Museums [ Australia ] Museum Matters

Vol 20 no 1 June/July 2011 ISSN 1320 2677

New directions for NSW museums?

The branch will publish the proceedings later in the year. In this issue of Museum Matters, we combine the impressions of Paul Bentley, Andrew Simpson and Re- becca Pinchin with those of Christine McMillan, Bernard Boyce, Tamara Hynd, Lyn Hall, Debbie Sommers, Denise Bell, Judy Peters, Chris Lattimore and Bob McKillop, who have recorded their thoughts in bursary reports and chapter newsletters. A plan for the future Deborah Ely, representing Professor Amanda Lawson and other members of the consulting team working on a new strategy, outlined the scope and processes involved leading to a report to Arts NSW in mid July. Looking for inspiration To check overseas developments, we turned to two speakers. Alec Coles, CEO of the Western Austra- Delegates assemble for the Museums Australia (NSW) symposium, Place, Space lian Museum and previously director of and Identity: New Directions for NSW Museums at Macquarie University. Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums in the UK, advocated an integrated approach for Contents CHANGE was in the air. The Collections providing museum services based on his Council of Australia had ceased operation experience with the Renaissance in the New directions for NSW in 2010. The Federal Government had Regions program in England. museums? flagged the disbandment of the Cultural Before the Museums Libraries Archives A report on the MANSW Ministers Council. The Collections Council (MLA) established the program, symposium Place, Space & Australia Network was in limbo. there was an absence of regional leadership. Identity, April 2011. Arts NSW had begun work on a new Structures were fragmented. Objectives were strategic plan for the visual arts and poorly articulated. Decisions were based on NSW round-up museum sectors, one recommendation of expediency rather than strategy. There was the Watts report on Museums and inefficient and ineffective use of resources. The trade Galleries NSW (M&GNSW). And the elec- The sector did not really work together or

tion of the O‘Farrell Government in March share best practice. Austin Sloper’s digest introduced the prospect of new policy con- As part of the Renaissance program, Museums and advocacy, texts for the next four years. museum hubs were established in nine Eng- Australia, collaboration & To explore the landscape and consider lish regions. Each hub had a lead organisa- convergence, digitisation & future directions, Museums Australia tion with up to four other partners. The digitisation tools, (NSW) organised the symposium Place, program also consisted of a museum devel- exhibitions, information Space and Identity: New Directions for opment officer network, traineeships, management, lighting & air Museums in NSW. accreditation support and other elements. conditioning, social media, With the support of Arts NSW, the As a result, visits to the regional museums tips & resources, tourism, Powerhouse Museum and other sponsors, in England increased, out-performing their and the United Kingdom the symposium attracted 160 participants to counterparts in Scotland and Wales. Diary dates & contacts Macquarie University on 18-19 April for Regional museum development officers presentations, panel discussions, tours, achieved real change. There was a noticeable demonstrations, business meetings and impact on educational services and visitor social events. Page 2 Museum Matters

New directions for NSW museums?

significance against the National Stan- Laura Miles described the ap- dards. proach in Victoria, where Museums Tamara Hynd, Coordinator of the Australia (Victoria), with funding MANSW Southern Highlands and Illa- from the State government, provides warra Chapter and Curator of Tongarra a range of services, including expert Museum, promoted the importance of advice, grants, professional develop- small grants, such as the M&GNSW ment, advocacy and disaster re- volunteer-initiated-museum and leg-up sponses. grants, in building capacity and revital- A feature of its services is the ising small museums and facilitating the delivery of its standards program, work of Museums Australia‘s NSW MANSW. President Andrew Simpson calls which is not only tied to the Na- chapters. on Professor Stephen Thurgate, Executive tional Standards for Australian Mu- Lyn Hicks (Macquarie University) Dean of the Faculty of Science, Macquarie seums and Galleries, it is bound up championed the concept of sustainable University to welcomes delegates. with accreditation. Eighty percent of public policy that is driven and deliv- museums and galleries are catego- ered by networks. NSW cultural policy demographics. The museums gained a rised as grassroots organisations, over the last decade, she said, had been better profile with Whitehall and local 15% are regarded as accreditation- characterised by patchy support and authorities. They were able to leverage ready and 5% are classified as ex- cost shifting between governments. funding more effectively. There was a pert organisations. She pointed to the approach of the lift in standards and confidence. Future plans of the branch in- Victorian Department of Planning and Volunteering increased massively. volve getting more volunteer and Community Development, which is But the program was far from per- paid staff connected online, partner- based on three key principles: the fect. Sometimes there was a lack of ships with industry and philanthro- importance of investing in community- clarity about directions. Performance pists, and more collaboration with strengthening activities; the need to measures lacked objectivity. Perform- interstate branches and service pro- develop integrated local approaches to ance varied from region to region. viders. planning and delivery of services; the There was a focus on quick wins. need to change the way government A New Renaissance Program, fol- works, both within government and lowing a review in 2009, sets out to with community sectors. These princi- address these shortcomings. It consists ples were very much applicable in of a small number of locally-funded NSW, where 66% of museums and museums to provide core services, a galleries are located the regions. challenge fund shaped by national Andrew Simpson promoted the strategies to drive improvements re- future generation of museum profes- gionally, a nationally coordinated, sionals as a resource for the current locally managed network of museum work of museums. Macquarie Univer- development officers, partnerships sity‘s museum studies program, he said, with local governments, and other gives some emphasis to understanding elements. the challenges of working in regional Sarah-Jane Rennie (M&GNSW), areas. The University organises annual in her presentation New Vibrancy in an student tours of the regions. It facilitates Old World, encouraged delegates to partnerships between metropolitan and draw comparisons between NSW and regional museums and students to un- Scotland, where museum services are dertake projects on exhibition develop- shaped by the small, sea-hugging land ment, audience evaluation, disaster mass, the fallout from the Global management, collection management, Financial Crisis, a sense that history Laura Miles considers modes of transport oral history and conservation, and other has been shaped by conquerors and the before travelling to Victorian museums museum activities in need of problem conquered, and increased use of tech- and galleries. solving or additional resources. nology. The importance of standards was Kylie Winkworth, to the disappoint- Regional services something that featured in a presen- ment of the delegates had to pull out of tation by Bill Storer, Museums the event because of illness. Her presen- The focus for the consultants‘ plan- Australia National Secretary. He tation, More on the Museum Diet, ning will be on the small-to-medium emphasised the undercurrent of exploring ten strategies for sustainable sector. The symposium drew together museum purpose in his exploration museums and collections in NSW, will a number of presentations that gave an of collections, collecting and be made available in the published emphasis to this aspect. proceedings. Museum Matters Page 3 Museums Australia Inc (NSW) newsletter

