ICMEMO – International Committee for Memorial Museums in Remembrance of the Victims of Public Crimes
22 August 2022, 16:00–17:30, Prague Congress Centre
HYBRID FORMAT
Organizing committees: ICMEMO, EUROM – European Observatory on Memory, International Coalition of Sites of Conscience
Museums as Instruments of Propaganda
The session will explore the extent to which governments and other institutions dictate the historical and memorial message to fit a political view and agenda, and the role of governments in the closure of museums and memorials and removal or placement of key staff. We hope to gain an understanding of how ideologies have impacted museums, positively or negatively, and an understanding of how ICMEMO can offer support so museums may continue to effectively and ethically engage with the public. Linked there is a brief survey to help in refining conference themes. It is anonymous to encourage participation. Part One provides general questions about your museum. In Part Two, we would ask you to briefly formulate your views on this issue. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yBp_nfZJmp_ae8MO5qKoK500Qs-XSgvQ/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=109104197251624666384&rtpof=true&sd=true
23 August 2022, 14:30–16:00, Prague Congress Centre
HYBRID FORMAT
Organizing committees: ICMEMO, EUROM – European Observatory on Memory, International Coalition of Sites of Conscience
Museums as Open Doors to Dialogue
Memorial museums are particularly sensitive to the power of museums to create stories that in turn develop identity, as well as provide a platform for debate. They can counterbalance political developments by opening their doors to global issues such as growing prejudice, discrimination, anti-Semitism, hostilities and social unrest. But also by focusing on politically sensitive historical events that are still relevant today (slavery, decolonisation, etc.). It is about how museums can best serve their communities and play a more active role in promoting dialogue and understanding with a more inclusive, open-doors policy.
23 August 2022, 16:30–18:00, Prague Congress Centre
HYBRID FORMAT
Organizing committees: ICMEMO, IC ETHICS, EUROM – European Observatory on Memory, International Coalition of Sites of Conscience
Ethics & Self-Empowerment
In general, museums are dependent on the set of rules within which they exist, rules that relate to the political, social, and cultural consensus that frame their raison d’etre. What space do they actually have to explore and expand within these parameters– and to which degree could they go beyond given systems if ethical self-questioning demands new approaches? Should museums generate content esteemed of importance to them and their communities beyond their established purpose or lurking political pressures?