NEWS << 1 >> < 1 > 1 < 2009 NEWSNEWS Newsletter of the International Committee for Regional Museums Circulaire du Comité International des Musées Régionaux Circular del Comité Internacional de los Museos Regionales Chairperson’s Letter LOOKING BACK TO PITTSBURGH, US >> Carta de la Presidenta-Rememorando Pittsburgh, US photographic archive: Heimo Kaindl The ICR group in front of their transport in Pittsburgh, a school bus Dear ICR colleagues, Dealing with new challenges and trying to ICR organized the conference with support invent novel and efficient modes of professi- provided by the PHMC, the Western PA Mu- Content onal conduct have always been inspiring for seum Council and the PA Federation of Muse- Chairpersons letter: ______________ 1 museum people, especially those working in ums and Historical Organizations and all the Looking back smaller regional museums. I have to admit coordination was done by our Secretary Susan to Pittsburgh _________________ 4 that ICR‘s latest conference in the USA proved Hanna. Good preparation secured excellent to be an excellent choice for exploring our keynote speakers who introduced the theme ICR ICTOP Joint Annual Conference next mid-term project Regional Museums in a and gave us an opportunity for discussion 2009 in Mantua / Italy _________ 12 post Industrial Age and the conference, that and exchange of opinions. Barbara Franco, Programme _________________ 16 took place in Pittsburgh and Johnstown with the Executive Director of PHMC spoke about Registration forms ___________ 19 some marvellous destinations in the vicinity of regional museums and economic sustainability the both, offered the possibility to interact, to while Robert R. Archibald, President of the Exhibition Geir Helgen ____________ 21 exchange and to get new ideas how to come Missouri Historical Society, explored new roles My ICR story: Margriet Lestraden ___ 22 up with the solutions that could offer a better of regional museums in the 21st century. We Last Board Meeting Mexico ________ 22 future to local communities. also were acquainted with the structure and or- General Assembly and Advisory ____ 24 << 2 NEWS Pittsburgh ganisation of museums, which is different than in most European countries. Erik Ledbetter, the Director of International Programs of the American Association of Museums, provided an overview of U.S. museums and Deborah Fi- lipi, the executive director of the PA Federation of Museums and Historical Organizations gave a lecture on Pennsylvania museums. The museums that hosted us and those whom we have visited helped us to get a better pic- ture of the current museum work in the States, opening a possibility for comparisons and exchange of ideas. The Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh History Centre and Fort Pitt were wonderful hosts with interesting exhibition concepts and collecting policies. By visiting Old Economy Village in Ambridge we stepped into the unexpected past life of the community and learned about the different ways of life in the 19th century. The Pittsburgh Children‘s Museum was a wonderful experience as we were confronted with examples of best practices and an innovative approach to muse- Senator John Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh um work. Marvellous collections of the Carne- gie Museums in Oakland cannot leave anyone be fun and educational as we found out at the wonderful work they are doing, great projects unimpressed. The former home of industrialist Somerset Historical Center. And we really and awareness of how the community might Henry Clay Frick in Clayton provided an op- learned a lot about maple syrup. benefit from them is Congratulations! portunity to see how the site functions as a museum complex and provided a glimpse into Our visit to Johnstown with the Flood Museum, We are thankful to all our hosts and those who the lifestyle of a rich industrialist, loved by his the Cambria Iron Blacksmith Shop, Wagner helped organized the conference as it was family and disliked by workers. Ritter House and Johnstown Discovery Center really full of nice welcomes, great ideas and was a professional inspiration of a different professional work and the warmth and friend- The visit to the Fallingwater was a unique kind. The positive role of the museums in liness of museum people. adventure – Wright’s architecture situated in this community is so great and obvious that the place of exceptional natural beauty really Richard Burkert, the executive director, and his Goranka Horjan makes it a masterpiece. A museum visit can staff won our hearts. All we could say for the Chairperson ICR NEWS << 3 >> photographic archive: Heimo Kaindl Bruce Bazelon, PHMC photographic archive: Heimo Kaindl Old Economy Village Fort Pitt Blockhouse, Pittsburgh Many thanks to Erik Ledbetter, AAM and ICOM US << 4 NEWS >> Looking back to ICR Annual Conference 2008 >> Conferencia Anual del ICR 2008 ICR Conference, 19-25 October 2008 „Regional Museums in a Post Industrial Age“ Sue Hanna Pittsburgh and Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA More than forty people, twenty-two from out- Slovenia and China, „What to Do with the side the U.S, participated in the International Relics of the Industrial Age?