New directions for NSW museums?

Influencing society Professor Duncan Waterson, and productions worth mentioning as (Macquarie University) turned his examples of changing approaches to Future strategies will no doubt call attention to its influence on the minds broadcasting include Gallipolli: The upon museums to use their resources of those in Turkey, where there has First Day, and Black Saturday, a web- to influence society at large on the been recent rapid development of site devoted to the impact of Austra- issues of the day. museums and memorials as a deliber- lia‘s worst bushfire. Multiculturalism was the issue ate government policy to reinforce the It‘s an exciting world, he said, and considered by Professor Amareswar cultural legacy of Ataturk. some of the most exciting things come Galla, Chairperson of the ICOM from unexpected places. Cross Cultural Task Force and Direc- Using technology Alison Dellit, in her presentation, tor of the UNESCO Project, Pacific Given the primary importance of tech- Trove and Museums: An Opportunity Asia Observatory for Cultural Diver- nology, the symposium gave special to be Realised?, gave us an update on sity in Human Development, when emphasis to necessities and options for the National Library of Australia‘s dis- he posed the question: ―Are we bark- museums to make use of evolving covery portal, Trove (trove.nla.gov. ing up the wrong tree when we talk technological landscape. au). After outlining some of the search about multiculturalism?‖ Chris Winter, from the Australian features of the site and planned im- State sponsored multiculturalism, Broadcasting Corporation‘s (ABC) provements, Alison urged delegates to he said, doesn‘t work. A state-by- Innovation state analysis of policy in Australia Division, in his reveals inconsistencies and tokenism. presentation Museums can play an important Find and Get: role in promoting an understanding Broadcasters of the issue by adopting the 10-point and Museums Cultural Diversity Charter, adopted in the Internet last year by ICOM. Age, drew on Past flaws in Aboriginal cultural his experience policy were brought to our attention in deploying by Steve Miller, who outlined efforts ABC content by Arts NSW and M&GNSW to har- and the devel- ness disparate energies towards a opment of new collective and networked approach relationships Chris Winter (ABC), Alison Delitt (Trove), and Peta Knott (Victorian using regional hubs. with third party Collections Project) explore directions in the use of technology (L-R).. Terri Janke (Terri Janke and content provid- Company) was to speak on a pro- ers such as museums. He drew inspira- open up their collections to a wider posal for a National Indigenous Cul- tion from the writings of Clay Shirky public and to make it possible to tural Authority, but had to withdraw about collaborative opportunities, in- harvest their metadata and resources from the symposium at the last min- creased capacity generated by the through Trove and other aggregators by ute. Her presentation Beyond Guard- internet and social media, and chang- using metadata harvesting protocols. ing Ground will be published in the ing notions about ―the expert‖. Peta Knott demonstrated the poten- proceedings and, in the meantime, The ABC is being propelled by tial of state-wide data management members may be interested in her changes in listener and viewer behav- services when she gave an outline of discussion paper published by the iours. Its website now attracts over 3.2 the Victorian Collections project, an Australia Council at http://tiny.cc/ million unique Australian visits and initiative of Museums Australia rchbm 120 million pages views a month. (Victoria), Museum Victoria and the Climate change as an issue is cur- Online content is being integrated with Victorian Department of Business and rently dynamite in the political land- traditional programming and channels. Innovation. The project is developing a scape, where expediency rules over ABC Open, for example, invites re- free online cataloguing system for rational debate. Scott East is partici- gional communities to produce and small metro and regional collecting pating in the Hot Science Global publish photos, stories, videos and organisations in Victoria. Cataloguing Citizens Project, led by Dr. Fiona sound through the ABC. A team of 45 fields are based on The Small Museums Cameron at the University of West- producers around the country will run Cataloguing Manual. Victorian Collec- ern , which is investigating a workshops and events to help people tions will train volunteers to contribute potentially greater role by museums learn how to use digital technologies. records. Further details are available at in the climate change debates. Fur- A recent focus has been the Now and www.victoriancollections.net.au ther details can be found at www. Then project, which captures local Carly Todhunter promoted themes hotscienceglobalcitizens.net. history and photos (open.abc.net.au/ as a driver of collaborative cataloguing Gallipoli occupies a special place projects/now-and-then). Other sites initiatives, based on her work with a in the minds of Australians. Emeritus Page 4 Museum Matters

