Australian Museum Annual Report 2004-2005 Summary Report
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Australian Museum Annual Report 2004-2005 Summary Report Australian Museum: inspiring the exploration of nature & cultures Our organisation Australian Museum Annual Report 2003–2004 2 3 Left to right: Frank Howarth, The Australian Museum is a leader in natural history, science – Director; Lynda Kelly – Head, Audience Research Centre; and cultural research, community programs and exhibitions. Les Christidis – Assistant Director, Research & Collections; We have one of the most remarkable and extensive Glenn Ferguson – Manager, Exhibitions; Janet Carding collections of natural and cultural specimens in the country. – Assistant Director, Public Programs & Operations; Trish The Museum’s Corporate Strategic Plan 2005-2008 Our Context McDonald – Museum Renewal Project Officer; meeting with defines our purpose, vision, values, context and As the Australian Museum, we seek to explore the goals. The Plan is available at www.amonline.net. the Exhibition Masterplanners, tensions that characterise our Australian context. Bryon Cunningham and au/about/corporate_overview.htm. We recognize that we are: Andrew Scott-Young – Cunningham Martyn Design. Our Purpose > a nation of Euro-British heritage, but now multi- To inspire the exploration of nature and cultures. cultured, located in south-east Asia and the Pacific Our Vision > a young, modern culture imposed on one of the A beautiful and sustainable natural world with oldest continuous cultures in the world vibrant and diverse cultures. > a nation of mainly migrants trying to create a sense of belonging Our Values > the most sparsely populated but most urbanized As the Australian Museum we strive to embody country in the world distinctly Australian values and qualities. We seek to be: > geographically isolated with a unique biodiversity, now challenged by invasives > egalitarian and fair minded Minister > able to access freely a wide array of knowledge Corporate Information The Hon. Robert John Debus, MP > willing to use humour and not take ourselves too while needing to respect the intellectual property The Australian Museum is a statutory body of, Attorney General, Minister for the Environment, seriously rights of its owners. and is principally funded by, the NSW Government and Minister for the Arts > inquisitive and explorative operating within the Arts portfolio. The Museum is Our Goals governed by a Trust established under the Australian Australian Museum Trust > creative 1. To build a ‘time series’ of objects defining our Museum Trust Act 1975 and operates under the Mr Brian Sherman AM (President) > outgoing natural and cultural world. Australian Museum Trust Regulation 2003. Mr Brian Scwhartz AM (Deputy President) Mr David Handley > respectful of the rights of others. 2. To unlock and share the knowledge in our Dr Ronnie Harding natural and cultural collections. Ms Sam Mostyn 3. To ignite enthusiasm for the skills that explorers Dr Cindy Pan and collectors use. The objectives of the Australian Museum Trust Associate Professor Stephan Schnierer Act are to propagate knowledge about the natural 4. To find new connections across nature, culture Mr Michael Seyffer environment of Australia and to increase that and our lives. Ms Julie Walton OAM knowledge, particularly in the natural sciences of 5. To capture the imagination of young, old and all biology, anthropology and geology. Director those in between. Mr Frank Howarth The Corporate Strategic Plan 2005-2008 also sets out the strategies and actions we will implement Contents to achieve our goals as well as the indicators and Our Organisation 1 measures we will use to monitor and report our progress. Renewal for the 21st century 2 A series of workshops were “Excite, educate and President’s Message 3 held with Museum staff and key stakeholders over Director’s Message 3 inform people about 2004–05, with the specific aim to uncover what Community Support 3 was felt the “Role of the Australian Natural Detailed Report And Australian Museum should Financial Statements (back cover pocket) be in the 21st Century”. A selection of thoughts history and indigenous generated during these workshops have been included in this report... culture” The Australian Museum – Renewal for the 21st Century Australian Museum Annual Report 2003–2004 4 5 With over 175 years of achievements to its credit, the What are the challenges of the Where are we heading? 