A message from Andrew Sayers:
I am writing to you as the National President of Museums Australia to urge you to encourage and coordinate staff to register for the MA national conference which will be held in Canberra this May around International Museum Day (17 – 20 May).
The Museums Australia national conference is the one most important development opportunity available for staff in museums and galleries held each year. I strongly urge each of you to support your staff’s development as well as supporting the cultural sector as a national entity.
Registration
Registration for the conference has opened and earlybird registration closes on Friday 15 March. Many of your organisations are institutional members of Museums Australia, as such your staff are all entitled to register at the lowest rate of $615, a considerable reduction as the full rate is $995. Registration is available through the conference website at www.ma2013.org.au.
Speakers
The final program will be available in early March but exciting keynote speakers who have already been confirmed include Michael Lynch, West Kowloon Cultural District; Dr Michael Brand, Art Gallery of NSW; Dr Stefan Hajkowicz, CSIRO; Dr Brendan Nelson, Australian War Memorial; Robyn Archer, Centenary of Canberra; and Dr Tom Calma, social justice campaigner and ACT finalist for Australian of the Year 2013.
Program
The theme How museums work: people, industry and nation, will be addressed over three days, with all keynote speakers appearing in the plenary sessions throughout Super Saturday 18 May, International Museum Day. The 38 concurrent sessions will be held on Sunday and Monday featuring speakers from a broad range of relevant backgrounds across Australia and New Zealand. The Program committee has been very impressed by the quality and range of abstracts submitted and are just in the throes of assembling a very exciting and relevant program. Indigenous themes are well represented as are the National Networks and key museum activities such as technology, exhibitions, conservation, accessibility and cultural diversity.
Associated Meetings
Meetings for the Museums Australia Council, the Council of Australasian Museum Directors and Museums Australia National Networks will also be held in Canberra at this time, creating a true hub of museum and gallery activities. A lively social program, a substantial trade show and a busy schedule of excursions to institutions in the national capital will all contribute to an outstanding conference in this year of Canberra’s centenary.
Bursaries
With less than three months to go before the conference takes place, things are moving quickly, there are a number of bursaries available to assist staff to attend so can I ask that you promote, encourage and make funds available for staff to travel to Canberra and attend this year’s conference.
For more information visit the website www.ma2013.org.au or follow us on Twitter @MA_ACT2013
