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. ate in tandem? What skills need to be lish whether existing funds are wisely developed? All the questions you spent. Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food, a would ask about museum and gallery television series and associated book, operations and about the associations The needs of Australian museums is an attempt to improve health in the that represent them. were articulated in some detail nearly United Kingdom. Apart from making a decade ago in the report Key Needs a buck for himself, Jamie hopes his Implications of Collecting Institutions in the Heri- new food movement, Pass It On, will tage Sector. This identified a range of ―inspire people to get back into their Advocacy, then, if you accept the ad- issues to be addressed revolving kitchens and make simple, delicious vice of the accidental commentators around documentation, conservation, food from scratch again.― He wants who have found their way into this interpretation, professional develop- governments to assist in establishing piece, involves everyone talking to ment, research, marketing, quality and food centres in every community to every politician, tapping into an entre- consistency, recognition of profes- head off a massive health problem. preneurial spirit and tooling up for the sional isolation and diversity, and na- future. tion-wide coordination.

The entrepreneurial spirit is not new to The Cultural Ministers Council, as anyone who has worked in profes- the nation‘s coordinating body of min- sional associations and community isters responsible for museums, has organisations. McCrossin’s Mill Mu- flagged contexts against which the seum and the court house at Port association can align further advocacy Macquarie are two examples that efforts. spring to mind. Common sense and energy seized opportunities in search Evidence for action is partly supported of enterprise. by statistical data published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, IBIS As Museums Australia develops its and industry bodies such as the Coun- plans to capitalise on this spirit, tool- cil of Australian Museum Directors ing up may involve finding answers to (CAMD) and the Council of Austra- three questions. lian Art Museum Directors (CAMD). This basic data is embellished by the What information do we need? evidence of a number of international surveys conducted by kindred sectors The town of Rotherham in the north Several of the commentators high- such as archivists. Governments have of England was the guinea pig to test lighted the need for more data to sup- produced numerous reports about cru- the proposition. The process involved port requests for government funding. cial contexts. In publishing its strategic marshalling individuals, neighbours, A talk earlier in the year by Senator directions for the next few years, Mu- streets, suburbs, workplaces and local Ursula Stephens, the Parliamentary seums Australia has signalled the fol- politicians to the cause. His website Secretary for Social Inclusion and the lowing as areas requiring more data, (www.jamieoliver.com/jamies- Voluntary Sector, draws attention to more thought and action: education, ministry-of-food) provides the basic this expectation by governments. Flag- economic and social development of tools — a manifesto, a model letter to ging a more sympathetic federal gov- communities, and the digital economy. ministers and tips on setting up your ernment ear to the non-profit sector own Ministry of Food. Substitute and the role of volunteers (see page 8), The growth of the Internet has empha- museums for food centres and are she called for ―a better understanding sised the central importance for the there any lessons for the govern- of the sector itself, and its contribution association to respond more effec- ments and associations? to Australia‘s society and economy‖ tively to demands for creating and and the need to look at ―new tools to making available digital material. Re- Gordon Ramsay’s show Kitchen understand the productive input of the cent government policy and funding Nightmares sector.‖ has tended to focus on the integration (www.gordonramsay.com/), on the of facilities and delivery of platforms other hand, is more about the quality Advocacy efforts by museum associa- Continued page 9 Page 4 Museum Matters Museums Australia Inc (NSW) newsletter

NSW round-up

dards program and workshops in recent months. In August, MA NSW Presi- dent Bill Storer led the chapter through a disaster preparedness workshop at the Tamworth Country Music Hall of Fame. The chapter is planning a num- ber of events next year, including an- other disaster preparedness workshop. McCrossin’s Mill, which has received a Community Heritage Grant for a preservation needs assessment of its Chinese collection and a workshop.

Lachlan Chapter held another suc- cessful three-day Working Spaces workshop in Galong in October- Colleagues attending the Sydney Observatory tour search the heavens in May November. The workshop offered par- ticipants hands-on experience in a wide range of topics including display de- Sydney tours and talks Museum, now occupying the ground sign, digital photography, paper conser- floor of a converted hotel at the junc- vation, marketing, significance, disaster The branch‘s program of Sydney tion of two busy Sydney thorough- planning, museum standards, volunteer tours and talks continued throughout fares at 2-4 Sir John Young Crescent, management and public programs. the year. Woolloomooloo. The museum lays Other activities during the year have

out Passmore‘s initial Cézannesque included an inspection of Croote Cot- As part of Sydney Observatory’s obsession and reveals the promised tage hosted by Gooloogong Historical 150th anniversary in July, Dr Nick land of paintings that experimented Society in November. Archaeologist Lomb and Geoff Wyatt led us on a with new freedoms during the last Tavey Appel and writer Merrill tour of the latest exhibition Observ- two decades of Passmore‘s life. The Findlay gave talks about the cottage, ing the Weather, the newly restored museum is open Friday-Sunday, but which was built by convict labour in Fort Phillip Signal Station, a view- as you do in Paris when entering the 1827 and is one of Australia's oldest ing of the heavens with the telescope Foundation Dubuffet Gallery, you surviving residences. Glen Johns re- and a visit to the 3D Space Theatre. need to press the buzzer. ports that the chapter is planning a third www.sydneyobservatory.com.au/ Working Spaces workshop in October

