Appreciating the Power and Promise of Museums

Appreciating the Power and Appreciating the Power and Promise of Museums Promise of Museums

04/20/23 MU VPIPVPIP

Vice Provost Handy Williamson

MU International Programs

UNIVERSITY of MISSOURI

National Museum of Korea

Seoul, Korea

Yeongwol Yonsei Forum, Korea

Danjong Historical MuseumYeongwol, Korea


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Meaning and “Museum”

In Greek, it means “Worship Muse Place”.

In Greek mythology, “Muses” were 9 Goddess in charge of history, astronomy, poetry, epics, arts, etc, representing the Greek cultural at all

Muses, considered of the source of the knowledge

Evolved “a place for the public display of knowledge”

The oldest public museums in the world opened in Rome in Renaissance, the Capitoline Museums

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International Council of Museums (ICOM)

Established in Paris, France in 1946

A professional network of 30,000 global museum communities

A consultative organization with the United Nations Economic and Social Council

Has 117 national committees and 31 international committees being engaged in different museum activities and specialties

Leads a diplomatic forum and global think tank

Devoted to culture and knowledge promotion

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International Museum Day

May 18 was designated as International Museum Day in 1977.

Initiated by the International Council of Museums

Almost 30,000 museums in more than 100 countries evolved in the celebration of the International Museum Day

Improve awareness on how important contributions museums could make in the development of society

Specific themes raised to be discussed each year, such as “Museums for social harmony” in 2010 and “Museums and Memory” in 2011

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MUSEUMS: Special Power and Purpose


Engines of economic, social, cultural, and political development, empowerment, and change

Vehicles to eradicate poverty, food scarcity, crime, illiteracy, environmental destruction, and global disease

Offer a view into the past and a window into a new future of cultural renaissance

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MUSEUMS: Special Power and Purpose(Cont.)


Foster a global memory

Provide physical grounds upon which the chains of discrimination, fear, cultural domination, and social inequity can be broken

Allow cultures to come together in a unified and sometimes sanctified place

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MUSEUMS: Special Power and Purpose(Cont.)


Help governments look to past legacies to chart a course for future decisions

Create windows of opportunity on a global scale

Museums can be all of these.

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Examples of Great Museums

The Louvre Museum, Paris, France

Rwanda's Genocide Museum, Kigali, Rwanda

The League of Nations Museum, Geneva, Switzerland

The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, Yerevan, Republic of Armenian

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.

The Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.

The National Civil Rights Museum, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.A.

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The Louvre Museum

The Louvre MuseumParis, France

Year: Established in 1793 Location: Paris, France Features:

• The first modern museum in the world• One of the five largest museum in the world• A gorgeous palace of arts• Three originals of the world masterpieces: (1) Mona Lisa; (2) Winged Victory of Samothrace; and (3) The Venus de Milo

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Rwanda's Genocide Museum

The Kigali Memorial Center Kigali City, Rwanda

Year: Established in 2004 Location: Kigali City, Rwanda Features:

• A permanent memorial to those who fell victims to the genocide • A place for people to grieve those they lost• A clear reminder of the cost of ignorance

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The League of Nations Museum

The League of Nations MuseumGeneva, Switzerland

Year: Established in 1946 Location: Geneva, Switzerland Features:

• Illustrates the significance of the League in the history of international relations • Highlights the historical collections of the League of Nations Archives.• Engages in the world peace

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The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute

The Armenian Genocide MuseumYerevan, Republic of Armenia

Year: Established in 1995 Location: Yerevan, Republic of Armenia Features:

• Exhibits the textual and visual documentation related to the first genocide of the 20th century. • Develops an academic institution on Genocide Studies in the Republic of Armenia • Raises international awareness among the international community on the first genocide of the 20th century

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The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

The United States Holocaust Memorial MuseumWashington, D.C., U.S.A.

Year: Established in 1993 Location: Washington D.C., U.S.A. Features:

• Inspires citizens and leaders worldwide to confront hatred, promote human dignity, and prevent genocide.• Provides a powerful lesson in the fragility of freedom, the myth of progress, the need for vigilance in preserving democratic values.

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The Smithsonian National Museum of African Art

Smithsonian National Museum of African ArtWashington, D.C., U.S.A.

Year: Established in 1964 Location: Washington, D.C., U.S.A. Features:

• The only national museum in the U.S. dedicated to the collection, exhibition, conservation and study of the arts of Africa• The largest publicly held collection of contemporary African art in the U.S., representing nearly every country in Africa dating from ancient to contemporary times

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The National Civil Rights Museum

The National Civil Rights MuseumMemphis, U.S.A.

Year: Established in 1991 Location: Memphis, U.S.A. Features:

• Helps understand the American Civil Rights Movement• Illustrates the chapters of the African-American’s fight for civil rights, social justice and equality

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Economic Impacts of Museums

MUSEUMS bring new visitors, jobs, and economic growth to the local, regional, provincial, and state economies

MUSEUMS in Colorado generated an astounding $ 1.3 billion in the statewide economic activity in 2003.

MUSEUMS in Denver paid 9,000 employees more than $ 85 million in 2003.

The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City generates approximately $ 45.7 million, yearly

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MUSEUMS in Colorado generated an astounding $ 1.3 billion in the statewide economic activity in 2003.

The Museum of Outdoor Arts Englewood, Colorado

Year: Established in 1981 Location: Englewood, Colorado, U.S.A. Features:

• Dedicated to bringing the vitality of the arts into the everyday life of the people of Colorado.• Creates environments that promote a range of sculpture, as well as performance art

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MUSEUMS in Denver paid 9,000 employees more than $ 85 million in 2003.

The Denver Art Museum Denver, Colorado

Year: Established in 1890 Location: Denver, Colorado, U.S.A. Features:

• Enriches the lives of Colorado and Rocky Mountain residents through the acquisition, preservation, and presentation of art works• Known for its collection of American Indian art

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MUSEUM: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City generates approximately $ 45.7 million, yearly

The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Year: Established in 1955 Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.A. Features:

• Preserves and exhibits internationally renowned collections of Western art and artifacts • Interprets the history and culture of the cowboy dating from the Spanish colonial era to the 20th century

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Questions for US to Consider

What further role can museums play in the disappearance of racial stigma?

How can museums inform a culture and bring the contributions of cultural, ethnic, linguistic, and racial minorities into the mainstream society?

What can and should museums highlight as we head into the future

What and who should the museum in the future represent?

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Museums and the Future

How will museums of the future look? Will they be virtual, more technological, or take on new physical features and characteristics? Who should they represent and what messages should they send?

How can we ensure that they remain physical reminders of the mistakes we hope to avoid, the future we would like to become, and the world we hope to leave for future generations

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MUSEUMS & Memory : Bridges Between the Past and the Future!

The Inchon Bridge

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Documents

Appreciating the Power and Promise of Museums