CREATe’s Post

I have an Excel sheet of best practices for managing human material remains that I gathered as part of a GRA project I should turn into an article.

Do you know how new NAGPRA regulations will impact your local museums and nearby universities? Read more: https://lnkd.in/gZznKxBA #NAGPRA #Impact #Repatriation #IndigenousRights #NAGPRACompliance #MuseumRegulations

I am thrilled to share that my first article has been published by the Center for Art Law! I invite you to read the article, and I would love to hear your thoughts and comments. Let's continue the conversation on the fascinating field of Nazi-looted art restitution! US Museums Return Schiele artworks to the heirs of Fritz Grünbaum 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dJPPrwsr #ArtLaw #NaziLootedArt #Restitution #CenterForArtLaw 

There is an old Welsh saying: "Nerth gwlad, ei gwybodaeth, the strength of a nation is its knowledge." Museums and galleries are central to the nation, and when they are threatened, we are threatened.   It's not hyperbole to say that if the National Museum, Cardiff closes it will be a tragedy. At the very least big job losses are coming down the track for Wales' National museums, at worst there will be closure for some real cultural gems.   In Higher Education we are seeing Universities ending a swathe of courses in the humanities - in philosophy, anthropology, journalism and the arts more widely. Big job losses at my old University, University of Kent as well as institutions like Goldsmiths University in London. Many more Higher Education providers are under pressure to make cuts too.   In recent years there has been lots of debate about the role of the museum, particularly the British museum where artifacts were stolen from lands far and wide. In Wales's case, our National Museums are places of living history, of cultural preserve and places to celebrate art old and new. They are places to escape to, relax in and enjoy. They are places to commune with the past and imagine the sort of world we would like to see in the future.   A couple of weeks ago I saw a loaned self portrait of Vincent van Gogh. For the museums more widely, Saint Fagan's is a place close to my heart - it's where my partner and I sat under an ancient oak talking about life, and it's where our relationship really started to flourish. It's the place I take all my friends and family to when they visit. It's uniquely Welsh, it's essential to understanding Wales and it's history.   Over its history Wales has often been the victim of machinations from across the border in England. Its language, its natural resources, autonomy and people have often been exploited for the glory of others.   I ask this to the people who say there isn't enough money for the arts, for culture, heritage and the humanities. Who writes the books you read? Who created that painting on your study wall? Who designs and inspired the expensive clothes you wear? Who trained the artist that performs on stage whilst you watch from your box at the opera? Who makes the films and television shows you binge watch at home?   These things don't just magic themselves out of nowhere. They are made, and crafted, designed and brought to life by creative professionals who love what they do. They are not made by the free market, enterprise or through trade and boardroom deals - they are made by artists, thinkers, philosophers, dancers, writers, makers, poets, actors, directors, designers, and preserved by historians, archaeologists, anthropologists, conservationists and museum workers.   Cuts like this should scare us. Cuts like this should shock us and make us angry. We should do everything we can to preserve museums. If we lose them, they are gone forever.

Enter the fascinating world of museum storage, where the art and artifacts are carefully preserved, protected, and maintained for future generations to admire. Read our blog to learn more: https://bit.ly/4b4BmH1

My first Lunch Time Curator talk focus’ on one of our oldest and most enigmatic objects. One that despite its importance has never actually been accessioned into the collections (something i aim to correct). As time has gone on I’ve seen a loss of specialist knowledge and subject specialist curators in museums, which is a very worrying trend. It’s a credit to Heritage Doncaster and the City of Doncaster Council that in a recent restructure it chose to maintain those specialist curatorial roles it still had. Though it is sad that there are collections for which we don’t have curators, notably Natural History. Without subject specialist curators collections risk becoming fossilised and museums risk, over time engaging the public, with out of date and even inaccurate interpretation and information. The Curator Talks and Lunchtime Talks provide a reason for me to undertake important collections research and provide an outlet for it. Long may it continue and grow. The public appetite for these curator led engagements is demonstrable, even though we’re not yet a year into having begun them. Let’s hope the appetite for them grows.