The program will continue next year next year, a workshop on disaster plan- In September Gay Hendriksen was with visits to the Sydney Harbour ning at Cowra in March and another our host at Parramatta Heritage Bridge Pylon, Australian National workshop at Grenfell in July. Forbes Centre for a viewing of her exhibi- Maritime Museum, Lucy Osburn- Historical Society as elected three new tion Women Transported - Life in Nightingale Foundation Museum, and office-bearers - Margaret Messenger Australia's Convict Female Facto- Sydney University museums. (President), Susan Stewart (Secretary) ries. www.parracity.nsw.gov.au/ and Mary Laksito (Treasurer). The work of chapters It has also been a very lively year for As mentioned by Bill Storer in his the Southern Highlands and Illa- President‘s column, the Hunter warra Chapter. Office bearers elected Chapter has been putting in an ex- earlier in the year were Graham Hin- ceptional effort this year organising ton (President and Curator, Lady Den- the national conference. We look for- man Heritage Complex, Huskisson), ward to tasting the fruits of their la- Ben Lyon (Vice President, from Wol- bour in May. The chapter has also londilly Heritage Centre), Bridget held a number of meetings during the Sant (Secretary, Lady Denman Heri- year, including a workshop on exhibi- tage Complex, Huskisson), Lynne Hall John Passmore Museum, nestled in a tion design. (Treasurer, Berrima Museum); -Doreen busy intersection of Woolloomooloo Lyon (newsletter editor). The Chapter Lee Scott says that New England Co-ordinator is Tamara Hynd. Recent

Far West Chapter members have meetings were held at Shellharbour in In November, Elinor Wrobel led us been focussing on the MGnsw stan- June and at the Breakwater Battery on a tour of the John Passmore Museum, Port Kembla in October. The Museum Matters Page 5 Museums Australia Inc (NSW) newsletter

NSW round-up chapter will present a workshop on disaster planning venue for a well attended meeting in November. The visit in 2009, with support from a MGNSW VIM Grant. provided an opportunity to view and discuss the challenges and constraints of an historic site and collection housed within At its June meeting Sheree Rankmore, the Cultural metres of the ocean, and the associated salt and humidity is- Development Officer from Illawarra Aboriginal sues as well as experience first hand simple yet effective story Corporation, spoke about the role of museums and telling techniques. Planning for 2009 is already well under- Aboriginal heritage. Sheree expressed a concern that way with the annual meeting scheduled for 17 March at Frank the Corporation‘s lack of information on Aboriginal Partridge VC Military Museum, Bowraville. In the IMAGinE collections in Southern Highlands and Illawarra mu- Awards, Debbie Sommers, from Port Macquarie Historical seums was inhibiting the quality of related educa- Society, was a recipient in the individual category and Port tional programs. In response, Tamara has been con- Macquarie Hastings Council received an award for innova- ducting an audit of Aboriginal collections held in tion and leadership. This award was collected by Liz Gillroy Chapter museums for the Corporation‘s records, on behalf of the Council. along with a survey of chapter resources. The South East Chapter held two meetings during the year, Wollongong City Council has reappointed Eva Cas- at Berridale in May and at the Eden Killer Whale Museum tle as Museum Development Officer in 2008/2009, in August. At the May meeting Ruth Gowing spoke about with 50 per cent funding from Arts NSW. Her pri- her Chronicle of the Gowing Family and proposed a larger mary objectives will be to support the local commu- Chronicle of South Eastern NSW. The guest speaker in the nity museums and develop a museums policy for August meeting was Captain Josephine Clark, Harbour Wollongong City Council. Priorities being assessed Master for Port of Eden, who talked about past and present include skill audits, volunteer recruitment, succession duties of the pilot and Harbour Master at Twofold Bay, Eden. planning and marketing. The major state institutions Recent meetings of the Far North Coast Chapter have included a workshop on customer services in In November, the Powerhouse Museum invited expressions June and, in September, a workshop on designing an of interest for the Regional Services Program during 2009. exhibition on a shoestring, presented by Diana Lor- The program offers a range services including training oppor- entz from the Powerhouse Museum. Marea Buist, tunities, professional assistance and expert advice and is par- the chapter coordinator, received an individual ticularly interested in developing collaborative projects with IMAGinE award for achievements in the region. regional communities and building effective relationships to Richmond River Historical Society and Tweed achieve substantial outcomes. The program is open to regional River Regional Museum were also worthy winners museums, galleries, historical societies, libraries and commu- in the award. nity organisations. Further information: www.powerhouse museum.com Debbie Sommers, reports that the Mid North Coast Chapter is gaining momentum after it was formally In November, the Museum presented Behind the Seams, a re-activated earlier in the year. It now has 14 institu- seminar for regional museums and galleries, devoted to best tion and individual members. Trial Bay Gaol was the practice in the documentation, storage and interpretation of dress collections. At its Discovery Centre Open Day, it cele- brated agriculture and the Powerhouse Museum's rural collec- tions with tours of objects tracing the rural history of New South Wales, the exhibition Journeys to a New Life: Italian Story Telling at Mid North Coast meeting, Trial Bay Gaol, with Migration in NSW and other activities. internee 'Herman the German' played by Tom Jones. Bill Bryson described the pleasure of visiting the ‗grand and brooding Australian Museum‘ in his book Down Under. The museum officially opened its new $32 million Collections & Research Building on the 19 November 2008. The building, housing zoology collections, staff and research laboratories, is not open to the public, but the Museum has plans for an open day in May 2009, permitting the public a unique opportunity to explore the building interior. Further information: www.australianmuseum.net.au