New directions for NSW museums? pilot project, Moveable Heritage of share resources and data. See details tre have been broadcast along with spe- the Dairying Industry of the Illa- at www.det.nsw.edu.au/about-us/how cial programs such as demonstrations by warra and Southern Highlands, un- -we-operate/connected-classroom. artists. Andrew outlined some of the dertaken in 2010 to document the Karen Player, Coordinator of the practicalities of offering such programs, dairy collections of eight regional Museum in a Box outreach program including broadcasting techniques, liai- museums in southern New South at the Australian Museum, spoke son with local councils and fees charged. Wales. After discussing a number of about the pros and cons of virtual Putting on a show collaborative cataloguing projects classrooms, and pointed to useful such as CAN, Trove, Culture Victo- websites and other resources on the In many minds, exhibitions and public ria, WA Cultural Heritage Portal, topic. programs are the proof in the museum NSW Migration Heritage Centre, Penny Packham gave us the case pudding. The symposium attracted a Port Macquarie-Hastings museums study of the Scattered Bones video number of speakers who explored issues working group, Brisbane Living conferencing program based at the deserving the attention of individual mu- Heritage Network and Golden Australian Fossil and Mineral Mu- seums and sector strategists. Threads at Orange, Carly described seum, Bathurst. The museum began Gina Hammond delved into museums the workings of the dairy industry the program in 2008 as a pilot series as learning tools in her presentation on project, which employs the eHive of workshops with the assistance of exhibitions at Macquarie University Art portal and system (ehive.com). the Connections team. Since then, Gallery. The gallery has forged links Four speakers amplified another 130 sessions have been run across with teaching and research programs at theme-based project in the form of NSW to over 13,000 students. the university to reflect the interdiscipli- the Australian Dress Register (www. Andrew Glassop spoke about his nary nature of the world in which it oper- australiandressregister.org). experience with video conferencing ates. This has added colour, vitality and Lindie Ward, from the Power- programs run by Western Plains Cul- freshness to the physical environment of house Museum, highlighted interest- tural Centre, where tours of the Cen- the university. She said museums and ing and revealing stories that had galleries can be interpreted as public emerged about family and commu- institutions where individuals can seek to nity life as a result of the project. satisfy their own personal learning needs. Michelle Maddison, describing Leonard Janiszewski and Effy the Museum of the Riverina‘s in- Alexakis gave an example of how muse- volvement, outlined how the ADR ums and galleries can exercise leadership had increased access to participating and be more relevant. Their touring exhi- collections and had activated preser- bition, A Touch of Spice: Indian Austra- vation and documentation work. It lians. set out to correct misapprehensions had encouraged her to look at the within the Australian community about Museum of the Riverina‘s collection India-Australians and engender a greater with ‗new eyes‘, to see that some- degree of social harmony. The project times shabby, disregarded objects was developed by Macquarie University can have fascinating and important Art Gallery with the Australian History stories. Museum as part of the Faculty of Arts‘ Kate Chidlow, from the Power- Greater India Project. The exhibition house Museum, took delegates content also featured in the Microsoft through the features of the site such Surface Touch Table demonstration as searching on garment locations, throughout the conference. period, gender, dress theme and Rhonda Davis sketched out ways of method of construction, and other engaging local communities and of pro- resources, such as information sheets ducing spin-offs in her presentation and videos. about Berowra‘s Living History Project, Rebecca Pinchin concluded the which set out to document unknown lo- session with overview of the training cal stories in Berowra using interviews delivered to regional centres to sup- with a selected group of senior citizens. port the development of the program. Initially developed under the auspices of To give us a feel for the potential Macquarie University‘s Art Gallery and of technology for engaging with Australian History Museum, several ex- schools, several speakers explored Top: Gina Hammond chats with Professor hibitions have been produced in other the Connected Classrooms Program, Amar Galla and other delegates. Middle: venues. The strong presence of local his- Leonard Janiszewski emphasised a point a NSW Government initiative to at the MS Surface touch table demo. tory ignited tremendous interest and gen- encourage use of technology to share Bottom: Delegates try out the MS erated intergenerational connections. Surface touch table. Museum Matters Page 5 Museums Australia Inc (NSW) newsletter

New directions for NSW museums?

