SAMA 2007

The SAMA 2007 National Conference and Annual General Meeting will be held at Maropeng, Cradle of Humankind, which is situated just outside Johannesburg, Gauteng; from 29-31 May 2007.

Traditionally, the unique feature of museums is their collections and body of knowledge associated with the collections. Museums research, conserve and exhibit 'the real thing'. However, we live in a Virtual Age, a world dominated by products that exist only in cyber space and where the 'real object' and physical human contact are replaced with electronic 3D images and communications.

Modern communication technology provides both challenges and opportunities to museums. How do museums compete in a world where information and impressive visual presentations are available in various formats at the press of a button or click of the mouse? Does the original artefact still appeal to the general public? Have museums become superficial edutainment centres in an attempt to adapt content and style to the Virtual Age customer? Should museums broaden its scope beyond the traditional focus on collections? Can museums with their limited funding compete with electronic competitors? At the same time, how can museums utilise these communication tools to enhance the appeal of the original artefact?

DRAFT SAMA 2007 PROGRAMME

Tuesday, 29 May 2007

8:00 Registration

Session 1: Opening

Chair:

9:00 Opening by Session Chair

9:10 Opening address by President of SAMA

9:30 Keynote address by Dr Trish Hanekom, Maropeng Project

10:15 Tea

Session 2: Rethinking exhibitions

Chair:

10:45 Jo Noero, Noero Wolff Architects: Title to be confirmed

11:15 Bayworld Museum Staff: Virtual or Ritual – choice, challenge and change

11:45 Charmaine Naidoo, Natal Museum: Change is here to stay

12:05 Colin Payne, Iziko Museums of Cape Town: The new media fancy dress

12:25 Discussion

13:00 Lunch

Session 2: Rethinking exhibitions continued

Chair:

14:00 Dirk Dunez, Seipone Exhibits: Volkswagen Group Discovery Centre

14:20 Sarah Haines, HALEYSHARPE Southern Africa: Museums in a virtual age: International Trends and developments.

14:40 to be confirmed

15:00 Discussion

15:30 Tea

Session 3: Novice Speakers Competition

Chair

16:00 Wilhelmina Molefe, Mphebatho Museum

16:10 Ncamile Ngume, Kraaipan Museum

16:20 Ganson Naidoo, Natal Museum

16:40 Yvonne Lushaba, Absa Museum and Archives

Wednesday, 30 May 2007

Session 4: Re-evaluating the role of the original object

Chair:

8:30: Prof Francis Thackeray, NFI Transvaal Museum: “Mrs Ples and Mona Lisa: The real things”

8:50 Morgan Mosiapoa, Military Museum: Title to be provided

9:10 Dr Patricia Davison, Iziko Museums of Cape Town: Intimations of Reality: the role of museum objects in a digital age

9:30 Cheryl Stevens, Independent researcher: Consuming images: museums as storehouses of simulation

9:50 Discussion

10:30 Tea

Session 5: Technology in curatorship and research

Chair:

11:00 Ekkehard Hans, private consultant: New tasks for Museums in the Virtual Age.

11:20 Prof Julie Wells, Rhodes University: Technology and the democratisation of heritage, potential for community ownership.

11:40 Kholiwe Dubula, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity: The use of the National Fish Collection and the interesting fishes preserved in South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity.

12:00 Mpho Jeffrey Molapisi, Albany Museum: Museum anthropology in the 21^st century: obstacles and challenges.

12:20 Talita Fourie, NFI Pioneer Museum: Title to be confirmed

12:40 Discussion

12:55 Announcements

13:00 Lunch

14:00 Tour of Maropeng

Thursday, 31 May 2007

Session 6: Managing Collections

Chair:

8:30 Prof Amareswar Galla, Vice-President of ICOM: International Digitisation Efforts

8:50 Dave Hart, Manager of the National Inventory, SAHRA: Digitisation in Heritage Management.

9:10 Kholiwe Dubula, Willem Coetzer, Jerraleigh Kruger & Ofer Gon, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity: A new custom-designed project management system for the National Fish Collection at SAIAB – application and implementation.

9:30 Neela Dullabh, Robert Luyt and Mohau Tlali, Local History Museums, Durban: A long and winding road – digitizing the Local History Museums Collections.

9:50 Discussion

10:30 Tea

Session 7: Report and AGM

11:10 Sibongile Simelane: NHC digitisation working group

11:20 Prof Jatti Bredekamp, ICOM-SA

11:30 SAMA AGM

13:00 Lunch

14:00 Rob Luyt: SAMA Design Awards

Session 8: Market place

Presentations by exhibitors

15:00 Tea

Session 9: Developing global audiences

Chair

15:30 David Larsen, Africa Media On-Line: Title to be confirmed

15:50 Willem Coetzer, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity: Towards a Virtual Museum: The SAIAB Information Portal.