Story Telling at Trial Bay Gaol with internee 'Herman Kate Clark has been appointed Director of the Historic the German' played by Tom Jones House Trust following the retirement of Peter Watts. Kate Page 6 Museum Matters Museums Australia Inc (NSW) newsletter NSW round-up grew up in Australia but has spent the past 25 years in the gional Galleries Association NSW, with sponsorship UK where she worked with the Ironbridge Gorge Muse- from International Art Services, Mental Media and Yel- ums Trust, the Council for British Archaeology and Eng- lowtail Wines, announced the winners in the inaugural lish Heritage before joining the Heritage Lottery Fund as IMAGinE Awards. Celebrity host Libbi Gorr kept the Deputy Director of Policy and Research. She has also run audience chuckling at the cocktail event attended by a consultancy specialising in heritage policy, practice and over 100 museum workers from across the state to cele- planning, written numerous books and articles, and has brate some great work. presented workshops and taught in the UK, Ireland, South Africa, Slovenia, Canada and the United States.

Celebrating outstanding work

Marvellous Museums awards A number of our members received accolades in the 2008 Marvellous Museums Awards, an initiative of Museums Australia executive director Bernice Murphy and Jane Connors, Manager, ABC Radio National.

In reviewing the entries the judges were struck by ―the size and value of the collections, the challenges of restor- ing and maintaining historic premises, the many issues around accession, documentation and conservation, and IMAGinE Awards, Art Gallery of New South Wales. 20 the wonderful imagination which lies behind so many October . © MGnsw exhibitions and displays. It was clear how much each and every community values their museum, and the increasing Category 1 Organisation awards for excellence. role that museums are playing in developing local tour- ism, while contributing also to the maintenance of local In the section for volunteer-run organisations, all the history and local pride, and even to ideas about each re- judges were impressed with the quality of collections, gion's future. However, the thing that came through most community engagement, programming and exhibiting clearly, in each and every entry, was the extraordinary that the volunteer-run organisations produce with lim- volunteer contribution. Even in the larger organisations ited resources. The winner was the Oaks Historical with a degree of public funding, volunteers are crucial, Society, which stood out for its excellent collection but in those many institutions that are entirely volunteer- management, its high-quality education program and its run, the depth of the commitment, the breadth of the skills strong ties with the community. In the section for or- and the extent of the enthusiasm is simply awesome!‖ ganisations with less than seven paid staff there was strong competition, but Lady Denman Heritage Com- The overall winner was the Kodja Place Visitor and Inter- plex came through the pack because of its eagerness to pretive Centre (WA). The work of New South Wales mu- respond to new challenges in the digital, environmental seums was acknowledged in several categories. In the and curatorial realms. The judges experienced difficul- volunteer category, Richmond River Historical Society ties in judging the winner of the section for organisa- was highly commended and McCrossin's Mill com- tions with more than seven paid staff because of the mended. In the small museums category, Lady Denman variation in the size and scope of the organisations. The Heritage Complex was commended. And in the medium- winner on the night was Western Plains Cultural Cen- to-large museum category the winner was the Museum of tre for the quality of its exhibitions, which have at- the Riverina. Winners will feature in a variety of Radio tracted substantial and supportive visitation, and for its National programs during the year. Among other muse- progressive attitude towards collaborative projects. ums singled out on the ABC pages were the Tamworth Powerstation Museum, Goulburn Waterworks, Lith- Category 2 Organisation awards for innovation and gow Small Arms Museum and ―the lovingly-maintained leadership. bush museums of smaller towns such as Glen Innes‖. The 2008 'Marvellous Museums' site will be available In the section for volunteer organisations the winner was until early next year, when the 2009 competition will be Richmond River Historical Society. In 2008 this or- launched. ganisation, and local Indigenous elders developed an exhibition that has not only been successful, but repre- IMAGinE Awards sented the region‘s first locally produced Indigenous At the Art Gallery of NSW on 29 October, Museums touring exhibition. The judges commented that the sec- Australia ACT and NSW branches in association with tion for organisation with less than seven paid staff was Museums and Galleries NSW and the Public and Re- a pleasure to judge because of the quality of a number of entries. The winner was Port-Macquarie Hastings Museum Matters Page 7 Museums Australia Inc (NSW) newsletter NSW round up

