Commonwealth Association of Museums (CAM)

Singapore,24-28 May, 2011

Theme: Culture, Economy and Climate Change and Youth

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 I will address the need for museums to play a lead role in promoting culture as means of social and economic development, using Putting Culture First and the Commonwealth Statement on Culture and Development as discussion documents. This conference will expand on the productive discussions of Putting Culture First at the GCAM4 meeting (October 2009) in Stanger, South Africa. As in Africa, the rich diversity of cultures in South-East Asian and South Pacific nations is faced with challenges from globalization, migration and urbanization. Part 1 will highlight these issues and explore ways in which museums can not only help preserve cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible, but also promote traditional and contemporary culture as resources for sustainable development.

Part 2: World Watch Two: Conserving Cultures in the Face of Climate Change
Part 2 will focus directly on the need for museums as cultural organisations to use the links between culture and development to play a role in addressing both general issues of climate change and its specific impact on cultural continuity. As a follow up to World Watch One in Guyana and with added impetus from the CHOGM communiqué of November 2009, World Watch Two will examine the growing global impact of climate change on the human (i.e., threats to cultural heritage and property, migration pressures and economic issues) and the natural environment, including potentially extensive land submersion, particularly South Asia and the South Pacific. This session is intended to build on the theme of culture and development, with an emphasis on the ramifications of climate change on the protection of land, livelihoods, cultural diversity and property, tangible and intangible. This session will feature case studies chosen to encourage an action-oriented series of discussions that will lead to a suggested common action plan for museums.

Part 3: Connecting with Children and Youth
Part 3 will continue CAM’s longstanding commitment to focus on children and youth.  The month of May begins the “Children’s Season” for museums in Singapore.  This provides a unique opportunity to explore the role museums have in assuring the survival of cultural memory and articulating a hopeful vision of a future for young people in our communities.  Given the themes of part 1 & 2 of this conference, here is an opportunity to explore how museum programming can creatively engage youth in the fundamentals of both global and local environmental awareness, but also the issues surrounding the need to sustain a sense of community identity and reinforce fundamental values of tolerance, respect and understanding of cultural diversity in the face of urbanization, migration, and economic disruption.  There are lessons from history but also from other nations and cultures today.  This session is intended to share case studies of successful museum-based initiatives which may also form a backdrop to visits and tours of Singapore’s excellent museums and their programs for children and youth.

Preliminary registration is requested by February 15, 2011.

Funding Assistance may be available for participants from Commonwealth developing countries.  Criteria will take into account geographical and gender representation, professional competence and museum experience, and available matching funds. Particular consideration will be given to those who meet the above criteria and whose papers are selected for presentation.

The selection of those who receive funding will be determined by the Steering Committee, based on a CV with a written statement of interest also to be submitted by February 15, 2011.

Further inquiries contact : .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)and Lois Irvine, Secretary General, CAM: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)or, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)