21 - 25 November 1995, Brisbane
Communicating Cultures was a mega-event for Australia's museum community. Over four hundred people attended the second annual conference of Museums Australia, enjoying a packed program of speakers ranging from international academics to the personnel of local amateur museums, interspersed with such events as a reception at Newstead House, Special Interest Group meetings, the presentation of the Publications Design Awards and Launch of the Museums Australia Trade Directory. The Queensland organisers, headed by Chris Saines, ensured that the theme of the conference was underlined throughout. The conference was officially called to order by Art Nickolls playing the Didgeridoo, with Uncle Bob Anderson, an Aboriginal Elder from the Brisbane area, welcoming the delegates to Jagera land, whilst lively entertainment for the Conference Dinner was provided by two Queensland indigenous vocal groups, Aim 4 More and Kamballa.
It was a great conference and the organisers are to be congratulated. Yes, Australia's museums can pat themselves on the back for clearly communicating that they are making a difference. The stories being told in the many parallel sessions (all sessions are available on tape) indicated that Australian museums are featuring the diversity of cultures that now make up this country. Other voices are being heard.
But what role does such a conference perform? It is merely an opportunity for showcasing products (a Trade Fair of exhibition and project reports), or an opportunity for genuine engagement and dialogue? In his welcoming comments in the conference handbook, Dr Des Griffin, President of Museums Australia, writes that the Museums Australia Conference is "the most important development opportunity available to you as a museum worker". Similarly Chris Saines, Chair of the National Council Conference Committee for 1995, described the... The rest of this article is available to subscribers of Eyeline