Council, which demonstrated innovation and leadership House, was recognised for her tremendous energy and for its efforts in uniting ten historical societies – which commitment as a museum volunteer over the past decade, otherwise may have been competing for the same audi- particularly her management of an exciting curatorial pro- ences and funding – to produce an alternative history of gram and strong volunteer staff. Debbie Sommers, from the Hastings. Campbelltown Arts Centre, as an organi- Port Macquarie Historical Society, received the award sation with more than seven paid staff, won an award in for her leadership as an officer bearer and her participation this category for its innovative curatorial approaches in in forums and conferences at a regional and national levels. exploring Australia‘s geopolitical position and linking its diasporic audience with other places and communities. MGNSW‘s Maisy Stapleton, summing up the evening on behalf of the partners said: ―The inaugural IMAGinE Category 3 Organisation awards for education and awards have been a great success. That we received such a public engagement. great number of very high quality nominations in this, the awards‘ first year, shows that the IMAGinE awards can Tweed River Regional Museum was the winner of the only grow in strength each year. We look forward to fur- section for organisations with less than seven paid staff ther developing the IMAGinE awards, and providing this because of its successful publication supported by a num- important acknowledgement to those people and institu- ber of volunteer researchers. The project not only gave tions who contribute such a wealth of cultural input into hitherto unrecorded histories an audience, but also en- our society. These are the organisations and individuals gaged young and old audiences, families, schools, and that provide places people want to visit because they can different community groups. The Museum of Contem- engage and learn.‖ porary Art was the winner of the section for organisa- tions with more than seven paid staff in recognition of its RAHS Awards work in developing an energetic program geared towards Recipients of the Royal Australian Historical Society’s young and hard-to-reach audiences. Social media promo- Certificates of Achievement this year included Roslyn tions, and alternative promotional means have been just Townsend (Armidale & District Historical Society), Suz- some of the reasons behind an immensely popular pro- anne Rutland (Australian Jewish Historical Society), gram reaching 12-18 year olds Leonie Knapman (Berrima District Historical & Family History Society), Aileen Bowles (Eden Killer Wale Mu- Category 4 Individual awards. seum), Margaret Little (Goolongong Historical Society), Val Fearby (Gunnedah & District Historical Society), There were three awards in this category. Allan Baptist, Carol and John Herben (Illawarra Historical Society), from Shoalhaven City Council, was acknowledged for Ann Hodgens (Inverell District Family History Group), his energy as an artist, educator, mentor and events man- Shirley Coote (Manilla Historical Society), Robert Hut- ager. Marea Buist, from Yamba Museum – The Story chinson (Marrickville Heritage Society), Len Unger (Parkes & District Historical Society), Geoffrey Foley (Richmond River Historical Society), Ernie Stephenson (Taralga Historical Society), Brian French (Prospect Heri- tage Turst), Graeme Holloway (Thredbo Historical Soci- ety), and Immy McKiernan (Tweed Heads Historical So- ciety).

The certificates were presented in recognition of work un-

Local Government Cultural Awards 2009

The Local Government Association of NSW and Shires Association of NSW (LGSA) has announced that nomina- tions to the 2009 Cultural Awards are now open. Further details: www.culturalawards.lgsa.org.au/

Regional assistance in NSW

The NSW State Government has announced the release of $85 million for an regional assistance package, which in- clude grants for local libraries, broadband internet connec- tion, and infrastructure Liz Gillroy (left) accepts an award on behalf of Port Macquarie Hastings Council and Debbie Sommers accepts her individual award Page 8 Museum Matters Museums Australia Inc (NSW) newsletter The national scene

Museums Australia Cultural Minister Council agreed on Volunteers a two-year funding framework for Senator Ursula Stephens, the Parlia- Following its work on a national the Collections Council of Austra- mentary Secretary for Social Inclusion policy framework, Museums Aus- lia, but asked that the business plan and the Voluntary Sector, outlined tralia had a meeting with the Minis- be revised to reflect ―a clear articula- Australian Government policy direc- ter for the Minister for the Environ- tion of outcomes to achieved over tions for volunteers in a her speech ment, Heritage and the Arts, Peter the period.‖ The CMC over the next Towards a 2020 Vision for Volunteer- Garratt, in October to promote the five years will target the following ing, presented at the Volunteering needs of museums and discuss areas: arts education; indigenous art NSW Forum, Diversity & the Volun- funding options. The meeting coin- and culture; developing cultural teer Workforce, on 31 March. cided with the Commonwealth communities; promoting arts and

