Positioning Ethnological Museums in the 21st Century

Positioning Ethnological Museums in the 21st Century

Veranstalter
Volkswagen Foundation
Veranstaltungsort
Herrenhausen Palace, Herrenhäuser Straße 5, 30419 Hanover, Germany
Ort
Hannover
Land
Deutschland
Vom - Bis
21.06.2015 - 23.06.2015
Von
Volkswagen Foundation

The Herrenhausen Symposium "Positioning Ethnological Museums in the 21st Century" by the Volkswagen Foundation in cooperation with Deutscher Museumsbund discusses the need for a critical appraisal of the past, present, and future of ethnological museums.

Rooted in the curiosity cabinets of the Enlightenment, ethnological museums experienced an enormous boom during the colonial period. The collections assembled in those past times continue to characterize the exhibits of ethnological museums today, causing the need for a critical appraisal of the past, present, and future of this particular genre of museum. The symposium will address topics like the history of museum collections, provenance research, the special case of "restitution", different forms of cooperation as well as how these aspects can become part of ethnographic exhibitions.

The Herrenhausen Symposium "Positioning Ethnological Museums in the 21st Century" is open to researchers and experts working in this field. There is no fee for the attendance, but registration is essential.

SESSION TOPICS

1. History of Museum Collections / Provenance Research

In the public discourse there are calls for more in-depth research into the provenance of ethnological objects. The claim is that objects may only be exhibited when their provenance is untainted. But what should such provenance research entail in concrete terms? What are the necessary prerequisites? What results are expected? This session will explore examples of provenance research and the consequences for museum collections.

2. The Special Case of "Restitution". Legal Aspects and Others

Public interest in the topic of ethnological collections is frequently aroused by restitution issues. There are both: International standards that determine how to deal with these collections as well as the possibility of finding individual solutions. The reason for restitution claims vary, depending for instance on whether they refer to objects or human remains. Both aspects will be dealt with in this session.

3. Cooperation/Networking/Knowledge Transfer

The debates on provenance, restitution, ethnology in universities and museums, and the role of ethnological museums have given rise to various approaches to cooperation between museums and countries of provenance or source communities. This session will serve to illustrate and discuss examples of how to deal with collections in view of the foregoing discussions.

4. Exhibitions

How can topics like provenance, restitution, and the history of collections be addressed in actual exhibitions? How do museums position themselves when it comes to the history of their collections and their institution? And does this fit in with the goal and the function of museums to mediate knowledge about other (predominantly non-European) cultures and contribute towards better understanding between peoples?

REGISTRATION AND FURTHER INFORMATION

If you would like to attend the symposium or if you want to have detailed information about the program, venue etc. please visit http://www.volkswagenstiftung.de/en/events/calendar-of-events/details-of-events/news/detail/artikel/positioning-ethnological-museums-in-the-21st-century/marginal/4566.html.

RESEARCH IN MUSEUMS

The Herrenhausen Symposium "Positioning Ethnological Museums in the 21st Century" is part of the funding initiative "Research in Museums" which addresses small and medium-sized museums with different thematic scopes wanting to carry out research on their collections. Please visit our website to find out more: www.volkswagenstiftung.de/de/foerderung/personenundstrukturen/forschung-in-museen.html

Programm

June 21, 2015

3.00 p.m. WELCOME AND KEYNOTES

WELCOME ADDRESS
Wilhelm Krull, VolkswagenStiftung

INTRODUCTION
Wiebke Ahrndt, Übersee-Museum Bremen and Deutscher Museumsbund e.V.

KEYNOTES
Hermann Parzinger, Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz
Anthony Shelton, Museum of Anthropology, Vancouver

Followed by a panel discussion (Chair: Wilhelm Krull, VolkswagenStiftung)

4.30 p.m. Coffee Break

5.00 p.m. SESSION 1 - SPOTLIGHTS (Chair: Adelheid Wessler, VolkswagenStiftung)

Young Scientists talk about their research on ethnographic collections
followed by a panel discussion

7.00 p.m. Dinner with Dinner Speech (Chair: Wilhelm Krull, VolkswagenStiftung)

------------------------

June 22, 2015

9.00 a.m. SESSION 2: HISTORY OF MUSEUM COLLECTIONS / PROVENANCE RESEARCH

KEYNOTE
STATEMENTS AND EXAMPLES
followed by a panel discussion

10.30 a.m. Coffee Break

11.00 a.m. SESSION 2 CONTINUED

STATEMENTS AND EXAMPLES
followed by a panel discussion

11.45 a.m. INTERJECTION

12.30 p.m. Lunch

14.00 p.m. SESSION 3: THE SPECIAL CASE OF "RESTITUTION". LEGAL ASPECTS AND OTHERS

KEYNOTE
STATEMENTS
followed by a panel discussion

4.15 p.m. Coffee Break

4.45 p.m. SESSION 4: COOPERATION/NETWORKING/KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER

KEYNOTE
EXAMPLES
followed by a panel discussion

19.00 p.m. Dinner

------------------------

June 23, 2015

9.00 a.m. SESSION 5: EXHIBITIONS

KEYNOTE
EXAMPLES
followed by a panel discussion

10.45 a.m. Coffee Break

11.15 a.m. PLENARY DISCUSSION: FUTURE PROSPECTS OF ETHNOLOGICAL MUSEUMS (Chair: Wilhelm Krull, VolkswagenStiftung)

12.30 p.m. Lunch

1.30 p.m. End of Symposium

Kontakt

Volkswagen Foundation
Anorthe Kremers
Kastanienallee 35
30519 Hanover
Germany
Phone: +49 511/8381-260
Fax: +49 511/8381-4260

http://www.volkswagenstiftung.de/en/events/calendar-of-events/details-of-events/news/detail/artikel/positioning-ethnological-museums-in-the-21st-century/marginal/4566.html
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