Helping Share Indigenous Knowledge Globally – Kickstarter campaign launches
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Elements of indigenous knowledge is dying with its old people. Fortunately there are arts and cultural practitioners who have made it their business to learn from the old people, and carry this knowledge into their professional sectors as a means of keeping the knowledge and skills alive.
Two such people are Tarisi Vunidilo of Fiji and Gina Matchitt from Aotearoa/NZ who have been selected to join global alumnae at the British Council's International Museum Academy in Liverpool and London, in July 2016. Selection is competitive and open globally. Their selection speaks to the level of regard for their knowledge and leadership.
A Kickstarter campaign launched this week seeks to find the additional 50% funding (NZD$10,000) to get the two women to the UK.
“British Council was given funding for one person, but decided to split the funding in order to get two people to the academy because both had compelling reasons to be there regarding their contribution to their specific cultural sector,” said Director NZ & the Pacific, Ingrid Leary.
“It makes much more sense in terms of sustainability and long-term impact, to have two people attend.”
Having both attend would also mean a local support system for each of them as they joined the global alumnae, and strength in numbers within that alumnae, she said.
Tarisi is an artist and writer and regarded as a living taonga (treasure) in the NZ and Pacific Museums sector. She is a global leader on the issue of cultural intellectual property rights and the illicit trafficking of cultural property -- a significant emerging global issue; as well as being an authority on issues and opportunities that modern technologies pose for indigenous peoples regarding cultural treasures and collections. She is one of the few Fijian and Pacific Island people who work in the heritage sector.
“The Pacific region -- including New Zealand and Australia -- needs more people trained in the field of museum research and study,” says Tarisi.
“I believe that this UK course will enable many of the indigenous people that I have worked with in the past to develop an open mind as far as their taonga/treasures are concerned. Our indigenous communities have to be reminded that their cultural property can bring them economic enterprises opportunities that will benefit them today, as well as their future generations. I am sure my attending this academy will reduce the gap between local communities and museums that hold these treasures, most of whom have been holding them from over a century ago.”
Gina Matchitt is an established artist and emerging Maori curator whose star is on the rise. She is an intern of Toi Maori, which promotes Maori arts and culture, and she is already known as an expert on Maori museums knowledge. There is only a small number of Maori working within the Museums sector in NZ.
“The museums and galleries involved at the Academy are highly regarded nationally and internationally. The workshops are also important in terms of networking with international museums and museum professionals. They also offer on going mentorship after the course. Each workshop encompasses diverse areas of museum practice which is relevant experience for me as an emerging Maori museum professional,” says Gina.
The vision of the International Museum Academy is to provide emerging museum and gallery leaders from around the world with the knowledge and skills necessary to increase the growth and sustainability of galleries and museums in their countries. It is also a unique opportunity for knowledge sharing back to the sector, enabling global museums leadership to learn reciprocally from the unique indigenous perspective that these two participants will bring.
Participants will gain exclusive access to world class collections, network with museum and gallery directors and develop strategic plans for their institutions. Courses will offer an innovative mix of seminars with leading UK museum professionals, creative workshops, hands on sessions and ‘behind the scenes’ tours. The programme will provide a collaborative environment for sharing best practice and exploring common challenges, as well as the opportunity to participate in a global network of alumni. Ongoing support will be given through one-to-one mentorship.
Contributing to the Kickstarter campaign gives the public an opportunity to bring indigenous approach and knowledge to the museum sector globally. It also ensures the voice of Maori and Melanesia are heard as the sector evolves and develops. This in turn, may well add to the likelihood of further involvement of other indigenous groups in the museum skills development arena. It is also a way of ensuring that Maori and Melanesia are privy to the sharing of best practice, exploration of common challenges, networking across the sector and mentorship that is available through the programme.
Please support our campaign – donate and/or share the link on your personal social media platforms!
https://www.britishcouncil.org/cultural-skills-unit/projects/international-museum-academy
For more information: contact ingrid.leary@britishcouncil.org.nz
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Living Indigenous Museums Taonga (Treasures) Skills Exchange Kickstarter campaign, International Museum Academy