🗣 I used to love giving lunchtime talks during my time as Curator of Decorative Art! It often gave me a chance to focus on one area of the collections, or even, just one object. 🔎 As Peter Robinson has said here, it's also important for curators to be given the chance to do in-depth research, and present their findings to a variety of audiences. 😨 It may sound daunting to talk about just one thing for up to a whole hour, though. What on earth can you find to say for that long, about a single item?! Actually, once you get going, you'll be amazed at what you can come up with. Here are just a few examples: 👉 How was it made? People love to hear about the skills and techniques used to produce things. If you can show them a few tools, or even a short video - even better! 👉 Where did the materials come from? Is this made locally or do some parts come from the other side of the world? What does this tell you about trade at the time? Do you have a sample of the material visitors can touch? 👉 Who used it? Was it for everyone, or just a select few? How much (in real terms, like a weekly wage) would it have cost? 👉 How did it come into the museum? Is there an exciting or strange story there? ⛏ These are just a few object stories that you can uncover, just get digging, open up your imagination and there'll be no stopping you! ✍️ Do you have a favourite object you could talk about for hours? Share it in the comments! 👋 Need help with interpreting objects in English? Let’s connect and have a conversation. Don’t forget to follow me and ring the bell 🔔 on the profile to catch all my posts. 🏛 I help heritage professionals improve their communication skills and confidence 👩🏫 #curator #interpretation #museumeducation #heapoffacts #communicationcoach

Museums are more than just buildings that house art and artifacts. They are living institutions that tell the story of our past, present, and future. As such, they play a crucial role in preserving our cultural heritage. However, managing a museum goes beyond curating exhibits and organizing events. It involves navigating the complex world of intellectual property rights. From protecting the original works of artists to ensuring appropriate use of digital images, effective IP management is critical in safeguarding our cultural treasures. We applaud the Ministry of Culture of the Government of Mexico and the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature (INBAL) for launching the National Museum Training and Update Program 2023. This initiative reinforces the importance of promoting good museum practices and collective work, as well as improving processes within these institutions. At OLIVARES, we understand the unique IP challenges faced by museums. We have a dedicated team of lawyers specializing in intellectual property law, ready to guide you through every step of the process. Let's work together to protect our shared cultural heritage. Contact us today and let's discuss how we can support your museum in its intellectual property journey. #MuseumManagement #OLIVARES #CulturalHeritageProtection #mexico #museomexicano #weknow #culture #cultura #museum #museo #intellectualproperty #intellectualpropertyrights

Day #4 of the Art + Culture & Museums American Evaluation Association Blog week: If you are engaged in evaluation, philanthropy, and/or socially engaged programming and you're not familiar with Justin Laing, MPM, now is your time to change that. Clearly, I'm a bit biased as his Co-Chair with the Arts + Culture & Museums group with AEA, but this 2-min read is an outstanding introduction to reflecting on the ubiquitous term "culture," and how it relates to arts/museums programming.

The theme for THE SUSSEX 2024 is Duality. Jo explains why she chose the theme, and how it can be interpreted and used to inspire your entries in a BLOG POST over on our website. Read an excerpt of the post below: When I think about a subject, theme, or title I like to use literature as a starting point. I always start by researching what the word itself means: DUALITY 1. the quality or condition of being duel “This duality of purpose was discernible in the appointments”. 2. an instance of oppositions or contrast between two aspects of something, a dualism “his photographs capitalize on the dualities of light and dark, stillness and movement”. An idea, observation, or opinion is shown through an artwork that is shared with and communicated to others. It is in this dualism, the convergence of artistic intention with the physical building blocks of visual art that entices the observer to ponder the artwork and why it exists. Drawing them in a rich tapestry of stories, thoughts, and emotions and communicating with them directly. Next time you are at a museum or an exhibition look at the other people around you. Look at those that are caught in front of an artwork for a length of time. They are considering, looking, questioning, admiring, and thinking about what is in front of them. Duality explores the positive and negative spaces in life, between lines and lived-in experiences. Head on over to our website to read more and get your mind immersed in thinking about DUALITY https://buff.ly/3yQ4mE0 #sussexart #sussexartists #sussexcontemporary #opencall #artistopportunity #thesussex #newhaven #duality