Stakeholder views The next decade will call for more effective collaboration between major stakeholders. As the symposium drew to a close, we turned to representatives from three major stake- holders for their views on future directions. Michael Rolfe (M&GNSW) said that overall the Watts Report had been positive in assessing the achievements by M&GNSW. But it had also highlighted some areas where it was felt that the organisation had lost its way. Over the past few months the Board had been developing a new three-year strategic plan, which would position M&GNSW to carry forward its leadership role and its responsibilities to support The Wild exhibition, Melbourne Museum, one of the examples the sector, including further development of a significant of fresh approaches to Australian exhibition design in Susan Aboriginal cultural profile. Freeman’s presentation. In developing plans, M&GNSW had been influenced by three imperatives. First, the importance of the diverse small- Susan Freeman (Freeman Ryan Design) gave us a to-medium museum and gallery sector in the communities sense of directions in exhibition design, based on recent they serve. Second, the need to take a fresh look at past contracts within a number of major museums, galleries thinking about convergence and co-location of cultural fa- and visitor centres across Australia, where design objec- cilities. Third, future broadband and web based opportunities tives have responded to increasingly tech-savvy visitors. will increasingly be a focus for the growth and delivery of Aimee Deaves spoke with authority when she de- educational services, audience development and professional scribed the pressures of producing exhibitions and pub- support. lic programs in small museums with limited resources. ―We are keen to establish links across cultures and At the Australian Tennis Museum, temporary displays, cultural boundaries,‖ he said, ―to ensure that our work is an adaptable approach in designing exhibitions and the informed by a mix of approaches and stories relevant to development of relationships with the community have galleries and museums—and the communities they serve. all played their part in an expanded exhibitions program M&GNSW wants to be your friend to ensure that museums that has contributed to an increase in visitor numbers. & galleries and Aboriginal cultural centres are sufficiently Bronwen Wade-Leeuwen (Macquarie University) skilled, resourced and charged to produce quality program shone the torch on ways of fostering creativity in pre- and collection based activities that lead your connection to service teachers who run educational programs for chil- communities served.‖ dren in museums and art galleries. Kath Von Witt, spoke from the perspective of Regional Looking for evidence and Public Galleries NSW and as someone who is in charge of the Hawkesbury Regional Gallery & Museum. There are Statistics and other data will influence future policies by many similar needs of a regional gallery and a regional mu- governments and decisions by museums. seum, foremost being strong community support, caring for With this in mind, Professor David Throsby from cultural collections of public property and creating a curated Macquarie University explored the economic contexts space. The differences rest predominantly on what is being of cultural heritage, a subject which is now represented curated and cared for – art or material culture. The needs of by a considerable body of literature. regional and public galleries are philosophical, political and He drew attention to his recent report Culture of In- cultural, logistical and practical, requiring specialist knowl- novation: An Economic Analysis in Arts and Cultural edge and grassroots involvement and, most importantly, Organisations, written with Hasan Bakhshi and involve art and art practice. published in 2010 by the National Endowment for Paul Bentley, representing the perspective of Museums Science Technology and the Arts in the UK. This has an Australia (NSW), said that in developing a strategy for analysis of audience development in the digital age, the museums it was desirable that we look outside the sector impact of digital technology on art forms, value and before we look inside it. A future strategy for developing the business models. infrastructure for community and regional museums, he Kreenah Yelds zoomed in on visitor monitoring believed, was setting up structures and approaches for trans- practice, based on her surveys of 16 venues across forming the use of technology. This is a primary considera- NSW. Although the sector is close to a unified tion. Technological solutions often address a range of other approach, she said, further work is needed to assist the issues including significance, conservation and rights as well development of sustainable museum programs and as improved access to collections. Technology solutions strategies throughout the state. need the involvement of major institutions. In an online environment, consistency in managing data—rather than the size of the organisation—is paramount. In NSW, the future Page 6 Museum Matters

New directions for NSW museums? of CAN is as important as the future of M&GNSW. Future strategies will also depend on clarifying and coor- dinating the roles of governments, major institutions, M&GNSW, regional museums and galleries, regional mu- seum development officers and bodies such as Museums Australia and the Royal Australian Historical Society. In NSW, there needs to be a more effective embrace of stake- holders. Roles will be determined by the level authority and resources held by each stakeholder to deliver results. Solutions for determining the level of funding for re- gional and community museums and galleries, the type of funding, and the justification for funds may be found in the approach for subsidising local government libraries in NSW and indicators about cultural heritage value, social and economic impact. Advocacy

Panellists Andrew Simpson, Katharine Brisbane, Liz Gillroy and Gay Hendriksen field questions in the final session on advocacy

The final session of the symposium was devoted to advo- cacy. Under the chairmanship of newly elected MANSW vice-president Vicki Northey, panellists Katharine Bris- bane (Currency House), Andrew Simpson, Gay Hendrik- sen (Parramatta Female Convict Factory Action Group) and Liz Gillroy (The Glasshouse, Port Macquarie) discussed ways of advancing the interests of museums and galleries. After the symposium After the symposium, the branch participated in the Arts NSW forum at M&GNSW on 20 June, at which Professor Amanda Lawson and her colleagues presented initial find- ings from their online survey and sought further advice on issues of importance. The branch‘s two-part submission to Professor Lawson is available on the publications page of the MANSW website. After the strategy is released, MANSW will consider updating its 2010 proposal for a survey of information and communications technology and digitisation in regional and community museums, taking into account recommen- dations in the NSW strategy, pathways highlighted at the symposium and other recent developments. On the advocacy front, we will continue our endeavours to represent the sector and individual museums as outlined in our Advocacy Plan, available on the MANSW website. Relationships found new depth as the conversations continued during the social events and symposium dinner. Museum Matters Page 7 Museums Australia Inc (NSW) newsletter

