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AGM 2002 |
Museums Association Of The Caribbean’s AGM in Cuba
The Museum Director attended the Museums Association Of The Caribbean’s (MAC) Annual General Meeting in Havana, Cuba during the period 21st to 27th October 2002. Havana was an ideal setting for the meeting. Cuba has seen how important culture and heritage is not only for the local population but also in encouraging tourism. The mix of new development, restoration and conservation should be seen as a role model for many countries in the region. On the many official visits to historic buildings and museums all the delegates were very impressed at how heritage and culture was taking a central role in the redevelopment of the city, as well as the quality of the displays we were seeing.
As some readers may remember the AGM for 2001 was held at the Turks and Caicos National Museum. One thing that came out of this meeting in Cuba was how favourably the AGM in Grand Turk compared with that being held in Cuba. In many cases delegates had felt the Turks and Caicos National Museum had provided a more homely and intimate meeting than Cuba and all looked back on fondness to the events on Grand Turk in 2001. This was very satisfying considering the difference in available facilities and funding between Cuba and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Committee of the Museums Association Of The Caribbean
During the AGM various positions on the Board of MAC became vacant. As stated above many of the members present remembered with fondness the AGM held in the Turks and Caicos Islands the year before, and the Turks and Caicos National Museum was nominated for one of the vacant Board positions. This was an honour and would allow the Museum to gainer higher international profile as well as have a say in how MAC grows. The nomination was accepted on behalf of the Museum by the Director who then took the Museum’s place on the Board for the rest of the AGM. It is worth pointing out here that this was an institutional nomination, rather than for an individual.
The Turks and Caicos National Museum only has a one year commitment to the Board, but can be nominated at next year’s AGM for a three year position. This commitment will see the Museum Director attend two Board Meetings that have been provisionally booked for Jamaica in January 2003 and Tortola for the AGM in October 2003.
This nomination and acceptance should be seen as a great honour for the Museum, and a step that the Museum needs to take to get it onto a greater international stage. The countries/Islands represented by the present Board members include Cuba, St Lucia, Bahamas, Jamaica, and St Kitts.
Presentation of a paper
Two of the days saw the delegates give presentations. The theme for this years papers was “Museums and Cultural Identity: Bridging the Gap”. Many of the papers given were by the Cuban delegates, who gave descriptions of their organisations and the work being carried out, whilst the international delegates generally concentrated on new work being undertaken by their organisations.
The Museum Director felt that this would be the ideal forum to disclose some of the Recent Research of the Turks and Caicos National Museum and presented a paper entitled:
The Trouvadore. The Search for a Slave Ship and its Cultural Impact
This 30-minute presentation gave a background of the research work undertaken on the story of the Trouvadore. It gave the information to a wider audience who would be able to assist in the Museum’s research that was taking place, or will need to take place, in Cuba, Bahamas, Europe and Africa. Some very positive feedback was received and an offer of support came from Keith Tinker, Director of the National Museum of the Bahamas
The Museum is seeking to give more papers in the international arena to raise not only the Museum’s profile, but also that of the country and its heritage and culture. It is also important as it can also be used to illicit funds and sponsorship, as well as aid in the research work. It also allows debate on the subject, which may lead to new avenues of research, or to already published material that may be difficult to find.
The AGM in Cuba can be seen as a great success for the Museum and clearly indicates that the Museum is starting to take more of a role in the international arena.
Contents of this story:
Turks and Caicos National Museum
Nigel Sadler |
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