Government‘s announcement that it culture internationally; developing The 2020 vision is about building a is reinstating Grants for Voluntary strategies for innovation and creativ- ―golden future‖ for volunteering. It is Environment and Heritage Organi- ity; and transforming cultural spaces committed to building a new partner- sations (see box at right) and assets. ship with the non-profit sector leading

to a situation where ―all Australians are The WA branch of Museums Recent publications of the CMC participating in their community and Australia and the Heritage Coun- have included Crafting Regional corporate volunteering is built into all cil of WA have been awarded the Growth, a guide to evaluating cul- business plans.‖ Prestige Partnership Award for tural tourism in regions, and Cultural

‗Best First Time Partnership‘ at the Funding in Australia: Three Tiers of The Government, she said, recognises 2008 Western Australian Business Government 2006–07, which reports the challenges. Organisations lacking and the Arts Partnership Awards for that the boadcasting and film sector the physical infrastructure or workforce the brochure Metropolitan Muse- continued to be the largest recipient to provide services once delivered. The ums, Galleries and Heritage. of government funds (over $1.2 billion), followed by nature parks negative consequences of past Govern- ment action. Complicated regulations ICOM Australia and reserves, ($1.2 billion), followed by museums ($520.2 million). The that are out of proportion to levels of risk. ICOM Australia, now operating report is available at www.culturaldata.gov.au/ out of the Museums Australia na- To improve the situation, there must be tional office, provides financial a better understanding of the sector Collections Council support for members under 40 to itself, and its contribution to Austra- participate in International Commit- lia‘s society and economy. The Federal The Collections Council of Austra- tee and Regional Alliance meetings. Government will therefore be looking lia has announced the release of a The closing date for the latest round at new tools to understand the produc- number of new reports and initiatives of applications is 15 March 2009 tive input of the sector. It is committed encouraging further collaboration Further details www.icom.org.au to improving partnerships between within the GLAM sector. Government and the non-profit sector

The theme for International Muse- to ensure the non-profit sector can have Collaborative Projects Showcase ums Day on 18 is Museums and their voices heard. It is revamping and draws attention to projects developed Tourism. For details see expanding the volunteer grants pro- in collaboration between different icom.museum/2009_contents.html gram to make it easier for volunteer types of collecting organisations. community organisations to claim the SAGE, the Standards And Guidelines Art museum statistics financial support they deserve. . E-directory is an online list of stan-

dards and guidelines for the Austra- In October, the Council of Austra- Voluntary sector organisations, though, lian collections sector. Thematic lian Art Museum Directors pub- must be willing to recognise that there Studies are comparative surveys of lished Major Achievements of Aus- are significant external changes that collections or heritage items related tralia’s Leading Art Museums 2007 will continue to influence the way they to a particular theme, subject or re- -2008. Total combined visitation for work in the community. All organisa- gion. Community Heritage Wikis for member institutions was over 6.6 tions can be more successful by consid- Rural and Regional Collecting Or- million. The value of acquisitions ering these changes and using them to ganisations is a project that aims to added to collections was $64 mil- develop strategic direction. The US, enhance the utility of the Internet for lion. NZ, South African and Canadian vol- the benefit of the Australian commu- unteer sectors can teach us a great deal, nity. And a Collections Mapping Cultural Ministers Council including for example, the UK‘s Na- Report informs further development tional Council for Volunteers‘ planning of the Collections Care proposal. At its meeting on 2 October, the toolkit. Museum Matters Page 9 Museums Australia Inc (NSW) newsletter Turning old songs into a new chorus

