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AFTER 25 VIGOROUS YEARS OF DEDICATION AS OUR SECRETARY GENERAL, LOIS IRVINE, HANGS UP HER HAT
Dear CAM Members:
Over the past few months, we have been working towards a new phase for CAM. The Commonwealth Foundation has been reviewing their mandate and plans and have announced a new Strategic Plan. This plan will make a difference in the lives of our associations although we do not yet know exactly what it will mean in terms of funding.
At the same time, I have decided to retire from official CAM business and thus as Secretary General. Many of you will know I have been working on this for some time but am now able to do it. I certainly intend to keep in touch and to go to what CAM events and participate in CAM activities as the opportunities arise. I will be finishing up some things after Dec. 31 but mainly with interns, membership lists, and part of the Distance Learning Program.
The very good news is that after deliberation by the Board and discussions, Catherine Cole, whom quite a few of you know of and have met, will become Secretary General as of January 1, 2013. I know she will bring new energy and creativity to the position and we look forward to our 40th anniversary in 2014 and lots of good years after that.
Further information will be coming in the new year and we will also be updating the mailing lists.
Best wishes to you all for a happy holiday season and a wonderful year in 2013.
Lois
Lois Irvine
Secretary General
Commonwealth Association of Museums
Catherine C. Cole, New Secretary General of CAM, A brief Biography
Catherine C. Cole has been a member of CAM for 25 years, increasingly active in recent years. She attended CAM meetings in Bridgetown, Barbados (1989), Victoria, Canada (1994), Canberra, Australia (2006), Georgetown, Guyana (2008), and Singapore (2011). She spoke at the Guyana conference on The Role of Museums, Heritage & Cultural Centres in Nunavut, Canada, organized the Singapore conference, is a member of the Advisory Panel for the CAM Distance Learning Program, and has been assisting the Secretariat informally. She was a panelist in a CAM session on the Global Role of Museums in the Development of Civil Society at the Canadian Museums Association Conference in Toronto in 2008. She worked in the Solomon Islands from 1991-1993 as Head of the Division of Culture, Environment and Tourism for the Western Province.
Catherine has been a heritage consultant with her own firm Catherine C. Cole & Associates since 1993 specializing in Cultural Planning & Policy Development; Strategic Research and Planning; and Exhibition and Web Development. Catherine attended Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario (BA Hons, 1981); the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta (MA, 1988); and Leicester University, United Kingdom (Museum Studies, 1991-1994). She is a former Curator of Western Canadian History at the Royal Alberta Museum and a former Curator of Interpretive Collections for Historic Sites Service. She teaches museum studies and board governance. Her publications deal with museology and with Western Canadian social, manufacturing and labour history. She was invited to represent Canada at Museums & Sustainable Communities, the Summit of Museums of the Americas in Costa Rica in 1997 and to speak about Exhibition Design and Audience Development in Canadian Urban History Museums at the Seoul Museum of History in South Korea in 2004. She is on the board of ICOM CAMOC (Collections and Activities of Museums of Cities) and the Governing Council for the Material Culture Institute at the University of Alberta, and is a former Chair of the Heritage Canada Foundation board.
Lois Irvine Retires as Secretary General of CAM. Introduces New SG, Catherine Cole. In the following open letter to our principal funders, the Commonwealth Foundation, long-serving CAM Secretary General Lois Irvine, announces her retirement and introduces Catherine Cole who will be replacing her. At the same time the CAM head office will move to Edmonton, Alberta.
Dear Alex, Comfort and Shabinah:
We are writing a number of colleagues at the Commonwealth Foundation to inform them of a change in personnel and contact for the Commonwealth Association of Museums effective January 1, 2013.
It is my pleasure to inform you that as of January 1, 2013, Catherine C. Cole of Edmonton, Alberta will be assuming the position of Secretary General of our association. She brings a considerable number of years of experience in museums and as a museum consultant to the position. She has been a long time member of CAM and attended a variety of our events over the years. We are confident that she will bring new energy and creativity to the position. A short bio is attached and further announcements will include more information. Also attached are new contact details. Catherine will be the primary contact as of January 1.
I am retiring from official CAM representation although will hope to continue to enjoy CAM's activities in less formal ways. It is certainly time after more than 20 years but I do see it as simply enabling a new phase with new projects.
