders Group, Redfern. The cultural program was threaded throughout the two days, with a boomerang demonstration by Laddie Timbery, and performances by The Stiff Gins, Yung Nooky and Emma Donovan and her band.

As for the summit program, it featured presentations from a range of authoritative and informative speakers including; Professor Bob Morgan, Russell Taylor, Djon Mundine, Keith Munro, Beryl van Oploo, Phil Gordon, Dr Sandy O’Sullivan and artist, Jenny Fraser among others. Bob Morgan spoke about cultural identity and emphasized a theme that was to run through other presentations and conversations - that of the importance of self determination, of Aboriginal communities being sufficiently empowered to perform their own cultural maintenance, art form development and dissemination.

I certainly appreciated the opportunity to sit and listen as did many others. Those engaging or looking to engage in the sector made many useful contacts and like-minded approaches to build partnerships. A range of recommendations and suggestions to progress and build on momentum were discussed and agreed upon in the final sessions. They ranged across areas such as Heritage, Digitization, Art & Design, Community Engagement and ongoing connections to Government and other stakeholders. The summit’s reference committee will now give some further thought to these and their final report to Arts NSW will prioritise and chart a way forward. I do think it’s a great testament to the value of the conference that participants were keen to develop an ongoing network to continue to explore the ideas and opportunities raised over the two days, and that there was an expressed desire to meet again in a couple of years time to re-thread the picture with the work and developments in the interim.

The summit was organized and convened by Museums & Galleries NSW with core funding from Arts NSW. It was supported by Aboriginal Affairs NSW and NSW Aboriginal Land Council.



All Photos by Mervyn Bishop












Source: Museums and Galleries NSW- Alert! 28 September 2011

September 22, 2011

Kandos Collection Management Workshop

To Everyone who attended the Kandos Collection Management Workshop,

Thank you so much for your time on Saturday.  It was lovely to meet you all and we found the workshop to be both rewarding and stimulating. 

We found the discussion of museum methods in the regional context was extremely thought provoking and has provided useful input for planning future regional programs.

On our return to the Powerhouse we have found out where to purchase supplies of paraloid used for physically numbering objects.  Our Conservation Department do not sell the products but say that Preservation Australia does. Their website is: http://www.preservationaustralia.com.au/.  The advice is to Look under adhesives: Products :Adhesives :Numbering kit - Both Paraloid B72 and B67, Price: 2 x 15ml $25.00.

The other common request was to see a full copy of our Deaccession policy.  We have provided it as an attachment.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Many thanks


Judy Coombes
Manager, Registration
92170225

Nicky Balmer
Assistant Registrar
92170117

Regional & Public Galleries NSW 2011 Conference

Currency: Resourcefulness, Relevance, Resilience  
30 October - 1 November 2011

Registrations are now open for Regional & Public Galleries NSW (RPG NSW) 2011 Conference which this year will be held at the Glasshouse Arts, Conference and Entertainment Centre in Port Macquarie. This year the conference is themed Currency: Resourcefulness, Relevance, Resilience.

This conference will investigate issues of sustainability for the sector from a triple bottom line perspective, exploring the three pillars of the environmental, financial and social. The program will cover sustainable practice across the range of gallery and museum operations and the conference will be a valuable professional development opportunity for directors, public programs and marketing staff, as well as gallery technicians with an involvement in facility maintenance. Through facilitated discussion and practical workshops, by the end of the conference we aim to have developed a list of strategies, both short and long term, with which to move forward to support the vitality and longevity of the sector.  

Featured speakers include:

  • Lucy Neal, UK, co-author of Sustainable Ability report and contributor to The Happy Museum Project.
  • Jason Smith, Director at the Heide Museum of Modern Art on sustainable practices at Heide
  • Emrah Baki Ulason will present the findings of the recent Lighting and Energy Effectiveness Report carried out by Steensen Varming
  • Krista Huebner from The Museum of Contemporary Art on their use of social media and models for audience engagement
  • Elizabeth Mead from the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) about audience development strategies and their use of new technology
  • Belinda Hanrahan from Hazelhurst Regional Gallery and Arts Centre on sponsorships as strategic partnership
  • Jenny Fraser, artist and founder of cyberTribe on Indigenous art online
  • Dr Usha-Iyer Raniga, Snr Lecturer, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University on building green facilities
  • Lis Bastian, formerly of Central NSW Councils (Centroc) and currently Director at Varuna, the Writers’ House, will faciliate an important practical discussion with all the delegates around the issues covered
  • Further speakers to be announced

The conference will begin with a welcome drinks, registration and performances at 5.30pm-7.30pm on Sunday 30 October at Glasshouse Regional Gallery.


Accommodation
The Observatory is offering a special rate to RPG NSW conference delegates on stays more than two nights. You can visit their website here.
 
Call for Papers
Submissions are now open for papers from RPG NSW members for a session that will look at models for audience engagement.

Download a paper proposal form

Conference Details
When: from 5.30pm Sunday 30 October – 1 November 2011
Where: Glasshouse Arts, Conference and Entertainment Centre, 32 Clarence Street, Port Macquarie, NSW
Conference fees: $270 full price / $220 concession (plus $65 optional conference dinner)
Special offer: concession rate available to organisations that book 2 or more additional staff members
Further information: contact Cassie Charlton pdc@mgnsw.org.au or ph: (02) 9339 99914


Museums & Galleries NSW is presenting this conference in partnership with Regional & Public Galleries NSW (RPG NSW).

September 15, 2011

Volunteer Initiated Grant Program Now Open!

Museums & Galleries NSW is pleased to announce that the second round of the Volunteer Initiated Museum (VIM) Grant Program is now open for 2011. Applications are now invited for VIM Small Grants (funding up to $1,500) and Development Project Grants (funding up to $5,000), closing: Friday 21st October 2011.

The Guidelines for all VIM Grants can be downloaded from Museums & Galleries NSW’s website (www.mgnsw.org.au).

Closes: Friday 21st October 2011.
Contact: Phoebe Arthur, Sector Development Coordinator on ph: (02) 9339 9913, free call 1800 114 311 or phoebea@mgnsw.org.au to discuss your project and obtain an application form.

September 7, 2011

Perspex Display Plinths for Sale!

A range of perspex support plinths used for jewellery display are available for purchase! There are various sizes ranging from 40 x 45 x 9cm to smaller plinths at 15 x 15 x 15cm. All are made from 3mm acrylic perspex, most in frosted white and others in satin black.

In addition, there are a collection of clear thick perspex shelves also available, large sizes at 40 x 178 x 1cm and small sizes at 40 x 118 x 1cm. Prices range from $10 - $35.

Contact: Jasmin Dessmann at e: jasmind@mgnsw.org.au or ph: (02) 9339 9906 for a full list of details or more information.

Source: Museums and Galleries NSW- Alert! 7 September 2011