museums. Museums and Galleries which operates on the smell of an Continued form page 3 NSW has the brief of providing ser- oily rag to represent the interests of rather than on the collaborative detail vices and dispensing funds to muse- more than 1300 organisations and for participation in the digital econ- ums and galleries, mainly small mu- 27,000 workers across Australia. omy. A number of international re- seums, in NSW. Museums and Gal- ICOM Australia (www.icom.org.au) ports paint museums as being behind leries Services Queensland has a facilitates Australian involvement in the pace of other sectors. similar role in its state. The Collec- the international museum commu- tions Australia Network, with limited nity. CAMD and CAAMD, bodies Further development of standards and funding, is an online engine room for representing a small number of mu- other information tools are needed. smaller museums and kindred organi- seums and galleries that receive The publication in 2008 of the Na- sations. most of the funding from govern- tional Standard for Australian Mu- ments, is less visible than its coun- seum and Galleries and the antici- Major institutions receive most of the terparts in other sectors such as the pated new edition of Significance money from governments. In the li- National and State Libraries Austral- offer important Gordon Ramsay-style brary sector, the National Library of asia Consortium (NSLA) and the guidelines for operating museums. Australia plays a central role in lead- Council of Australasian Archives More work is needed to guide the ing online services, often in partner- and Records Authorities (CAARA). sector to take full advantage of the ship with institutions from other sec- Many community organisations with Internet and technology. tors. National and state archives have cultural heritage interests gravitate played a crucial role in developing towards the Royal Australian His- Jamie Oliver-style strategies and tools legislation and standards for manag- torical Society. may be needed to assist the sector to ing the public record in the new digi- build relationships with ministers, tal realm. In the museum sector, char- Representation on bodies like the members of parliament, oppositions, acterised by considerable diversity, Collections Council of Australia bureaucrats, local government coun- major institutions play a more dis- favours those with control over most cillors, suppliers, businesses, philan- crete role in supporting other muse- of the money rather than profes- thropists, kindred sectors and people ums. In recent years the efforts of the sional associations like Museums within the association itself. National Museum of Australia in sup- Australia, the Australian Library and porting Museums Australia and the Information Association and the What are our roles? work of the Powerhouse Museum in Australian Society of Archivists. New government policies and sectoral supporting regional museums have dynamics call for clearer definitions been noteworthy The last major restructuring of the of roles to match responsibilities with sector was in 1993, when the galva- a capacity to deliver results. Professional associations, if you ac- nising Des Griffin, then director of cept Mark Lyons‘ 2001 analysis in the Australian Museum, was instru- Governments provide most of the Third Sector, are going through a mental in bringing together a num- money to the museum sector. Govern- period of transformation and decline. ber of museum and gallery sector ments in different jurisdictions and at To work effectively they need to ad- membership tribes under the um- different levels have different ap- dress the challenges of leadership, brella of Museums Australia. proaches for dispensing the funds. As balance business and democratic questions are raised about the effec- needs, manage capacity, develop Have we reached a stage for more tiveness of the federal system of gov- closer links with business, act in a morphing? Should MA, CAMD and ernments, the funding quagmire is concerted fashion, encourage growth CAAMD all roll into one peak widely acknowledged. Channelling and find the right mix of local and body? Or has a rapidly evolving funds through the labyrinth reinforces global action. hyperlinked matrix of communities piecemeal action and short term of practice and networks changed thinking. Counterbalancing this trend, however, the name of the game? are pendulum-like Government poli- Governments in some jurisdictions cies that swing from the power of the We are a long way from the last have created intermediaries to influ- marketplace to the values of society. scene in the popular Swedish film As ence policy and help them spend the It Is In Heaven, when a hall of com- How do we work together? money. But the approach differs in peting choirs, awaiting the arrival of different jurisdictions. The Collec- According to some theorists, the mu- a charismatic conductor who was tions Council of Australia, with lim- seum sector may be afflicted by the suffering a heart attack in the toilet, ited funding (compared with its coun- absence of a single authority to repre- began singing a richly layered chord. terparts in the United Kingdom and sent the sector as a whole. Museums The competitive spirit fell away. The the United States) has been estab- and museum workers in Australia are experience of past singing produced lished to lead the converging interests represented by Museums Australia a new chorus. The unity was uplift- of galleries, libraries, archives and (www.museums australia.org.au), ing. The impact was telling. . Page 10 Museum Matters Museums Australia Inc (NSW) newsletter Ideas: websites, books, articles compiled by Austin Sloper