16:10 To be confirmed

16:30 Discussion


HOME PAGE TTP HOME PAGE	SAMA 2007 National Conference The SAMA 2007 National Conference and Annual General Meeting will be held at Maropeng, Cradle of Humankind, which is situated just outside Johannesburg, Gauteng; from 29-31 May 2007. Museums in a Virtual Age Traditionally, the unique feature of museums is their collections and body of knowledge associated with the collections. Museums research, conserve and exhibit 'the real thing'. However, we live in a Virtual Age, a world dominated by products that exist only in cyber space and where the 'real object' and physical human contact are replaced with electronic 3D images and communications. Modern communication technology provides both challenges and opportunities to museums. How do museums compete in a world where information and impressive visual presentations are available in various formats at the press of a button or click of the mouse? Does the original artefact still appeal to the general public? Have museums become superficial edutainment centres in an attempt to adapt content and style to the Virtual Age customer? Should museums broaden its scope beyond the traditional focus on collections? Can museums with their limited funding compete with electronic competitors? At the same time, how can museums utilise these communication tools to enhance the appeal of the original artefact? >>> CLICK HERE FOR CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FORMS DRAFT SAMA 2007 PROGRAMME Tuesday, 29 May 2007 8:00 Registration Session 1: Opening Chair: 9:00 Opening by Session Chair 9:10 Opening address by President of SAMA 9:30 Keynote address by Dr Trish Hanekom, Maropeng Project 10:15 Tea Session 2: Rethinking exhibitions Chair: 10:45 Jo Noero, Noero Wolff Architects: Title to be confirmed 11:15 Bayworld Museum Staff: Virtual or Ritual – choice, challenge and change 11:45 Charmaine Naidoo, Natal Museum: Change is here to stay 12:05 Colin Payne, Iziko Museums of Cape Town: The new media fancy dress 12:25 Discussion 13:00 Lunch Session 2: Rethinking exhibitions continued Chair: 14:00 Dirk Dunez, Seipone Exhibits: Volkswagen Group Discovery Centre 14:20 Sarah Haines, HALEYSHARPE Southern Africa: Museums in a virtual age: International Trends and developments. 14:40 to be confirmed 15:00 Discussion 15:30 Tea Session 3: Novice Speakers Competition Chair 16:00 Wilhelmina Molefe, Mphebatho Museum 16:10 Ncamile Ngume, Kraaipan Museum 16:20 Ganson Naidoo, Natal Museum 16:40 Yvonne Lushaba, Absa Museum and Archives Wednesday, 30 May 2007 Session 4: Re-evaluating the role of the original object Chair: 8:30: Prof Francis Thackeray, NFI Transvaal Museum: “Mrs Ples and Mona Lisa: The real things” 8:50 Morgan Mosiapoa, Military Museum: Title to be provided 9:10 Dr Patricia Davison, Iziko Museums of Cape Town: Intimations of Reality: the role of museum objects in a digital age 9:30 Cheryl Stevens, Independent researcher: Consuming images: museums as storehouses of simulation 9:50 Discussion 10:30 Tea Session 5: Technology in curatorship and research Chair: 11:00 Ekkehard Hans, private consultant: New tasks for Museums in the Virtual Age. 11:20 Prof Julie Wells, Rhodes University: Technology and the democratisation of heritage, potential for community ownership. 11:40 Kholiwe Dubula, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity: The use of the National Fish Collection and the interesting fishes preserved in South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity. 12:00 Mpho Jeffrey Molapisi, Albany Museum: Museum anthropology in the 21^st century: obstacles and challenges. 12:20 Talita Fourie, NFI Pioneer Museum: Title to be confirmed 12:40 Discussion 12:55 Announcements 13:00 Lunch 14:00 Tour of Maropeng Thursday, 31 May 2007 Session 6: Managing Collections Chair: 8:30 Prof Amareswar Galla, Vice-President of ICOM: International Digitisation Efforts 8:50 Dave Hart, Manager of the National Inventory, SAHRA: Digitisation in Heritage Management. 9:10 Kholiwe Dubula, Willem Coetzer, Jerraleigh Kruger & Ofer Gon, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity: A new custom-designed project management system for the National Fish Collection at SAIAB – application and implementation. 9:30 Neela Dullabh, Robert Luyt and Mohau Tlali, Local History Museums, Durban: A long and winding road – digitizing the Local History Museums Collections. 9:50 Discussion 10:30 Tea Session 7: Report and AGM 11:10 Sibongile Simelane: NHC digitisation working group 11:20 Prof Jatti Bredekamp, ICOM-SA 11:30 SAMA AGM 13:00 Lunch 14:00 Rob Luyt: SAMA Design Awards Session 8: Market place Presentations by exhibitors 15:00 Tea Session 9: Developing global audiences Chair 15:30 David Larsen, Africa Media On-Line: Title to be confirmed 15:50 Willem Coetzer, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity: Towards a Virtual Museum: The SAIAB Information Portal. 16:10 To be confirmed 16:30 Discussion

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