I also particularly want to thank you and all of those at The Commonwealth Foundation for your support of CAM and for your unfailing help over the 38 years of CAM's existence and my own association with you in the last 25 years or so. It is difficult to express our appreciation strongly enough. To have a base grant upon which to build our programs and activities over the years has been immeasurably valuable and we look forward to celebrating our 40th anniversary in 2013. The Foundation staff can count themselves a part of that achievement.
With warmest wishes to all of you for a Happy Holiday season and a bright new future in the New Year
Sincerely,
Lois Irvine
Secretary General
Commonwealth Association of Museums
FIRE AT THE POMPEY MUSEUM OF SLAVERY AND EMANCIPATION
The Pompey Museum of Slavery and Emancipation, which is operated by the National Museum of The Bahamas/ Antiquities, Monuments and Museum Corporation was destroyed by fire during the early hours of the morning on Friday 2nd December 2011. The fire extensively damaged the interior of the two storey building and the western and southern exterior walls leaving much rubble and debris in the aftermath.
The museum is located in the historic Vendue House at the juncture of Bay and George Streets. Originally used as a market place for the town of Nassau, the building constructed of cut-limestone blocks dates to around 1769. Slaves were among the commodities sold from Vendue House. The museum was opened at this site in 1992 and an exhibition entitled The Road to Freedom: Slavery in The Bahamas was mounted. On September 4th 2001 the building was damaged in the Bay Street Fire. As a result of the fire, it was evacuated. At the time of the fire, staff and ancillary services demonstrated their preparedness as over 97% of all of the collections on display and stored were saved. The museum was restored and reopened in June 2004 and two major exhibitions have been mounted over the years, A Slave Ship Speaks: The Wreck of the Henrietta Marie followed by the Lest We Forget: The Triumph Over Slavery created by the Schomburg Institute for Research in Black Culture to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the new world.
Over the years the Pompey Museum has amassed a significant collection of rare books on the subject of slavery and related topics. Its object collection includes slave shackles of different kinds, a whip, cloth dolls, coins and West African trading beads of note. There was also a mural depicting Parliament Square and Bay Street during the 1850s. The mural was created during the 1960s to adorn the walls of the newly opened branch of City Bank located on the ground floor of the Adderley Building. This regrettable was totally destroyed by fire along with all of the information panels and all of the historic documents. The wooden artifacts, including a slave bed and musket were badly charred and they along with other wooden pieces will need conservation. On display were two cloth dolls, although damaged one survived the fire. The Department of Archives is assisting with cleaning of the book collection, some of them are wet and others were covered with soot and smelled of the smoke. The metal objects including slave shackles, a double transportation slave collar, and crab style runaway collar are being cleaned and have minimal damage. Over all, 90% of the objects were saved even though a small percentage of them are damaged and all of the books in the special collection were saved even though some of them have some water damage.
The staff of the National Museum of The Bahamas was on hand to secure the objects and special thanks to the maintenance crew who packed and transported the objects to safety. The Fire Department especially the officers who entered the building and retrieved the objects are to be commended. We at the National Museum of The Bahamas are especially grateful for the outpouring of support and concern expressed by Bahamians at large and in the very near future we plan to provide an opportunity for further public involvement through a Restore Pompey Museum Campaign.
Prepared by: The Antiquities, Monuments and Museum Corporation
Website: www.ammcbahamas.com
Collins Avenue and Shirley Street
P.O. Box E.E.15082 Nassau, Bahamas
CAM JOINS BLOGGESPHERE
In Singapore members discussed the need for a simple on-line discussion site for members.
We are pleased to announce the the launch of the CAM On-Line discussion site. Find the new on-line CAM FORUM at http://maltwood.uvic.ca/cam/forum/. Or go to the CAM website http://www.maltwood.uvic.ca/cam/ and click on the "discussion forum" button in the left column.
See already created discussion threads for:
* African CAM Members
* India CAM Members
* South East Asian CAM Members
* Caribbean CAM Members
* And a series of themes deriving from the Singapore Triennial
You can use the regional threads for area-specific news items. Give it a try. (N.B. Remember to refresh your screen after each blog, or each time you visit the site. This will update the page.)