Cataloguing Brian Lavoie in ‗The Fifth Black- The UK‘s higher education body, the bird: Some Thoughts on Economi- Joint Information Systems Com- Deirdre Kiorgaard, chair of the Joint cally Sustainable Digital Preserva- mittee has published the study Digital Steering Committee for the develop- tion‘ (D-Lib Magazine March/April Preservation Policies. Although fo- ment of Resource Description and 2008), says that it is not yet under- cussing on the UK higher and further Access (RDA), during a seminar at stood how digital preservation can be education sectors, the study draws the Powerhouse Museum in October, transformed into a sustainable eco- widely on policy and implementations said that despite incentives for the nomic activity across a range of con- from other sectors and countries and GLAM sector to develop approaches texts and circumstances. will be of interest to those wishing to for more effective use of the Internet, develop policy and justify investment creating common ground has not been We have not yet established a system- in digital preservation within a wide easy. ―Standards‖, she said, quoting atic mapping between general eco- range of institutions. Two tools have Murtha Baca, ―are like toothbrushes; nomic models of resource provision been created in the study: (1) a model everyone thinks they are a good thing, and particular digital preservation for digital preservation policy and but nobody wants to use anyone contexts. The ease with which we implementation clauses based on ex- else‘s.‖ create information in digital form amination of existing digital preserva- tends to obscure the true cost of main- tion policies; and (2) a series of map- The library sector has therefore taining it over long periods of time. pings of digital preservation to other placed great expectations on RDA in Our capacity to produce digital mate- key institutional strategies in UK uni- facilitating data re-use and interopera- rials far exceeds our capacity to main- versities and colleges. To download bility with the standards used in pub- tain them. go to www.jisc.ac.uk lishing, on the web, and in other re- source description communities such The Blue Ribbon Task Force on Sus- Worth bookmarking is JISC‘s website as museums, archives and galleries. tainable Digital Preservation and Ac- Technical Advisory Service for Im- The full draft of the standard has now cess, funded by the National Science ages (TASI), which provides advice been published at www.rdaonline.org. Foundation and Andrew Mellon and links on creating, using and man- The final version will be made avail- Foundation with support from the aging digital resources, reviews of able as an online resource mid-2009. Library of Congress, Joint Informa- image, moving image and audio Libraries will begin implementation tion Systems Committee, Council on search engines and audio search en- in 2010. To what extent will others Library and Information Resources, gines, links to 27 formal metadata follow? and National Archives and Records schemas or related standards, links to Digitisation & digital resources Administration, will review the issue more than 70 formal metadata vo- provide a final report in December cabularies, and case studies of digiti- Research and Markets Ltd has pub- 2009. sation projects. There‘s also a list of lished its latest Survey of Library & useful books, magazines and online Museum Digitization Projects, based Lavoie says there may not be a single publications. www.tasi.ac.uk on data from more than 100 library model. A key aspect of the challenge Marketing and museum digitisation programs in is the need for a transition from the US, Canada, Australia, UK and "lakes of funding" to "rivers of fund- Dr Sharron Dickman’s The Market- other countries. This explores sources ing" — from a reliance on project- ing Mix: Promoting Museums, Gal- of funding, collaboration within and based, one-time grants of soft money, leries & Exhibitions, published in outside institutions, and staffing, to the establishment of self-sustaining 1995 and available from Museums among other issues. According to the flows of resources sufficient to sup- Australia, is still worth a place on report, the mean annual budget for the port ongoing digital preservation ac- your museum management bookshelf. digitisation projects in the organisa- tivities. Another challenge is to tions surveyed is US$122,408, with a change perspectives from a micro The Australia Council has consoli- range from US$0 to US$1.963 mil- approach to a macro approach — dated its online resources into a cen- lion, 4.43 individuals spend at least organising limited institutional pres- tralised research hub. Many of the part of their working day on digitisa- ervation resources as community- resources for arts marketers previ- tion projects, with a maximum of 20, wide initiatives that produce maxi- ously available through the fuel4arts nearly 49% of the organisations out- mum output of digital preservation website have now been moved into source some aspects of digitisation. activities from a given set of inputs. the research hub section of the Coun- Museums (61%) are more likely than Economic sustainability is not an cil‘s website. These include news other organisations to outsource. The issue that can be considered in isola- stories, conference papers, how-to mean percentage of labour time re- tion: it must take into account sur- guides, case studies and a host of quired for cataloguing tasks is about rounding technical, social, and legal other resources. Sections on audience 37%, with a range of zero to 85%. environments. To download go to development, fund development, pro- www.researchandmarkets.com www.dlib.org/ motion, sales and strategic marketing Museum Matters Page 11 Museums Australia Inc (NSW) newsletter Ideas: websites, books, articles make it easy to find your way around museums make for researchers‘ direct Websites the site. www.australiacouncil.gov.au access to objects. However, their most important wish is that online Prints and Printmaking Australia, Research and Markets Ltd has pub- access to museum databases to be Asia, Pacific was the winner in the lished The Marketing of Historic provided as quickly as possible, even research section of the Museums and Sites, Museums, Exhibits & Archives, if records are imperfect or incom- the Web awards in 2008, recognising presenting detailed interviews with plete. Available from www.rin.ac.uk. the best work in museum web design. directors and marketing managers The site (www.printsand printmak- responsible for developing and mar- Volunteer museums & ing.gov.au/) provides a gateway for keting historic buildings and sites, volunteers over 22,000 images and related infor- artefacts, exhibits, photographs and mation from the collection of Na- film, and other heritage items. M&GNSW CEO, Maisy Stapleton, tional Gallery of Australia and other in Sustain or Perish: Is there a future Australia and the Asia Pacific con- Among the museums represented are for Volunteer Museums? And If So tributors. The service is an initiative the Vermont Historical Society, Bos- What Will make them Sustainable? , of Roger Butler, Senior Curator of tonian Society, Atari Virtual Museum, presented at the recent Working Australian Prints and Drawings, Na- Drug Store Museum, Musee Conti, Spaces 2 Conference in Galong, ex- tional Gallery of Australia and is Atlanta History Center, Belmont plores sustainability and convergence supported by the Gordon Darling Mansion, Vanderbilt University Film in developing community museums. Australia Pacific Print Fund. Archives, Museum of American Fi- Available from mgnsw.org.au. nancial History, Band Museum, Kan- Other winners and honourable men- sas Historical Society and the Com- In March, Sydney Arts Management tions worth exploring on the awards puter History Museum. Details: Advisory Group (SAMAG) organ- site included the following. www.researchandmarkets.com/ ised The Pitfalls and the Pleasures, a Exhibition — The American Image: Objects seminar on managing volunteers in arts organisations. The panel of guest Photographs of John Collier Jr and The report Discovering objects: Meet- speakers including Eve Propper The Digital Vaults. Educational— ing Researchers’ Needs, published in (Historic Houses Members and Great Chicago Stories, Chicago His- the UK by the Research Information Friends at the Australian Ballet), tory Museum. Network, investigates how research- Craig Brush (Art Gallery Society of ers discover and gain access to physi- NSW) Alex Rich (Art Gallery Soci- Professional—ExhibitFiles, Asso- cal objects and artefacts using four ety of NSW), Rony Bogner (Sydney ciation of Science-Technology Cen- varied subject disciplines as examples Jewish Museum). ters, and The IMA Dashboard, Indi- of the process: archaeology, art his- anapolis Museum of Art. tory, earth sciences, and social and In 2006, 5.4 million Australians vol- economic history. unteered, representing more than a Community—My Brighton and third of the adult population. Of that Hove, My Brighton and Brooklyn Many museums face increasing diffi- number, 44% were aged between 35 Museum of Art Community, Brook- culties, it says, in providing the levels and 44 years. The panel offered sev- lyn Museum of Art. of support for research and scholar- eral suggestions. Always treat a vol- ship. But there is great scope for de- unteer like a paid employee. Be clear Podcast—Roman Art from the Lou- veloping mutually beneficial collabo- about the volunteers‘ role. Train your vre and TateShots, Tate Modern. ration between museums, galleries volunteers. Remember that your vol- Webisodes—Indianaoplis Museum and the research community. The unteers aren‘t being financially re- of Art. report finds that researchers want ac- warded, so try to find other ways to cess to online finding aids to enable compensate them. Be respectful of Innovative—Launchball, Science them to plan their visits to museums volunteers‘ ages. Ask your volunteers Museum, London. and collections, so that they can both to highlight their skills. If a volunteer see and handle the objects, and that becomes problematic, handle the People's choice—Maps: Tools for contact with curatorial staff is of criti- situation as if they were a paid em- Adventure, The Children's Museum cal importance. ployee. Appoint a volunteer represen- of Indianapolis (in conjunction with tative in the group. Insure all volun- the National Geographic Society). The evidence gathered shows that teers. Do not track volunteers‘ hours most researchers are unaware of the in your accounts – if you do this, you Best of the Web—Launchball, Sci- online catalogues that currently exist will have to pay fringe benefits tax. ence Museum, London. Museums or are being developed and feel that Remember to be flexible. Details: and the Web site: that there is a lack of consistency and www.samag.org. www.archimuse.com/mw2008/best/ transparency in the arrangements that index.html. Call for nominations to the NSW Branch Committee

