Museum Matters Museums Australia Inc (NSW) Newsletter
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Museum Matters Museums Australia Inc (NSW) newsletter Vol 17 no 2 December 2008 ISSN 1320 2677 Turning old songs into a new chorus Paul Bentley Advocacy is a thing professional associa- ting somewhat confused and opaque. ―The tions are expected to do. But what do asso- slippery segues from art to culture to crea- ciations like Museums Australia need to tivity, from creativity to output to produc- advocate and how do they do it? Recent tivity leave one in real danger of missing talks, books and TV cooking shows sug- what the debate is all about. The looseness gest some of the answers. of terms and definitions, the inexactness of measurements and incomprehensibility of Influences some of the jargon is mind-numbing.‖ Get- ting heard is not difficult, he says. Having At Museums Australia‘s forum last Sep- something to say that is meaningful and tember, organised to develop a national convincing is much more of a challenge. policy for Australian museums, ACT branch vice-president Alex Marsden was Do it the right way. The effort of a deter- asked to give insights on her work for the mined group of well-informed and dedi- 2020 Summit within the Department of the cated individuals who embarked on a cam- Prime Minister and Cabinet. She said it paign to reverse a government policy deci- was important for organisations like Muse- sion to merge the Australian Film Commis- ums Australia to match bids with govern- sion and the National Film and Sound Ar- ment policies that are flagged on the web- chive is an example of doing it right. He sites of the Council of Australian Govern- offers the 2020 Summit is an example of a ments (www.coag.gov.au/), 2020 Summit, missed opportunity. Instead of being a (www.australia2020.gov.au/), Cultural genuine free flow of ideas, the sessions Ministers Council (www.cmc.gov.au/) and quickly degenerated into a process that other sites. Don‘t place all expectations on herded participants towards the Govern- one or two ministers: they don‘t necessar- ment‘s agenda. ―Facilitators filtered out ily hold sway over their cabinets. Advo- unpalatable ideas in order to produce ano- cates need to cast messages more widely. dyne conclusions…the paradigm shift in Contents the government was not matched by any Chris Puplick has walked both sides of paradigm shift in conceptual analysis or Turning old songs the fence as a government minister and thinking.‖ into a new chorus board member of cultural organisations. In his essay, Getting Heard: Achieving an Address the problem of fragmented Effective Arts Advocacy (Currency House, From the president lobby groups. There is no single national 2008), he made several suggestions. body representing the arts sector as a whole. Sectoral interests of this vast con- NSW round up First, look in the right places for sup- stituency tend to focus on matters of imme- port. Advocacy, he says, requires inside diate interest to themselves, often at the The national scene knowledge and reliable connections. Al- cost of others. though public inquiries involve extensive Ideas: websites, public input, they are usually driven by a In October, the Sydney Arts Marketing articles, books rare breed of politician and they rely on the Advisory Group (www.samag.org/) called personal support of senior political leaders, on three panellists for its seminar Agents prominent and well-connected business Contacts for Change – An Insight into Effective Lob- leaders, or senior bureaucrats with sympa- bying. thetic interests. Tamara Winikoff, Executive Director of Use the right language. Puplick says, in the National Association for the Visual relation to the arts, that the rhetoric is get- (Continued on page 2) Page 2 Museum Matters Museums Australia Inc (NSW) newsletter From the President Bill Storer Another year draws to a close after a has worked to support the work of 2009. The Branch proposes to offer a hectic twelve months. Probably the its chapters. small museums conference in the Riv- most significant event of the year was erina region later in 2009. the launch in September of the Na- The Hunter Chapter has been par- tional Standards for Museums and ticularly busy organising next The achievements of museums and Galleries. This body of work now year‘s national conference. An ex- museum workers in other regions was presents a set of guidelines that de- cellent cast of international and celebrated in the recent IMAGinE scribe best, if basic, practice in the local keynote speakers has been awards, presented with our partners industry. The benchmarks are attain- booked. The program, including Museums and Galleries NSW, Public able but, for most, may require some remote and regional workshops, is and Regional Galleries Association of additional thought to put into opera- taking shape and will be available NSW and the Museums