COMMONWEALTH ASSOCIATION OF MUSEUMS (CAM) TRIENNIAL SYMPOSIUM AND GENERAL MEETING PROGRAM NOW AVAILABLE
March 31, 2011
Commonwealth Museums: Culture, Economy and Climate Change and Youth May 25 to 27, 2011
Organized by the Commonwealth Association of Museums
Hosted by the Singapore National Heritage Board at the Singapore Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM)
This three day program will feature three main theme sessions, CAM’s Triennial meeting and Singapore museum excursions. Additional activities may be scheduled for May 24 and May 28. Full program information will be available by mid February.
THEMES
Part 1: Museums, Culture, and Sustainable Development
Part 2: World Watch Two: Conserving Cultures in the Face of Climate Change
Part 3: Connecting with Children and Youth
Click here to connect with the conference page for preliminary program and the most recent information.
CAM MEMBERS TO MEET AT ICOM SHANGHAI, CHINA.
Wednesday, November 10, 10:00am – 12:30pm
World Expo Centre
Oct 27, 2010
SECOND MESSAGE TO CAM MEMBERS ATTENDING ICOM SHANGHAI
Dear Members of CAM,
The conference organizers that we have a confirmed time, date, and place for our meeting.
Wednesday, November 10th, 10:00am – 12:30pm
World Expo Centre
Our meeting room will be signposted but I will update you as to the room number as soon as receive that.
The Agenda will be as follows.
1. Welcome and introductions (ALL).
2. Update on CAM initiatives (MARTIN SEGGER, PRESIDENT)
2011 Singapore CAM Triennial Conference (CATHERINE COLE, CONFERENCE COMMITTEE CHAIR)
Distance Learning Course (M. SEGGER)
International Cultural Heritage Law investigation (M.SEGGER)
Other news (ALL)
3. General discussion (ALL).
I would be interested in receiving confirmations from CAM members attending ICOM. Also advise me if you have any agenda items. Feel free to bring brochures and information for circulation regarding your institutions and programs.
I look forward to seeing you there.
More information here.
CAM ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. 20 July, 2010.
May 13, 2010
The program will include lunch, followed by a discussion on the CAM Distance Learning Program, the AGM will begin at 2:30pm sharp. Watch for a formal announcement with further details.
CAM Vice President Rooksana Omar assumes new position at Iziko Museums
April 16, 2010
The Council of Iziko Museums is pleased to announce that Ms Rooksana Omar has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (Designate) for Iziko Museums. Ms Omar holds an MBA and BA (Hons) degree and is currently the Director of the Luthuli Museum, a National Cultural Institution in KwaZulu Natal. In this capacity she has provided leadership on both a strategic and operational level, successfully delivering a relevant and dynamic programme whilst ensuring strong governance, compliance and unqualified audits. Ms Omar previously worked in senior leadership roles as the Acting Director of eThekwini Heritage Department and Director of the Local History Museum, Durban. She is the past President of the South African Museums Association, serves as a member of ICOM South Africa’s Executive Board, is currently the 2nd Vice President of the Commonwealth Association of Museums and has proven skills, expertise and knowledge, acquired through extensive and diverse experience working in the Heritage and Cultural Industries Sectors for 29 years, since 1981 The Council of Iziko Museums is confident that with this appointment, Iziko will continue to have both the leadership and the staff to build on its existing strengths and develop in new directions. Ms Omar’s energy and inspiration will enable her to lead and direct Iziko in an exemplary manner and to deliver future sustainability and growth. We are optimistic that our key objectives as a respected national heritage institution including our strategic focus going forward on making Iziko increasingly accessible to diverse audiences and becoming a heritage destination of choice will be achieved during her tenure. Ms Omar’s appointment on a five year fixed term performance based contract (which includes a six month probation) commences 1 May 2010.
RETHINKING MUSEUMS: Mumbai Regional Conference and Workshops. Updated program now available.
June 1–5, 2010
June 1–5, 2010 The five-day conference is intended to foster dialogue and offer practical sessions on ideas that address new thinking on the relevance of museums to communities and their role in today’s world. Museums in India and throughout the Commonwealth represent rich and diverse cultures but struggle to remain pertinent and to engage audiences in the contemporary world. Faced with this dilemma, there is a desire within museums to explore new theory and practices to fulfill their mandate for social service as cultural mediators. Topics to be covered will include audience development and methods of collaboration with diverse communities to create engaging exhibits and innovative educational programmes, in both in-house and outreach format, which tackle important social issues. For more details click here.
GCAM Workshop 4 Papers Posted to CAM Website.
