Commonwealth Association of Museums Conference 24

The theme for the conference was ‘The View from Here: Sustainability, Community and Knowledge’.

The conference enabled delegates from across the Commonwealth to share museum experiences and challenges from their perspectives, helping to identify sector-wide commonalities despite geographical differences.

The conference program included presentations and workshops on topical issues around ways to create connections and collaborations between diasporic communities represented by museums, sector wide innovations, tackling live issues and significant social change. The importance of knowledge sharing and professional development with museums across the globe was also highlighted with the delegates from the Pacific nations noting more support is needed as they face the challenge of how to protect their cultural history against climate change.

The conference program included presentations and workshops delivered by indigenous speakers which addressed areas including cultural custodianship and museum practice relating to the management of indigenous collections in museums, the revitalisation of indigenous languages and their use in museum exhibitions and the consideration of indigenous knowledge in collection management of natural science collections and the naming of newly identified.

Alongside the CAM conference, a special Museums in the Pacific Network initiative was held with senior museum representatives from nine Pacific countries. The Network initiative focused on strengthening relations, knowledge sharing, and professional development.