Australia ACT tion. Good luck. A workshop on im- by the middle of December 2008. Branch at the Art Gallery of NSW in plementation of the standards will be The branch has made available con- October, and in the Marvellous Muse- available in the program for the Mu- ference bursaries to each chapter ums awards, presented by the ABC seums Australia Conference in New- and will be considering additional with Museums Australia in May. We castle 17-20 May 2009. bursaries in the new year. I urge congratulate, in particular, Museums you to check out the details at Australia members who were the re- This year, the branch has contributed www.ma2009.com.au/ and to reg- cipient of awards this year. to national efforts to develop a na- ister in February 2009. tional policy framework, has organ- Have a good Christmas. We look for- ised a series of museum tours and Lachlan Chapter presented another ward to working with you next year. talks in Sydney, has prepared sub- successful workshop for volunteers missions to Government bodies to at Galong and has announced that it And see you at the Conference! support the interests of museums, and will present a third workshop in Turning old songs into a new chorus Arts, has been a very effective advo- cial Entrepreneur of the Year award in I first heard Andrew Mawson cate on behalf of artists. She recalled 2006, has been successful in attracting spruiking his new book The Social the advice of the former federal min- a mixed portfolio of support that in- Entrepreneur: Making Communities ister for the arts Rod Kemp, who had cludes state and Australian govern- Work in an interview with Margaret urged her to say what she wanted in ments, philanthropic foundations and Throsby last September. Drawing on precise terms. It is surprising, he said, corporations. She agreed with Tamara. his experience of developing the how often people approach ministers The important elements are using the Bromley-By-Bow Centre in East without knowing what they want. right language and evidence, connect- London, he said there are problems ing the head with the heart, and draw- with relying entirely on the public Promoting the need for increased ing on power relationships. ―People sector. In the UK, Government Government funding for the visual give to people rather than projects.‖ rhetoric about ‗joined up thinking‘ arts through the Myer Inquiry, she hasn‘t really matched the reality. said, involved a lot of hard work on Ruth Neave, a former staffer for There had been ―an endless treacle preparing the ground - getting the Frank Sartor, gave a perspective from of government speak and action‖. data, providing the evidence. Use the other side of the desk. To influence Governments come and go. Sustain- logic, she said, but also appeal to politicians remember three things: able development depends more on emotions. Match your interests with don‘t waffle, take a long term ap- local enterprise, taking small steps, ministerial interests. As part of the proach and have a great product. Con- building confidence. process make friends, establish a good nect your proposals with broad gov- relationship. Use wide-ranging power ernment policy areas such as infra- The book amplifies the story about relationships - allies who may have structure, investment, and training. the development of the first inte- influence. Use your numbers to create Foster relationships with both sides of grated health centre in the UK — a groundswell. Get the media on side. politics and with the three tiers of gov- where part of the prescription is con- Don‘t expect a pot of gold, but don‘t ernment. When asking for money there necting patients with health, educa- give up the ghost. Relationships are needs to be good case. Submissions tion, housing, business and arts re- not a one-off exercise. are usually vetted by a staffer before it sources. Today, Bromley-by-Bow gets to a minister, so it is important for employs more than 100 staff and has Kim McConville, co founder of Be- documents to be presented with great become a catalyst for practical social yond Empathy and recipient of a So- clarity. innovation. Museum Matters Page 3 Museums Australia Inc (NSW) newsletter Turning old songs into a new chorus Mawson‘s message is that Govern- of individual restaurants. Do they have tions have tended to focus on persuad- ments need to focus on the details as good business plans? Do they have the ing governments that museums are a much as an overall goal or objective. right menu? Do they have effective good thing. Since governments already Making things work involves ap- marketing approaches? How do the more or less agree with associations pointing the right people and forging restaurants manage their staff? Do the about the value proposition, deeper innovative partnerships between gov- kitchens and front of house staff oper- data mining may be required to estab- ernments and social entrepreneurs.