I guess I better, before this year's BCMA becomes part of my (dis)remembered past.
Top 10 continues.....
5) I'm a libertarian. Yup, I admit it. I don't like government control, I don't like being forced into a collective, I want my own freedom to choose and screw up on my own. That said, there is something to be said about being part of a collective, a commune, a kibbutz ... a common way of thinking. To me, it's not balance that is key (that just doesn't seem possible to me) but more like tilting the axis back and forth, instead of weighing heavily either way. This BCMA contained elements of that. Where we want community, we also need to have individuals making informed decisions. Participation in community spaces, where the local museum firmly sits, cannot be achieved without the actions of members taking responsibility for themselves while working collectively in groups. Happily, I often saw and felt this at the BCMA. I would like to see more. A place to start: join the Young Museum Workers Coalition on Facebook.
4) Social Media. Tweets, blogs, messages, youtube, etc. are all the rage right now. Let's get on the bandwagon folks. Remember, there is a tipping point, a place where everyone who invested on the upwards curve have varying degrees of success while those that join when the trend is on a downward path are way behind the pack. A word of advice: if you are going to begin engaging in social media, you need to 1) Share with others, 2) Refer others 3) look for new sites, advances, changes, etc. Pretty much a fulltime job. So, museum, art gallery, archives and general cultural geeks, here's a link, passed on to me by my esteemed colleague, Liz Czerwinski, for you to begin further exploration: http://www.collectionslink.org.uk/. Join up! I just did.
3) Alcohol. "Alcohol, alcohol stop me. Stop me if you think that you've heard this one before ...". What's a blog without a musical reference? Well, what's a conference without a few? Enjoyed drinks at a number of local pubs/clubs/drinking establishments. One evening Paul, Julie and I walked past another with the inviting sign "$6 for a beer and whiskey shot". Tempting? Yes, but soon found out that it was kareoke night when we overheard someone drunkenly belting out Bohemian Rhapsody. Although impressed, I suddenly felt it really was time for bed and Jon Stewart.
2) Speaking of Jon Stewart, the following evening I found myself listening to Obama speak. This resulted in a "we love Obama" conversation (over drinks) the next day. Well, martinis really. Every time I hear/see Obama speak, I place both feet in his camp. However, as the ringing of his voice slowly fades, I move back to sitting on the fence. Remember, I'm a libertarian and although numbingly slow, the American veto system seems to be just the right mix for a divided country.
1) And now, the drum roll .... Should it be funny? Smart? Philosophical? Slightly cheesy and lovie-dovie? I'll go with the latter. Conversation at the AGM centred on being inclusive. The BCMA seems to be stuffed with heritage/history museums, especially of the small variety. And I'm happy for that because God knows that the small local museum is where the heart is and is also where the communities live. However, I could write a whole essay, a diatribe if you will, on the lack of inclusivity, the parochial nature of museums, the false elitism and the snobbery of museum professionals. But, thank the good Lord, I won't. Instead, I'll just leave at this: don't forget the natural museums (thank you Beaty Biodiversity Museum at UBC for representing), the science museums, the art galleries (again, thank you Paul Crawford from the Penticton Art Gallery), and more. We need you all. You all represent the people, so people, stand up and say 'I'.
And that, my friends is enough of museums for a little while. Stay tuned for a post-colonial interpretation of The Smith's "Vicar in Tutu". Ha!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Inspiration? My top 10 at the BCMA.
Oh to be inspired. What is it that drives us to succeed? Sometimes, but only sometimes, I find myself so fully absorbed in a project that I get giddy. It is exciting to realize that the day went by and I didn't spend any time on facebook/twitter/linkdin/cbc.ca/bbc/, etc., etc.....
I've spent an inspiring week at the British Columbia Museums Association conference in beautiful Nanaimo, BC. I've reconnected, met new people and gained some incredible insights.
My top ten - well lets start with 5. I'll add more next post:
10) Enjoying fantastic conversations with new and old friends. Cumberland, Langley, Penticton, Wells, Victoria, Vancouver, Richmond, Port Moody, New Westminster, Kamloops ... I salute you.