NSW round-up

The MANSW tours and talks series kicked off in 2011 with a tour of the Powerhouse Museum conservation lab and workshop areas, led by Cosia Dudek with the assistance of James Elwing, Rebecca Main, Nitsa Yioupros, Kate Chidlow, Frances Fitzpatrick and Sue Gatenby

NSW Branch The Far North Chapter held its first meeting of the year In addition to our work on the state symposium, the in March at Alstonville Museum. Kaley Morrissey gave a submission to Arts NSW and other advocacy efforts, we presentation on Arts Northern Rivers, Dr Rob Smith continue to run the program of tours and talks in Sydney spoke about the value of the National Film and Sound (see above and next page). In August, we will be holding a Archive to local activities. And Debrah Novak gave a run- teleconference for chapter representatives to progress down on PR and media techniques for chapter members. A issues raised at the April symposium and to assist chapters cause for celebration was the opening of refurbished to take advantage of improvements to the Museums facilities at Crawford House Museum, after receiving Australia website described by Lee Scott, including direct funds from the Jobs Fund grants. The new facilities have management of chapter pages, management of events and produced an additional small income stream from rentals to member details, and a new spreadsheet aimed at other groups. streamlining management of accounts and audits. NSW chapters The Sydney Chapter kicked off its 2011 activities with a Peer2Peer event in March, when it took in the Edwardian Summer exhibition of the Historic House Trust at the Museum of Sydney, followed by drinks in the Opera Bar. Personnel changes are reflected in the new list of committee members: Karen O’Donnell (President), Jessica Allan (Vice President), Helen Jones (Treasurer, Clare Power and Sam Sannayah (Marketing and Promotions Officers), Serena Manwaring (Membership Officer), Geoff Barker, Virginia Ho, with Gay Hendriksen serving as Chapter Coordinator. As it develops plans for more events, check out its pages on MaNexus and Facebook. In the Hunter Chapter, the re-opening of the Newcastle Museum in its new building later in the year Crawford House Museum, Alston Plateau Historical Society, looms as a milestone in the region. recipient of funds for renovations from a Government stimulus In the Lachlan Chapter, Betti Punnett (Cootamundra) The Mid North Coast Chapter held its AGM on 29 has stepped into the large shoes of the late Glen Johns as March at Macksville, when a workshop on successful grant chapter coordinator, supported by Lisa Eastaway applications was held. (Grenfell), Bill Pigram (Yass) and Bill Spiers (Temora). The New England North West chapter, at its meeting With financial support from Museums & Galleries NSW, at the Land of the Beardies Museum in Glen Innes in the chapter will again hold its 5th Working Spaces for March, endorsed Robyn Rogers as President and Museum Volunteers Conference on 14-16 October 2011. Coordinator and elected Erica Barwell as Secretary/ Workshops are offered on a range of topics, including Treasurer. The chapter paid tribute to the efforts of significance assessment, digitisation, metal conservation, Michelle Arens in the latter position over the past few graphic design and displays, using social media, applying years. The meeting concluded with a workshop on the for grants and linking up with the school curriculum. For Australian Dress Register, presented by staff from the more information or to receive a registration form contact Powerhouse Museum in Sydney. Bill Pigram (02 6226 4894) or email apigram@ozemail. The Central Tablelands Chapter held its annual com.au. For a bursary application form contact Phoebe meeting at Mudgee in May, when the following office Arthur, M&GNSW Sector Development Coordinator, (02 bearers were elected: Trevor Pascoe (President), John 9339 9913) or [email protected]. Broadley (Secretary) Phil Stevenson (Treasurer), and Page 8 Museum Matters

