International conference "Intercultural Dialogue and Social Cohesion in Museums"
The Learning Museum project (LEM) midterm international conference
Given that society is constantly changing, museums must regularly assess whether they are fulfilling their task of serving society adequately. In the last decades the number of residents in Western European countries with an immigration background has increased steadily. Also the reemerging of nation states across Eastern Europe following collapse of Soviet Union has caused division of population along ethnic lines.
This international conference will consider recent developments in social justice museum movements across Europe, particularly concentrating on the museums role in social cohesion. It will draw on examples of current Latvian cultural policy, where for the first time since regaining independence larger attention is being placed on possibilities offered by heritage institutions to address social cohesion and foster stronger civic society.
The conference will examine museum responsibilities and experiences in offering opportunities of cultural participation to people from all walks of life against the background of cultural integration policies of represented nation states.
• Are museums being considered an asset for social cohesion in Europe?
• To what extend have museums and their collections have been instrumentalized in fostering an open and unprejudiced civic society?
• How do museums and their representative organizations campaign for an active voice in national cultural policies and how successful are they?
• How do museums cope with potentially controversial questions with ethnically diverse audiences?
• How do museums retain their academic independence under the pressure of political demands?
These are some of questions the midterm evaluation conference will address by offering floor to project participants from various European countries and some specially invited high profile museum policy makers and researchers. The event takes place within the Grundtvig sponsored LEM project.
CONFERENCE PROGRAM
27.04.2012, Riga
9:00 – 10:00
Registration and coffee
10:00 – 10:15
Opening of the Conference
Session 1. Cultural Policy Perspectives
10:15 – 10:45
Keynote
Diana Walters
Cultural Heritage without Borders and International museum and heritage consultant, Sweden
10:45 – 11:15
Divided social memory and museums as an integration resource
Sarmite Elerte
Advisor of Minister of Culture on Integration Policy, Ministry of Culture, Latvia
11:15 - 11:45
Beyond integration courses. Ways to face the challenge of intercultural dialogue in museums in Germany
Dietmar Osses
Director of the Westphalian State Museum of Industrial Heritage and Culture
11:45 - 12:45
Lunch
Session 2. Museum Sector Perspectives
12:45 - 13:15
Keynote: New paradigms for intercultural dialogue in museums
Simona Bodo
Independent researcher, Italy
13:45 - 14:15
Social inclusion in Liverpool
David Fleming
Director of National Museums Liverpool
13:45 - 14:15
The barbarian museum
Paul Spies
Director of the Amsterdam Museum
14:45 – 15:15
Coffee
15:15 – 16:15
An ethical exchange of ideas: how can museums prepare for the "messy" bits of collaboration and intercultural dialogue?
Janice Lane
Senior Museums Manager (Public Programming and Customer Service), Glasgow Life/Glasgow Museums
Victoria Hollows
Contemporary Arts and Museum Manager, Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow
15:15 - 15:45
Digital media's social side-effects
Japer Visser
Innovator and digital strategist, Netherlands
15:45 – 17:00
Panel discussion
Conference venue:
Latvian War Museum, Smilsu Street 20, Riga
http://www.karamuzejs.lv/
Registration:
Please confirm your participation by 1 April, 2012 muzeji@muzeji.lv
Conference Supporters:
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Informative Supporter:
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Conference Project Coordinator:
Ineta Zelca Simansone
Project Consultant at Latvian National Museum of Art
T: 00 371 28819796
