Working together, preserving, celebrating and nurturing the heritage of the peoples of the Pacific Islands
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE
PIMA APPOINTS NEW PRESIDENT JOSEPH FLORES ARTERO-CAMERON
The Board1 of the Pacific Island Museums Association (PIMA)2 recently appointed its new President Joseph Artero-Cameron, to lead them for the next three years. His appointment is timely as PIMA gears itself towards the 12th Festival of Pacific Arts to be held in Guam in 2016. PIMA will be hosting an international museum conference at this large regional Pacific cultural event. PIMA members include more than 45 museums and cultural centres in the Pacific, as well as non-profit organizations, corporate members and individuals who support the vision, aims and activities of the organization.
In welcoming his new appointment, Artero-Cameron commented, “That as the new PIMA President, I welcome this role with an endless passion and commitment to elevating our association with a window of opportunity to address myriads of disciplines and renewed synergy in museology. As the President of Guam Museum and a member for the Board of Directors for Guam Museum Foundation, Incorporated, I bring with me international and regional experience to fit this role with PIMA.”
Past President of PIMA, Adi Meretui Ratunabuabua shares similar sentiments. “He is a leader who is actively engaged with many museums throughout the United States and a member in good standing with the American Alliance of Museums located in Washington, D.C. As a PIMA Board member, we look forward to working with President Artero-Cameron as he leads our organization to the future,” says Ms. Ratunabuabua.
President Artero-Cameron is a native of Guam. He majored in Psychology and minored in Criminal Justice Law and completed graduate courses in Theology. He is currently the President of the Department of Chamorro Affairs incorporating programs and divisions of Language & Culture/Research, Publication & Training, Guam Museum & Archives and forty-two (42) Small Businesses Incubator Programs. President Artero- Cameron directs additionally four (4) Government of Guam agencies/departments and lead advisor for the Governor of Guam on ocean matters for the U.S. Territory. He works closely with other ocean scientists, federal, state and local stakeholders
1 Current Board consists of eight members from the Republic of Belau, Solomon Islands, Guam, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Fiji, and New Caledonia. 2 The Pacific Islands Museums Association (PIMA) is a regional non-governmental organization that was formally established in 1994 to develop community participation in heritage management. PIMA brings together museums, cultural centres and heritage institution professionals in the Pacific region to develop capacity to identify, research, manage, interpret and nurture Pacific Island cultural and natural heritage.
Pacific Islands Museums Association (PIMA) C/ Vanuatu Kaltoral Senta, Port Vila, Vanuatu Tel: +678 25319 Fax: +678 26590 E: [email protected] www.pima-museum.com 2 spanning the jurisdictions of Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Florida, Hawaii, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas and American Samoa.
“The variety of experiences he brings to this role will be beneficial not only to PIMA but to other regional and international organizations that PIMA is part of,” says PIMA Trustee, Professor Amareswar Galla. “Even though PIMA’s mission is to firstly promote the work of museums in the Pacific, the vast experience that President Artero-Cameron holds as the Executive Director for Guam Council on the Arts and Humanities Agency, Executive Director for Hagåtña Restoration and Redevelopment Authority, Director of the Guam Public Library System, and President of Television Station Guam Public Broadcasting System, will also be beneficial for PIMA,” he added.
With 20 plus years of government service, he brings to this new role experiences of working in the culture, health, rehabilitation, finance and federal law sector. He was also a federal law enforcement officer with the U.S. Homeland Security Custom and Border Protection and two years experience with Guam Homeland Security.
President Artero-Cameron is the Head of Delegation for the 2016 Festival of Pacific Arts to be held on the Territory of Guam.
PIMA is excited to have a new dynamic President joining the organization and looks forward in the advancement and delivery of museum workshops and much needed training for Pacific museum staff in the coming months.
For more information and interviews, please contact:
Ms. Tarisi Vunidilo Secretary-General, PIMA Website: www.pima-museum.com Email: [email protected] Phone: +64 220493917
Ms. Patti Hernandez Department of Chamorro Affairs Hagatna, Guam Website: www.dca.guam.gov Email: [email protected] Phone: (671) 475-4278/9 Fax: (671) 475-4227
Pacific Islands Museums Association (PIMA) 2 C/ Vanuatu Kaltoral Senta, Port Vila, Vanuatu Tel: +678 25319 Fax: +678 26590 E: [email protected] www.pima-museum.com