NSW round-up

a subsequent issue of the Museums Kristy Kearney (Chapter Delegate). Australia Magazine and on the Attracting great attention in the region Museums Australia website. Further are plans for the development of an details: http://museumsaustralia.org. integrated cultural facility in Orange, au/site/mapda2011.php including the library, art gallery and The Centre for Volunteering has museum. initiated the NSW Volunteer of the The Southern Highlands and Year Award, recognising the Illawarra Chapter held its most outstanding efforts of the 2.4 million recent meeting at Glenalvon Museum, volunteers in NSW. Further Campbelltown, in June. A information 02 9261 3600 or email presentation by Rebecca Evans from [email protected]. the Powerhouse Museum, on Secrets Nominations close 30 August 2011. Model of King Solomon’s Temple, created of a Stitch Detective. How to Read Info: www.nswvolunteerawards.com by Rick Maynard, on display at the Museum our Garments, Tell Their Stories and of Freemasonry Store Them Properly, was followed MANSW tour and talks 2011 The Sydney Masonic Memorial by a tour of Glenalvon Museum. The branch‘s tours and talks are a Centre has done a remarkable job in great way of learning how other preserving the documents, artworks, museums work. The series this year artefacts and other resources reflecting began in March at the Powerhouse the history of the organisation in Museum conservation laboratories Australia and its impact on society, a (see photos page 7). practice museum associations In May, we went to the Museum of themselves could well emulate. For Freemasonry, where museum further details: www.mof.org.au. director Chris Craven walked us In July, Courtney Eckler, Manager/ through the museum, archives, library Curator of ’ Nutcote lodge room and other facilities. Museum and her colleagues, opened Servants quarters at the Glenalvon Museum the windows on a home and grounds celebrating the work of the Australian Awards children‘s author and artist. The preservation of Nutcote, May We remind members and others in the Gibbs‘ home, is a great story of how sector that nominations are invited for citizens marshalled against the interests this year‘s IMAGinE Awards, a of developers with support from local partnership of M&GNSW, MANSW, government. MAACT and RPGNSW. The awards May Gibbs is famous as the author will be presented at the Australian and illustrator of Snugglepot and Museum on Friday 30 September Cuddlepie, among other works for 2011. Nominations close on 22 children. Born in 1877, she migrated to August. For further information and Australia with her family in 1881. guidelines: http://mgnsw.org.au/news/ She returned to England twice for imagine_awards_2011 study and work before returning to Museums Australia has also Australia in 1913 to earn a living as an introduced the inaugural Museums & illustrator. She published Gumnut Galleries National Awards Babies in 1916, signalling the (MAGNA) this year. Entries are due beginning of a steady stream of 31 July. The awards will be presented children‘s books, newspaper cartoons at the Museums Australia national Chris Craven, Director of the Museum of Freemasonry, Sydney and other works, particularly during the conference in . More details: 1920s. www.museumsaustralia.org.au/site/ Freemasonry is a fraternal Her last book, Prince Dande Lion, magna organisation originating in the late was published in 1954. Her Bib and Nominations in the Museums 16th to early 17th century. It uses Bub comic strip, however, which began Australia Multimedia & metaphors drawn from stonemasons' in 1924, continued to be produced until Publication Design Awards tools and the allegorical backdrop of 1967. She died in 1969. (MAPDA) are also open until 15 the building of King Solomon's The Nutcote museum was August 2011. Winners will be Temple to underscore its principles established after relatives and friends, announced during the National and to support charity and community concerned about its future, formed the Conference in Perth, and presented in services. Museum Matters Page 9 Museums Australia Inc (NSW) newsletter

The trade

Thank you for your support and experiences that have drawn on In addition to the great support we the Mental Media expertise include received for the symposium from Arts Banbury Mine, Denniston (NZ), NSW, the Powerhouse Museum and Albert Kersten Minerals Museum Macquarie University, a number of (Broken Hill), Australian War suppliers and other supporters helped Memorial, John O‘Brien Centre turn the symposium into a success. (Narrandera), National Sports We would like to acknowledge them Museum (Melbourne), the Shearer‘s in this issues of Museum Matters. Hall of Fame, Mary MacKillop Centre (Melbourne), and Albury City Museum Appreciation Society Library and Museum. Further details: www.mentalmedia.com.au or contact Alison Leeson and her team supplied Bruce Brown bruce@mentalmedia. the grub for lunch on the first day, com.au looked after the registration desk, and provided other forms of support. Preservation Australia They also organised the inaugural Sydney Museums Marathon on the Provides conservation services and day after the symposium. This tour products, including workshops and took in major cultural institutions seminars on box making, paper, across Sydney. textile and costume conservation, The Society donated funds raised care of collections and photographs, from the tour to Blue Shield Australia. disaster preparedness and recovery, We encourage you to check the and family history. Further society‘s site on Facebook. information, including details of workshops and seminars 2011: Bosco Storage Solutions www.preservationaustralia.com.au

Designer and manufacturer of a diverse range of commercial storage, Object Consulting and Red & office storage and industrial storage Robin products, including tambour door May Gibbs’ Nutcote Museum building, Our major trade sponsors of the gardens and views of Sydney habour. cabinets, bookcases, steel storage cupboards, lineal filing cabinets, opening reception. Object Consulting and Red & Robin also offered, over May Gibbs Foundation and mobile pedestal, office pedestal, library shelving and mobile shelving the two days, a demonstration of the galvanised support to ―Save Nutcote Microsoft Surface Touch Table for for the Nation‖. North Sydney systems, high density drawer storage cabinets for tool storage and parts, group learning and other applications Municipal Council purchased Nutcote in museums, galleries and learning for $2.86m in 1990. The house and workbenches, industrial storage cupboards, the Heuer Vice, mobile environments. gardens opened to the public in 1994. If you missed the symposium and Nutcote is now jointly owned by tool trolleys and line feed trolleys. Web: www.boscostorage.com.au or want to experience the demo, go to the Mayor and General Manager of www.touchingthesurface.com.au for through the contact glen.huggett@advancemetal. com.au case studies and a video based on Nutcote Trust. material from Macquarie University‘s It is managed by a volunteer board, Designcraft Touch of Spice exhibition. consisting of members of the public and appointees from North Sydney Specialises in furniture, joinery and Council. showcases, as well as wall systems, Courtney Eckler and an assistant environmental monitoring equipment manager look after the day-to-day and museum and gallery furniture. running of the museum and garden. It Further information: www.designcraft. is open to the public 11am-3pm net.au. Wednesday-Sunday. The facilities can Mental Media be booked for functions. Merchandise, one of its main Specialises in design and production sources of revenue can be purchased of multimedia for museums, visitor Microsoft Surface touch table demo online at www.maygibbs.com.au centres and exhibitions, from single person audio productions to

