from Channel News Asia
Singapore's Heritage Conservation Centre carving a niche for itself
For those who missed the news section on Channel News Asia, here is the transcript (in PDF format).
from BBC News
Bone return consultation launched
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An update on the Working Group on Human Remains in the UK which has been tasked to scrutinise the legality of human parts being kept in public museums and collections in England and Wales. There is a strong lobby for the return of such human remians on the one hand, but also strong reasons for not returning on the other from the scientific and museum community. This debate has often times generated extremely heated and polarised arguments (see an earlier post here).
Reading this together with the previous stories on the clamour for the return of heritage artefacts to their (rightful) country of origin, it appears that even with the best standards of stewardship in caring for these historic and cultural items, it is still not enough justification for keeping something in a museum collection. How would this impact on the work of conservation and collections care? Is doing one's work to one's best ability and matching high standards enough, then? Or does one need to be doing right, as well?
Bone return consultation launched
go to article
An update on the Working Group on Human Remains in the UK which has been tasked to scrutinise the legality of human parts being kept in public museums and collections in England and Wales. There is a strong lobby for the return of such human remians on the one hand, but also strong reasons for not returning on the other from the scientific and museum community. This debate has often times generated extremely heated and polarised arguments (see an earlier post here).
Reading this together with the previous stories on the clamour for the return of heritage artefacts to their (rightful) country of origin, it appears that even with the best standards of stewardship in caring for these historic and cultural items, it is still not enough justification for keeping something in a museum collection. How would this impact on the work of conservation and collections care? Is doing one's work to one's best ability and matching high standards enough, then? Or does one need to be doing right, as well?
from BBC News
UK exhibits seized in Australia
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Aboriginal artefacts, including two early bark etchings, have been seized in Australia while on loan from two British museums. The members of the Dja Dja Wurrung tribe have secured an emergency order preventing the items being returned to the British Museum and the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Gary Murray, of the Dja Dja, said:
It's not British culture we are talking about here, we are talking about our rights as a first nation... We believe strongly that they connect us to our country, our culture and ancestry...If you haven't got a past then you haven't got a future and it is our future at stake here."
How about the view point of the lenders? The Royal Botanic Gardens and the British Museum definitely want their artefacts back and reiterate the importance of continuing to lend objects to exhibitions around the world.
"Exhibitions of this kind, bringing rare material from collections throughout the world, provide invaluable opportunities to make available to the world public the latest research and interpretations of the objects and the human cultures that produced them...The Emergency Declaration puts at risk the very legal framework that allows such exhibitions to take place drawing on loans from Europe and America."
BBC is doing an opinions poll on this issue "Who should own historic artefacts?"and the comments posted so far are very interesting!
UK exhibits seized in Australia
go to article
Aboriginal artefacts, including two early bark etchings, have been seized in Australia while on loan from two British museums. The members of the Dja Dja Wurrung tribe have secured an emergency order preventing the items being returned to the British Museum and the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Gary Murray, of the Dja Dja, said:
It's not British culture we are talking about here, we are talking about our rights as a first nation... We believe strongly that they connect us to our country, our culture and ancestry...If you haven't got a past then you haven't got a future and it is our future at stake here."
How about the view point of the lenders? The Royal Botanic Gardens and the British Museum definitely want their artefacts back and reiterate the importance of continuing to lend objects to exhibitions around the world.
"Exhibitions of this kind, bringing rare material from collections throughout the world, provide invaluable opportunities to make available to the world public the latest research and interpretations of the objects and the human cultures that produced them...The Emergency Declaration puts at risk the very legal framework that allows such exhibitions to take place drawing on loans from Europe and America."
BBC is doing an opinions poll on this issue "Who should own historic artefacts?"and the comments posted so far are very interesting!
from Xinhua Online
HK to air new radio program on heritage
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What started out as a public consultation exercise in Hong Kong on urban heritage preservation policy evolved into an on-air collaborative oral history project. One cannot help but draw the conclusion that this is what community relevance and public outreach in heritage preservation is positively about.
This project will enjoy joint-support from government agencies as well as a non-government organisation, The Conservancy Association. Interestingly, The Conservancy Association, has as its mission to preserve both the natural environment, as well as the cultural heritage of Hong Kong.
HK to air new radio program on heritage
go to article
What started out as a public consultation exercise in Hong Kong on urban heritage preservation policy evolved into an on-air collaborative oral history project. One cannot help but draw the conclusion that this is what community relevance and public outreach in heritage preservation is positively about.
This project will enjoy joint-support from government agencies as well as a non-government organisation, The Conservancy Association. Interestingly, The Conservancy Association, has as its mission to preserve both the natural environment, as well as the cultural heritage of Hong Kong.
from National Heritage Board
The Heritage Journal
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The Inaugural Issue of the Heritage Journal (published by the National Heritage Board, Singapore) has been launched, featuring "research articles on the history, culture and the art practices of Asia, with an emphasis on material culture, cultural resource management and museum practice". Happy reading!