The papers and and proceedings of the Group for Children in African Museums, meeting in Stanger, South Africa, October, 2010, have been posted on the CAM website. Go to the CAM On-Line Journal at http://www.maltwood.uvic.ca/cam/publications/cam_journal.html
Flickr Photo Group for GCAM Workshop 4
See CAM’s Flickr Site. Participants please contribute your own photos for sharing with CAM members.
COMMONWEALTH FELLOWSHIPS
feb 3, 2010
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom (CSC) offers Commonwealth Professional Fellowships that may be of interest to CAM members. The fellowships are intended to support skills development for mid-career practitioners in developing countries in the Commonwealth. Fellowships are normally for three months’ duration, although a period of up to six months may be approved in exceptional circumstances. They cover the full cost of travel to the UK, living expenses, and a contribution to host organisation costs.
For more details click here.
RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS FOR ICOM SHANGHAI
feb 3, 2010
Applications are invited for four/five Grace Morley Research Fellowships from individual members of ICOM in the Asia-Pacific region, having a minimum of three years continuous paid membership of ICOM for the years 2007, 2008, 2009. Applicants shall be engaged in curatorial, research and developmental work pertaining to development of museums and the museum profession. The fellowships will cover both ways air ticket and reasonable daily allowance in Shanghai for seven days for participation in the next ICOM General Conference during 07-12 November, 2010, with a view to offer opportunities for enriching the on-going research of candidates through global interaction with ICOM members in different parts of the world. Applications must reach the Secretary, ICOM India Trust latest by 31 March, 2010.
For more details click here.
Introduction to Museum Studies Distance Learning Program
Jan 26, 2010
The latest graduate of the CAM Museum Studies Program is Lilian Chaonwa from the
National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Harare. Lilian attended the recent GCAM 4 conference and workshops at the Chief Albert Luthuli Museum in Stanger, South Africa. CAM President Martin Segger presented Lilian with her graduation certificate at the conference banquet.
CAM LAUNCHES ON-LINE DISCUSSION FORUM.
June 16, 2009
To facilitate and prompt discussion on CAM related issues and programmes we have a launched an on-line discussion forum. Register in the forum now. Join in two current discussion threads: the planning of the forthcoming GCAM workshop and revisions to the CAM distance education course. Click here to go to the DISQUS forum site.
COMMONWEALTH ASSOCIATION OF MUSEUMS LAUNCHES INTERNATIONAL ON-LINE JOURNAL.
Feb 20, 2009
Check the CAM website at http://www.maltwood.uvic.ca/cam/publications/cam_journal.html for our new sortable journal. The journal is a compilation of conference papers, articles published in other media by CAM members, and research papers directly submitted which relate to the special museological interests of CAM.
COMMONWEALTH ASSOCIATION OF MUSEUMS
GCAM WORKSHOP 4::The Creative Museum: African Museums Using Culture for the Development of Children and Youth
feb 20, 2009
Hosted by the Chief Albert Luthuli Museum Stanger, South Africa. Check out the event details as well as call for papers here.
CAM TO ORGANIZE PANEL DISCUSSION AT CANADIAN MUSEUMS ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE IN TORONTO, MARCH 26, 2009.
Jan 30, 2009
Check out the event details here.
Canadian Museum for Human Rights Launches Its First Virtual Exhibition
Jan 8, 2009
December 10, 2008 marked the 60th Anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. To underline this important milestone, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights launched its first virtual exhibition entitled:Everyone has the Right: A Canadian and the Words that Changed the World. The exhibit explores the life of a Canadian, John Peters Humphrey, principal author of the Universal Declaration for Human Rights adopted by the United Nations in 1948. He gave the world a vision, upholding the principal that every human is, by virtue of his or her humanity alone born free and equal in dignity and rights. For more information go to: http://www.museedesdroitsdelapersonne.ca/exhibits/udhr/what_is_the_udhr/
CANADIAN MUSEUMS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE TO HOST CAM SESSION
Sep 10, 2008
The forthcoming 2009 CMA Annual Conference scheduled for March 25-28 in Toronto will feature a CAM organized panel discussion entitled "The Global Role of Museums in the Development of Civil Society". For further information click here to view.
CONFERENCE PAPERS AVAILABLE
Aug 19, 2008
The Papers and Proceedings for the recent 2008 CAM Triennial meeting in Georgetown, Guyana: "Museums & Diversity: Museums in Pluralistic Societies". Click here to view.