21st century? In response to these challenges and opportunities, Australian Museum enters a new and exciting phase of its Our future holds challenges and opportunities. The we recognize the need for a fundamental shift in world in which the Australian Museum operates is thinking about nature and culture in the future. The history. Our vision of renewal is anchored in an awareness of one where: Museum’s Corporate Strategic Plan 2005-2008 sets our heritage and evolution but is focused on the future needs out our how we intend to address the challenges > a significant loss of biodiversity occurred across ahead. Our new Purpose is ‘to inspire the of our stakeholders. Across the 20th century the natural the 20th century, with potential long-term impacts exploration of nature and cultures’. This urges the on human culture community at large—not just our staff—to explore world and its cultures changed significantly. In response, > indigenous cultures are under a variety of nature and culture and to do so – not just as natural history museums face equally significant challenges. pressures, from local land use changes to global individuals but also collectively in our communities. climate impacts Our Purpose envisages a future where: > new technology offers previously unimagined > life-long learning is the norm, and is driven by Where have we come from? classification of species into logical orders, and potential both for research (eg genetics) and for learners to satisfy their needs the identification of evolutionary (phylogenetic) communication (eg the internet) Over the past four centuries, natural history > through partnerships and collaboration the pathways. This gave us what we understand as museums have evolved through a number of > our customers’ needs and expectations community achieves its aspirations for nature and the Tree of Life. In response to Darwin’s work on stages. As each stage added new roles, museums have expanded along with rapid increases culture. accumulated diverse functions. In the 17th century, evolution, during the mid-19th century museums in knowledge, educational requirements and the early practitioners of science collected and began to focus on ecology. Museums emphasized information technology. displayed the world’s rare and curious creatures the systematic nature of life and the interaction and cultural artefacts. During the 18th century, and interdependency between species—including natural history museums were established humans—and their environment.The late-20th as public institutions, fostering research and century, saw museums identifying and responding to public education. Their roles focused on the the loss of biological diversity on earth. “To educate and inspire the general public about Glenn Ferguson – Manager, Exhibitions; Janet Carding Australia’s unique natural – Assistant Director, Public Programs & Operations; Trish McDonald – Museum & cultural history using Renewal Project Officer; meeting with the the Museum’s rich Exhibition Masterplanners, Bryon Cunningham – Cunningham Martyn collection & research basis” Design. “...(to) preserve and research material from environments and cultures from the region. Educate the public...” The Year in Review The Year in Review President’s Message Australian Museum Annual Report 2003–2004 6 7 How is the renewal process These objectives will be achieved by: The year just passed was the first year of the The Museum completed a new Corporate Strategic Renewal Project as well as another year full of Plan 2005–2008 incorporating the first Results and proceeding? > building a new science building on site (approx. achievements and quality service delivery for both Services Plan. The Museum is now immersed in an extensive $33 million); and the Trust and the Museum. program which will build on the strong foundations > undertaking major refurbishment of the public Under the Museum’s Renewal Project the major of the past in order to frame a long-term view of the spaces in the museum (approx. $8 million). The Museum received over 336,000 visitors onsite focus was on planning and concept development. future. to its diverse array of exhibitions, displays and The Museum is making good progress towards its The major focus in 2004-2005 was on planning and targeted school programs. This figure is up 13% on target completion date of 2008. In practical terms, the Museum has completed the concept development. Achievements included: the five-year average. About 51,000 of these visitors first year of its four-year Renewal Project —which A record $220,000 was presented to 22 winners at > confirmation that the Museum will consolidate its were school students, up 48% on 2003–2004. A has been allocated $41M by the NSW Government. the 15th annual Australian Museum Eureka Prizes. future at its current city site further 50,000 students were reached around NSW The objectives of the Renewal Project are to: The details of the winners are available at www. > completion of a site master plan to guide by the Museum in a Box program. The Museum’s Brian Sherman AM austmus.gov.au/eureka/. > improve science working conditions development over the next 50 years website served