The Heritage Journal
go to journal site
The Inaugural Issue of the Heritage Journal (published by the National Heritage Board, Singapore) has been launched, featuring "research articles on the history, culture and the art practices of Asia, with an emphasis on material culture, cultural resource management and museum practice". Happy reading!
from The New York Times
Shift at Historical Society Raises Concerns
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A significant historical document collection was "deposited" with the New York Historical Society along with its lenders joining the board of the society. A concern arise: Would the society henceforth be subjected to the influence of its two wealthy and powerful members? Already, some members within the society who refuse to give their names seems to hint at a "shady" decision process as to the society's exhibition focus and directions. On the other hand, the influx of these new members and the collection has also pushed the society beyond its usual scope, facilitate academic pursuits and sparked off other positive developments.
The same concern arised last year which lead to Catherine B. Reynolds' eventual withdrawal of her $38 million gift to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History when loads of criticisms poured in. The concern according to "The Times": "What was controversial were the terms of the plan which would have granted her [Reynolds] and her foundation inappropriate influence over curatorial decisions."
Looks like there is really a potential conflict of interest over the influence of powerful donors/lenders. Well, with regards to the NYHS, time will tell...
Shift at Historical Society Raises Concerns
go to article
A significant historical document collection was "deposited" with the New York Historical Society along with its lenders joining the board of the society. A concern arise: Would the society henceforth be subjected to the influence of its two wealthy and powerful members? Already, some members within the society who refuse to give their names seems to hint at a "shady" decision process as to the society's exhibition focus and directions. On the other hand, the influx of these new members and the collection has also pushed the society beyond its usual scope, facilitate academic pursuits and sparked off other positive developments.
The same concern arised last year which lead to Catherine B. Reynolds' eventual withdrawal of her $38 million gift to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History when loads of criticisms poured in. The concern according to "The Times": "What was controversial were the terms of the plan which would have granted her [Reynolds] and her foundation inappropriate influence over curatorial decisions."
Looks like there is really a potential conflict of interest over the influence of powerful donors/lenders. Well, with regards to the NYHS, time will tell...
from Getty Conservation Institute Newsletter
Preventive Conservation
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The focus of the latest issue of the GCI Newsletter is on preventive conservation - tracing the inter-disciplinary development of the field, the challenges of application and featuring 2 specific areas in lighting and climate controls in historic buildings.
Preventive Conservation
go to newsletter
The focus of the latest issue of the GCI Newsletter is on preventive conservation - tracing the inter-disciplinary development of the field, the challenges of application and featuring 2 specific areas in lighting and climate controls in historic buildings.
from The New York Times
Along the Silk Road, China Begins to Guard Its Heritage
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As China ascends in terms of economic wealth, its heritage wealth becomes even more of a touristic draw and reaching potentially unsustainable (and self-destructive) levels. Hence, the efforts of the Getty Conservation Institute to put in place a set of China Principles.
Along the Silk Road, China Begins to Guard Its Heritage
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As China ascends in terms of economic wealth, its heritage wealth becomes even more of a touristic draw and reaching potentially unsustainable (and self-destructive) levels. Hence, the efforts of the Getty Conservation Institute to put in place a set of China Principles.
"The China Principles, which generally update existing international conventions, enshrine conservation principles and mandate an interdisciplinary management process. They require a master plan that, for example, researches and sets visitor capacity limits. These guidelines have now largely been disseminated to the provinces, which are responsible for most heritage sites."
from BBC News
Museum has flush of inspiration
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This is a funny one. London's Science Museum is thinking of recycling toilet waste to generate power so as to help in the upkeep of the museum. Jon Tucker, the museum's owner, made this comment "Poo power is certainly something I would consider if it were practical." Mm...poo power, any other takers?
Museum has flush of inspiration
go to article
This is a funny one. London's Science Museum is thinking of recycling toilet waste to generate power so as to help in the upkeep of the museum. Jon Tucker, the museum's owner, made this comment "Poo power is certainly something I would consider if it were practical." Mm...poo power, any other takers?
from BBC Radio 4 - Connect
Dust to dust
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listen to programme (Real Player needed)
It boggles the mind to think of something as unassuming and ubiquitous as dust could contain information (when properly analysed) which can yield traces of history spanning many decades or even centuries. But, the question remains: "To clean or not to clean?"
Dust to dust
go to programme synopsis
listen to programme (Real Player needed)
It boggles the mind to think of something as unassuming and ubiquitous as dust could contain information (when properly analysed) which can yield traces of history spanning many decades or even centuries. But, the question remains: "To clean or not to clean?"
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