im-mersive experiences. Museums Page 10 Museum Matters

Austin Sloper’s digest

This digest draws Collaboration and convergence tices, and the value of resources as attention to articles, evidence become more relevant. Morten Hansen and Herminia Thinking explicitly about structured books, reports, news, Ibarra, in ―Getting Collaboration websites and other learning support is a topic for further Right‖ (Harvard Business Review investigation. The notion of exhibi- sources on museums blog, 16 May 2011), say two things can and... tion comes into play, a central mu- go wrong with collaboration. seum activity, alongside education. If Advocacy There can be under-collaboration, in libraries can learn from archives and which companies that operate as a col- museums, what could museums learn OCLC‘s Lorcan Dempsey gnawed on lection of silos commit the cardinal sin the challenge of advocacy in his blog from archives and libraries? Web: of underperforming relative to the re- http://tiny.cc/cdyz5 ―Advocacy: Public Library as Amen- sources they have invested. ity and Necessity‖, 29 April 2011. There can be over-collaboration, Digitisation and digital tools Although he had libraries in mind, it where people collaborate on the wrong may be applicable to museums. Two In January, the Powerhouse Museum things or when collaboration efforts get made available a WordPress API to writers had influenced his train of bogged down in endless discussions thought. Christopher Caldwell, in a facilitate embedding of customised and consensus decision-making in collection objects in WordPress blogs. Financial Times piece had asserted which no one is clearly accountable. that "like the military sector, the Further details: http://tiny.cc/244xa Their recipe for effectiveness is Ricky Erway, in her OCLC report, library sector confounds every at- ―disciplined collaboration‖, character- tempt to make it more efficient." Rapid Capture: Faster Throughput in ised by a rigorous assessment of the Digitization of Special Collections, Eleanor Jo Rodger, who had argued business case for any collaborative there is currently a ―fuzzy mix of lan- looks at digitisation programs in effort, incentives aligned with the strat- American libraries, archives and mu- guage about importance, equity and egy, and accountability. Leaders play a use‖ to support of public library fund- seums and says that digitisation speed crucial role in getting this right. They is not everything. Different materials ing. In her view, it was important to not only need to orchestrate the condi- distinguish between the words neces- require different approaches. But, tions for employees to collaborate on ―while not all special collections are sities and amenities. As a matter of the right things, but they also need to politics, she said, ―defending ameni- amenable to capture at scale, many show a strong hand in guiding collabo- are…[and] some semblance of scale ties may work better than defending ration efforts. Web: http://tiny.cc/frhgf necessities". This, Lorcan writes, is in is possible.‖ In this process, she re- The Dictionary of Sydney has em- ports, the ―issue of metadata is prov- contrast to the transformative argu- ployed social media to help build the ments advanced by others who defend ing difficult due in large part to their value of the site. A blog, Looking Up, Library-Archive-Museum environ- the library as necessity. and associated Facebook and Twitter He concludes his piece by under- ment, which requires them to meet accounts have been activated. Volun- archival needs as well as those of scoring the need to understand the teer contributors and readers are in- motivations of those who make fund- museum registrars. vited to add comments. The dictionary She concludes ―We can increase ing decisions and the need to mobilise is a collaborative project coordinated different groups to harness the values the throughput rate—and as digitiza- by a trust and supported by the City of tion of special collections becomes that are important to them. Web: Sydney, University of Sydney, Univer- http://tiny.cc/0xicq more commonplace, the costs of sity of Technology, Sydney, Sydney equipment and services will continue Australia Mechanics' School of Arts, State Re- to decrease even as technological im- cords of NSW, Historic Houses Trust The online web publication, Under- provements speed up hardware and and Powerhouse Museum. Web: software operations. But speeding up standing Museums: Australian Muse- www.dictionaryofsydney.org ums and Museology, is a new essen- the capture process is only one part of Lorcan Dempsey in a blog ―Lam- the picture. These significant ad- tial bookmark. Edited by Des Griffin inating Libraries ... Redux‖ (14 April and Leon Paroissien, and published vances on the capture side will in- 2011) calls for more cross-sectoral crease pressure to make changes in by the National Museum of Australia, understanding as we move into the it throws the spotlight on issues relat- other parts of the process.‖ Web: digital environment. Library work can http://tiny.cc/2vw5r ing to museology and types of muse- increasingly understand and benefit ums. At a time when changes in gov- from archival and museum perspec- Exhibitions ernment policies and structures often tives and professional practice. As The webste museumplanner.org, run trigger attempts to reinvent the wheel, libraries digitise primary materials, or this publication provides a useful con- by Mark Walhimer Exhibition De- as they begin to curate research data or sign, despite its American orientation, text for considering policies affecting learning materials, an archival perspec- may be of interest to those wanting to the future of Australian museums. tive becomes more important. Issues explore the subject. It includes lists of Check it out at http://tiny.cc/xo6rw like provenance, tracking changes to resources on project management and resources over time, appraisal prac- Museum Matters Page 11 Museums Australia Inc (NSW) newsletter