The NSW Branch of Museums Australia is conducting elections to coincide with its annual general meeting in Newcastle on 19 May 2009 and invites nominations for the positions of Branch President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and com- mittee members. Self-nominating candidates and candidates nominated by others must be an individual member or from an institutional member of the association.

Nominations, with a brief biography, should reach the Executive Officer by 31 March 2009 at the postal or email address above. Enquiries: [email protected] or Paul Bentley 02 9211 0113

If you would like a membership application form please contact the National Office on 02 6273 2437 or download a form from our website at www.museumsaustralia.org.au.

Museums Australia Inc (NSW)

Executive Officer: Paul Bentley. NSW Committee: Bill Paul Bentley, Susan Sedgwick. Contributions are wel- Storer (President), Rebecca Pinchin (Vice President), come and should be sent to the Executive Officer, Maree Clutterbuck (Treasurer), Susan Sedgwick [email protected] or contact details be- (Secretary), Andrew Simpson, Gay Hendriksen, Suzanne low. Museum Matters is free to all NSW members of Mu- Bravery, Bronwyn Alcorn, Ally Halliwell, Marea Buist. seums Australia.

NSW Chapter Coordinators: Far North Coast (Marea Museums Australia Inc (NSW) Buist), Mid North Coast (Liz Gillroy), New England North PO Box 250, Holme Building West (Lee Scott), Hunter (Julie Baird), Sydney (Danielle University of Sydney Head), Central Tablelands (Kate Malloy-Armitt), Golden New South Wales 2006 West (Barbara Moritz), Southern Highlands & Illawarra Phone: 02 9211 0113 Fax: 02 9386 4259 (Tamara Hynd), Lachlan (Glen Johns), Murray Riverina Email: [email protected] (position vacant), South East (Jenny Drenkhahn). www.museumsaustralia.org.au/mansw

© Museums Australia Inc NSW. Editors for this issue:

Museum Matters PRINT POSTAGE If undelivered return to Museums Australia Inc (NSW) POST PAID PO Box 250 Holme Building UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY NSW 2006 PP255003/05253 AUSTRALIA