“ from a German Committee for Regional Museums‘ conference perspective and „Preservation Issues Facing in Pittsburgh and Johnstown last month. Museums with Contemporary Arts“ by a pro- Museum professionals from Austria, China, fessional conservator. A paper presented on Croatia, Egypt, Germany, Kenya, New Zeal- behalf of Wang Chunchcheng of the Capital and, Norway, Slovenia and Taiwan convened Museum in Beijing, highlighted the museum‘s in western Pennsylvania to discuss „Regional experiences in protecting industrial heritage. Museums in a Post Industrial Age.“ Attendees discussed issues relating to preser- ving ethnic churches in Johnstown and heard Attendees visited Fort Pitt Museum, the Se- about the challenges of preserving and promo- nator John Heinz History Center, Clayton, the ting religious heritage from the Director of the Carnegie Museum of Art and the Carnegie Dioezesan Museum, Graz, Austria. Museum of Natural History. Highlights included keynote speeches by Barbara Franco, Execu- Participants feasted on homemade pie and tive Director, PHMC and Dr. Robert Archibald, cookies at Old Economy Village and learned President, Missouri Historical Society as well about maple syrup at Somerset Historical as talks and tours by Heinz History Center Center. A visit to the Children‘s Museum of staff. Pittsburgh put everyone at ease as partici- pants tried to walk in the upside down house, photographic archive: Heimo Kaindl Speakers discussed mining museums and slid down a slide and created a water fountain. Andy Masich, President and Chief Executive tourism in New Zealand and examined an Jane Werner and Lois Winslow showed the Officer of the Senator John Heinz History innovative program to perpetuate traditional group that a museum focused on children and Center crafts and increase tourism in adjacent areas play can also serve as a community leader. of Croatia and Slovenia. Participants from ums from PFMHO President and Johnstown the McLean County Museum of History (USA) The group was impressed by the beautiful Area Heritage Association Executive Director, and the Erie Art Museum (USA) highlighted setting of Fallingwater and the ease with which Richard Burkert and visited two local churches successful programs to increase community the staff managed large numbers of visitors. in addition to the Johnstown Flood Museum, involvement. Additional presentations included In Johnstown, participants learned about the Cambria Iron Blacksmith Shop, Wagner Ritter Pittsburgh skyline the future of regional museums in Norway, challenges of operating multiple small muse- House and Johnstown Discovery Center. The conference concluded with a farewell party in the former Polish Social Club in the Discovery Center. photographic archive: Heimo Kaindl photographic archive: Heimo Kaindl Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh - Museum of Sport: Learn about Golf Balls... ... feel like a hocky hero - Rune Holbeck, Norway NEWS << 5 >> photographic archive: Heimo Kaindl photographic archive: Heimo Kaindl Teaching all about jazz - Samuel W. Black Former Pittsburgh tram, Heinz History Center Comments from some of the international par- ticipants are below. photographic archive: Heimo Kaindl Talking about the visions of the Childrens „I enjoyed Pennsylvania Museum of Pittsburgh - very much, the diffe- Jane Werner, Executive Director rence between cities and landscape in the country, the distinctions between the museums and I was really surpri- photographic archive: Heimo Kaindl „I liked the conference in the States very sed, that people are so Childrens Museum of Pittsburgh - entrance hall designed by Koning much, Pennsylvania is beautiful. I am only Eizenberg and the artist Ned Kahn as a shimmering wind sculpture friendly and cordial eve- sorry that colleagues didn´t come in bigger rywhere. So once again numbers. Greetings to all people we met.“ many many thanks for Irena Zmuc, Slovenia this introduction to the US.“ „The positive role of the museums in this Heimo Kaindl, community is so great and obvious that Austria Richard Burkhert, the executive director, and his staff won our hearts. All we could „Pennsylvania was for say for the wonderful work they are doing . me one of the most . is Congratulations!. We are thankful to important and impressi- all our hosts and those who helped orga- ve conferences we ever nized the conference as it was really full of had.“ nice welcomes,