Phillip Island penguins. Photo: Phillip Island Nature Parks.

Museums Australia Victoria, The Victorian Museums & Galleries Conference

The Victorian Museums & Galleries Conference is back in 2016 and will be held in beautiful Phillip Island at the Cowes Cultural Centre on 6-7 October.

This year the Conference is especially welcoming members from across Australia from regional, remote and community museums and galleries.

Under the central theme of Future-proofing, the Conference will consider the challenges facing museums and galleries, and focus on innovative ways to achieve financial, social (succession planning, staff training), and environmental sustainability.

The event will include traditional keynotes, interactive discussions, lightning talks, focused parallel sessions, and a discussion panel. Topics to be covered include: the impact of climate change on museum buildings and collections, developing regional audiences, interpretation and storytelling, and adapting to change.

Detailed speaker and program information will be added to this page as we progress with our planning. You can also subscribe to our Conference email alerts to keep up-to-date with Conference news (see right-hand side column).

An optional pre-Conference get-together will take place on Wednesday 5 October in the evening. More details to follow.

A Cocktail Dinner will be held at Churchill Island Heritage Farm on 6 October. The Conference will also feature an expo of industry suppliers, and a structured networking session for students to introduce them to museum and gallery professionals for career advice and internship opportunities.

The Conference is curated to appeal to a broad audience, from large state institutions to small volunteer-run organisations, and aims to bring together the Victorian museum, gallery, heritage, and conservation community, connecting regional and metropolitan volunteers and professionals, and showcasing some of the best museum and gallery practice.

Detailed speaker and program information will be added to the Conference webpage as we progress with our planning.

> View the Conference webpage
> Super Earlybird now available for MA members
(save $120 over the standard Member rate – be quick, numbers are strictly limited!)

2016 Conference Supporters

The 2016 Conference is supported by the Bass Coast Heritage Group, Bass Coast Shire Council, Deakin University, Destination Phillip Island, Friends of Churchill Island Society, Phillip Island & District Historical Society, and Phillip Island Nature Parks.