Appreciating the Power and Promise of Museums 8/2/2015 VPIP MU VPIP Vice Provost Handy Williamson MU International ProgramsUNIVER S ITY o f MI SS OURI National Museum of Korea Seoul, Korea Yeongwol Yonsei Forum, Korea Danjong Historical Museum Yeongwol, Korea MU International Programs The Wind Institute

8/2/2015 VPIP MU VPIP 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 2 MU International Programs The Wind Institute

8/2/2015 VPIP MU VPIP 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 3 MU International Programs The Wind Institute

8/2/2015 VPIP MU VPIP International Museum Day  May 18 was designated as International Museum Day in  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 MU International Programs The Wind Institute

MUSEUMS: Special Power and Purpose 8/2/2015 VPIP MU VPIP  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 5 MU International Programs The Wind Institute

MUSEUMS: Special Power and Purpose (Cont.) 8/2/2015 VPIP MU VPIP  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 6 MU International Programs The Wind Institute

MUSEUMS: Special Power and Purpose (Cont.) 8/2/2015 VPIP MU VPIP  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. 7 MU International Programs The Wind Institute

8/2/2015 VPIP MU VPIP 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. 8 MU International Programs The Wind Institute

8/2/2015 VPIP MU VPIP The Louvre Museum The Louvre Museum Paris, 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 9 MU International Programs The Wind Institute

8/2/2015 VPIP MU VPIP 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 10 MU International Programs The Wind Institute

8/2/2015 VPIP MU VPIP The League of Nations Museum The League of Nations Museum Geneva, 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 11 MU International Programs The Wind Institute

8/2/2015 VPIP MU VPIP The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute The Armenian Genocide Museum Yerevan, 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 12 MU International Programs The Wind Institute

8/2/2015 VPIP MU VPIP The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Washington, 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. 13 MU International Programs The Wind Institute

8/2/2015 VPIP MU VPIP The Smithsonian National Museum of African Art Smithsonian National Museum of African Art Washington, 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 14 MU International Programs The Wind Institute

8/2/2015 VPIP MU VPIP The National Civil Rights Museum The National Civil Rights Museum Memphis, 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 15 MU International Programs The Wind Institute

8/2/2015 VPIP MU VPIP 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  MUSEUMS in Denver paid 9,000 employees more than $ 85 million in  The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City generates approximately $ 45.7 million, yearly 16 MU International Programs The Wind Institute

8/2/2015 VPIP MU VPIP MUSEUMS in Colorado generated an astounding $ 1.3 billion in the statewide economic activity in 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 17 MU International Programs The Wind Institute

8/2/2015 VPIP MU VPIP MUSEUMS in Denver paid 9,000 employees more than $ 85 million in 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 18 MU International Programs The Wind Institute

8/2/2015 VPIP MU VPIP 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 19 MU International Programs The Wind Institute

8/2/2015 VPIP MU VPIP 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? 20 MU International Programs The Wind Institute

8/2/2015 VPIP MU VPIP 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 21 MU International Programs The Wind Institute

8/2/2015 VPIP MU VPIP MUSEUMS & Memory : Bridges Between the Past and the Future! 22 MU International Programs The Wind Institute