Austin Sloper’s digest exhibition design, including the page asserts, is a mirage. Millions of people ums in the Community Museums How Much Does an Exhibition Cost? have signed up for the service but have Program of the Victorian Department Web: museumplanner.org/how-muhc- never used it. After five years, only 21 of Planning and Community Develop- do-exhibits-cost. million people or accounts can be cate- ment. Issues to be addressed in future gorised as active, which is about the training programs include the need for Information management same number that Google+ gained in improved customer relations between MLA and Renaissance London un- three weeks. Twitter is currently a bet- tourists and staff and making the most dertook an Information and Records ter megaphone than Google+. It‘s bet- of cross promotional opportunities Management Project 2007-2011 with ter for quick news. It's easier to skim, United Kingdom the aim of raised awareness of, and unlike Google+, which is wordy and increased capacity for, information time-consuming. It allows anonymity. As we reflect on recent changes to the and records management in London‘s But Elgin predicts most of these ad- Australian scene, the decision by the regional museums. The project find- vantages will be erased by improve- Cameron Government to close Muse- ings and a series of toolkits, e- ments to Google+, the addition of third ums Libraries Archives (MLA) in the learning tools and fact sheets on man- -party add-ons and apps, and the par- UK and transfer its responsibilities aging emails, files and folders, ver- ticipation of businesses, publications prompts us to look more closely at sions, information audits and policies and a lot more people. how the deck chairs are being rear- are available from www.museuminfo- Catherine Grenfell, in ―Deploying ranged in England. records.org.uk/ Microblogging in Organisations‖ (Step MLA will transfer its museum and Two Designs, 29 July 2011, http:// library responsibilities to Arts Council Lighting & air conditioning tiny.cc/m4t8s) describes how microb- England in October. An announce- Museum and Gallery Services logging works within organisations, ment about the future location of the Queensland (M&GSQ) is partnering gives examples of organisations using MLA‘s archive responsibilities will with the Regional and Public Gal- microblogging (such as the NSW De- be made by the Department for Cul- leries Association of NSW (RPG partment of Education and Communi- ture, Media and Sport in due course. NSW) to produce Gallery and Mu- ties), describes typical behaviours, As preparations are made for the seum Lighting and Air Conditioning considers strategic and operational change and, with reports of up to 25% to report on the implications for the issues, lists some technological options staff cuts in local council authorities, Australian public museum and gallery (such as Yammer, Socialcast and MLA has recently published statistics sector of the Federal Government‘s Hashwork) and provides links to use- on the achievements of the Renais- phase-out of inefficient incandescent ful sources. sance-funded Hub museums. In 2009- lamps, and current air conditioning 10, they experienced an increase of Tips and resources and climate control needs and stan- 16.9% overall compared with 2006- dards. Preliminary findings of the The Renaissance South East Team 07, and increases in various forms of report are anticipated at the M&GSQ in the UK have produced Tips and activity such as visits from social 2011 State Conference in August. The Resources for Museums. The publica- groups, children, tourists and adults final report will be presented at RPG tion has sections on collection tips participating in informal learning ac- NSW State Conference in late Octo- (caring for collections, digitisation, tivity. ber at Port Macquarie. joint storage projects), community As strategists and policy makers engagement tips (touring exhibitions, juggle with new options, the Muse- Social media reminiscence, interpretation, working ums Association in the UK, has called If you‘ve been drawn to Twitter as an with young people), marketing and for ―something radically different that essential service for tracking news, data collection tips (social media, data better meets the needs of audiences commentary, blogs and conversations, collections), income generation and and of the whole sector‖ in funding Mike Elgan’s article ―Why Twitter is fundraising tips and organizational non-national museums in England. Obsolete‖ (Computerworld, 23 July development tips (governance, project The association does not support the 2011, http://tiny.cc/hrsig) may be of management, volunteer management concept of a small number of core interest. He argues that Twitter will and in-house training). The resources museums. as described in the MLA‘s soon be a ghost town as soon as section includes links to online UK New Renaissance proposal. It prefers Google+ takes hold. The ubiquitous sites and material. Web: http://tiny.cc/ a single, simple funding stream that Twitter currently boasts 200 million ljrv9 every museum can apply for (see users and 350 billion tweets a day. http://tiny.cc/9htok). Tourism The Google+ social site, he says, will Maybe our UK counterparts have sink Twitter because it consolidates a John Watson, in ―Tourism in a Col- not yet thought through questions of number of social media attributes, lecting Organisation Audit‖ (Insite sustainability in developing their including Twitter-like feeds. More- May-June 2011), reports on the results views on strategies? over, Twitter's apparent success, he of a study of an audit regional muse- For your diary

Museums Australia National Conference Museums Australia (NSW) Tours & Talks At the Frontier: Exploring Possibilities

State Library of NSW 7 September 2011 The Museums Australia National Conference State Library's digitisation facilities and strategies this year will be held in partnership with

Royal Botanic Gardens 2 November 2011 Interpretation Australia in Perth 14-18 November 2011 MANSW Lachlan Chapter Further details. Working Space 5 for Museum Volunteers www.iceaustralia.com/atf2011 14-16 October 2011 For more information or to receive a registration form Museums Australia (NSW) will be offering four contact Bill Pigram (02 6226 4894) or email bursaries totalling $2000 towards the cost of apigram@ozemail. com.au. For a bursary application attending the conference. Details will be form contact Phoebe Arthur, M&GNSW Sector promoted via a Museums Australia bulletin. Development Coordinator, (02 9339 9913) or [email protected].

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