Join CAM's mailing list.
Aug 12, 2008
Subscribe to the Commonwealth Association of Museums's mailing list and receive news and event information by email. You can click here to subscribed or visit the page ABOUT CAM.
Lois Irvine elected to prestigious Cowrie Circle at Commonwealth Association of Museums Triennial Meeting
June 4, 2008
Lois Irvine, long-serving ICOM member and secretary general of the
Commonwealth Association of Museums was honored by election to the prestigious Cowrie Circle at the recent Annual Triennial Meeting of the Association in Georgetown Guyana, April 18-22, 2008.
Membership in the Cowrie Circle, CAM's highest honor, is given to pay tribute and to recognize eminent citizens who have contributed to the growth and development of museums in the Commonwealth.
Criteria include substantial and lengthy contributions: to the Association, to leadership and commitment in building museums in one's own country, to active and productive involvement in regional or international museum communities, and to enhancing expertise and excellence of museums in the
Commonwealth.
Newly elected president of the Association, Prof. Martin Segger, said the award, made with the unanimous assent of those attending, would honor the association as much as the very popular and world-renowned secretary-general who was stepping-down from her voting position on the Board.
Flickr photo group for Museums & Diversity - Guyana
May 20, 2008
CAM has created a Flickr photo group for conference participants who would like to share their photos of Guyana. To post photos to this group, you will need to have a (free) flickr account.
The Flickr group is called Commonwealth Association of Museums Guyana Conference
Announcement: CAM General Programme and Meeting 2008 - Museums & Diversity - Guyana
January 23, 2008
Hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, The National Museum of Guyana, Georgetown, Guyana.
A 5-day seminar, to be followed by an excursion to IWOKRAMA for a limited number of participants, April 23th to 26th.
Commonwealth Foundation Launches New Website
July 5, 2007
The Commonwealth Foundation is pleased to announce that it has launched a new website to help bring information to its stakeholders in a clear, concise and interactive way... more
Illicit traffic on internet
Appeal from ICOM, UNESCO and Interpol
July 5, 2007
The illicit traffic of cultural property is currently one of the most lucrative criminal activities in the world. Every civilisation's cultural heritage is universal and priceless, and the harm caused by illicit trafficking has disastrous repercussions, not only on peoples' understanding of their history, and thus on their cultural identity, but also with regard to the future of all humankind... more
CCI Volunteer Postings in Bolivia 2007-08
June 21, 2007
Canadian Crossroads International (CCI) has recently posted its new volunteer positions overseas and is welcoming applicants now!... more
The Commonwealth: Respecting Difference, Promoting Understanding
March 8, 2007
...In the Commonwealth, we share a language. Yet, underneath that, we all have a number of identities that define who we are and where we feel we belong - to families, to communities, to cultural and indigenous groupings, to nations. Whatever those many layers of identity, we are all human beings above all else, and we are all Commonwealth citizens... more
CAM Council Member, Alissandra Cummins, Honoured in Book (article from ICOM)
February 1, 2007
UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura launched a new book entitled 60 Women Contributing to the 60 Years of UNESCO - Constructing the Foundations of Peace (UNESCO, 2006)... more
World Summit on Arts and Culture Report Published
(article from another website)
December 11, 2006
We are delighted to announce the publication of the Report on the Third World Summit on Arts and Culture. Held in Newcastle Gateshead, England, in June this year, the Summit explored issues of arts, culture and regeneration under the theme 'transforming places, transforming lives'. The report provides a number of personal impressions on the Summit from the point of view of organisers, delegates and a speaker. Later this month, we will be mailing printed copies of the report to IFACCA members along with a printed volume of IFACCA's research reports 2004-2006 and invoices for 2007 membership. If your organisation is not a member and would like to join, please email us at info@ifacca.org. For more information on membership, click here.
Millions More Attend Free Museums
(article from another website)
December 11, 2006
In the five years since entry charges were scrapped, England's museums and galleries have had nearly 30 million extra visitors... more
Ottawa Museums get Boost of Nearly $100M
(article from another website)
December 11, 2006
(Canada) Five national museums in Ottawa will get a big boost of funds for fixing leaky roofs, repairing electrical systems, and other long-term building maintenance, the federal government announced Monday... more