9) Plenary A: Nina Simon. Talk about inspirational! She spoke of the 'participatory' museum where people actively use the museum and contribute to it's essence (www.museumtwo.blogspot.com). I would add to this by saying that we need to begin encouraging local communities and neighbourhoods to use the museum as their meeting place, as their place of refuge, as the place where communities are strengthened through a common discourse and cultural ownership. Museums are perfect places for this. Lets get the communities to curate exhibits, organize speakers series and be full partners in cultural/artistic events.
8) Keynote: Bob Janes (editor of Museum Management and Curatorship) and Jacqueline Gijssen (senior Cultural Planner in Vancouver). Along the lines of (9) but at a deeper, more philosophical level where the museum drives change and contributes to positive change from the local to the global. They spoke of the need for organizational change at the social level that can only occur when we choose to change our world view from that of being. Museums are more influential then the public (and us museum professionals) realize. Museums tell stories of who we are. Without even realizing it, their discourse moves towards hegemony of storytelling ... who else is telling our stories in a publicly sanctioned way apart from (often) segregated cultural groups. But museums are often parochial, white, regressive and uninspiring. We (the museum professionals) need to look beyond our 'mandated' areas to see the wider picture, the big bad world. That is where the inspiration comes from. That is where change occurs ... when we tackle the big issues and bring them down to a level where people can understand, be motivated, take responsibility and give.
7) Vancouver Police Museum. Lets just say that I'm impressed with what Chris has done and is doing. www.vancouverpolicemuseum.ca
6) Cumberland Museum. Ummm, can anyone say labour history? We need more like you. (overheard in a pub: "We need to unionize more museums"). What do you say, comrade?
5) Well that's about it now.... more next post.
I've spent an inspiring week at the British Columbia Museums Association conference in beautiful Nanaimo, BC. I've reconnected, met new people and gained some incredible insights.
My top ten - well lets start with 5. I'll add more next post:
10) Enjoying fantastic conversations with new and old friends. Cumberland, Langley, Penticton, Wells, Victoria, Vancouver, Richmond, Port Moody, New Westminster, Kamloops ... I salute you.
9) Plenary A: Nina Simon. Talk about inspirational! She spoke of the 'participatory' museum where people actively use the museum and contribute to it's essence (www.museumtwo.blogspot.com). I would add to this by saying that we need to begin encouraging local communities and neighbourhoods to use the museum as their meeting place, as their place of refuge, as the place where communities are strengthened through a common discourse and cultural ownership. Museums are perfect places for this. Lets get the communities to curate exhibits, organize speakers series and be full partners in cultural/artistic events.
8) Keynote: Bob Janes (editor of Museum Management and Curatorship) and Jacqueline Gijssen (senior Cultural Planner in Vancouver). Along the lines of (9) but at a deeper, more philosophical level where the museum drives change and contributes to positive change from the local to the global. They spoke of the need for organizational change at the social level that can only occur when we choose to change our world view from that of being. Museums are more influential then the public (and us museum professionals) realize. Museums tell stories of who we are. Without even realizing it, their discourse moves towards hegemony of storytelling ... who else is telling our stories in a publicly sanctioned way apart from (often) segregated cultural groups. But museums are often parochial, white, regressive and uninspiring. We (the museum professionals) need to look beyond our 'mandated' areas to see the wider picture, the big bad world. That is where the inspiration comes from. That is where change occurs ... when we tackle the big issues and bring them down to a level where people can understand, be motivated, take responsibility and give.
7) Vancouver Police Museum. Lets just say that I'm impressed with what Chris has done and is doing. www.vancouverpolicemuseum.ca
6) Cumberland Museum. Ummm, can anyone say labour history? We need more like you. (overheard in a pub: "We need to unionize more museums"). What do you say, comrade?
5) Well that's about it now.... more next post.
Changing the way we think about education.
In our fast-paced, overstimulated society, it is no wonder that educators and cousellors find it easier to prescribe medications and search for defaults in children (and adults) instead of looking at how we are taught. This youtube video is excellant in depicting how we have changed but our education system has largely stayed in an Fordist, industrial paradigm .... think about it: bells, exact/set times, group think (teaching), generalizations, discipline for those that cannot conform, etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U
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