SAMA accreditation

Foundation
The Museums Association UK with the support of the Carnegie Trust undertook a survey of the status of commonwealth museums in Africa in 1932. In their report of South Africa the Carnegie Commissioners noted that some excellent museums existed but that they were isolated and would benefit from the creation of a museums association as well as a publication dealing with curatorial practice in the sub tropics.

Directly a standing committee of state-aided institutions was formed which saw the need for museum cooperation. Their first attempt to hold a meeting of museum representatives failed but a second was prompted by the Union government with sponsorship from the Carnegie Trust. So it was that 22 delegates representing 19 institutions in Southern Africa met in Kimberley on 23 rd April 1936.

The proposal to form a museums association was unanimously carried and the constitution drafted with the following aims:

Meeting the objectives 1936 – 1990
Co-operation between diverse and widely scattered institutions was achieved by holding a conference in a different centre each year, including memorable meetings in neighboring states. That attendance has grown from 30 to over 387 illustrates the need for this forum for the exchange of ideas and social contact. The rapid establishment of new museums and expansion of museum posts meant that only a small proportion of members could attend annual conferences. To encourage museological activity at a local level, branches of SAMA were established in the Western cape (1975) followed by the Transvaal(now SAMA North), Eastern Cape (1984), KwaZulu Natal (1984) and SAMA Central (1991) to serve the Free State and Northern Cape. After 1994 further groups were formed in Gauteng North and South, Mpumalanga, Northern Province and North-West.

Since 1936 conference proceedings and research reports have been published in the Associations bulletin. SAMAB which in 1988 was joined by a newsletter SAMANTIX(now changed to SAMANTICS) keep members up to date with news and developments nationally and at a branch level; while SAMA’s Guide to Museums of southern Africa (1978) was for many years the only directory of museums on the sub-continent.

In tackling its goals it is the conference that provides the spur to SAMA Council for action. There have been notable achievements by members who volunteered their time and expertise over the years.

Improvement of museum service through the introduction of the SAMA Code of Ethics (1979) followed by the Documentation Data Standard (1987), and minimum standards for correct curatorial practice were laid down in Professional standards: Accreditation handbook for southern African Museums (1989). In the same year the publication Museum Education and Communication: guidelines for policy and practice set the scene for the development of museum educational services and has been widely acclaimed.
In addition to running Technicians’ and Education Officers’ conferences and training workshops, SAMA was the examining body for southern African candidates studying for Museums Association (UK) Diplomas and Certificates from 1955 to 1993.
SAMA was instrumental in the establishment of the National Diploma in Museum in Museum Techniques at the Cape Technikon (1978-1986) and supported post graduate museum diplomas at the Universities of Pretoria and Stellenbosch from 1976.
SAMA conducted in-service training for museum staff who had completed Standard 8, which let to the award of SAMA’s Technical Certificate (1963-1995). This training was open to all ranks in museums and certification was officially recognised.

From its inception SAMA saw its role as regional, rather than purely South African in scope and membership was open to all museum workers regardless of nationality. In order to make itself accessible to members north of the Limpopo during the apartheid years, and to retain contact with the mainstream museum movement, SAMA officially changed its name to Southern African Museums Association from 1975 to 1995. In this way it forfeited status as a national organization with the advantages of official recognition of museum work as a profession and the possibility of the principles SAMA frequently conflicted with official “own affairs” policy and, after bitter confrontation at the 51 st Conference, strongly re-affirmed its position in the 1987 Pietermaritzburg Declaration for South African museums.

1987 Pietermaritzburg Declaration for South African Museums
We the members of the Southern African Museums Association, declare our earnest desire:

that South African museums in their various programmes purposefully direct their efforts to promote the dissemination of information to and enjoyment of museums by all South Africans;
the South African museums actively assist all our various communities better to understand the circumstances of both their separate and common history so as to give them a clearer view of their present relationships and thereby how they can be more harmoniously involved one with the other in the future;
that South African museums sincerely strive to be seen to belong to all South African irrespective of colour, creed or gender;
that all South African be encouraged to express openly their views as to how the country’s museums may better serve the interests of all in South Africa.

Concurrent with the 1987 declaration SAMA embarked on a process of democratization. The constitution was amended in 1990 to make provision for election of branch representatives to Council and objectives expanded to include encouragement of museological research, promoting the use of museums, furthering of professional training, and safeguarding the interests of members. There followed a period of intense consultation where members discussed SAMA’s mission (Port Elizabeth, 1990), a liaison strategy for museums ( Pretoria 1994), and a corporate plan for SAMA ( Kimberley, 1996). It was a time when SAMA was also an active participant in the many workshops arranged to make proposals for policy and development of the museum sector in a New South Africa.

TOP

Developments in the 1990’s
Major strides were made in the 1990’s.

Towards a more efficient organization

With the appointment of an administration manager, working as Futurserve, in Grahamstown in 1997;
With a portfolio driven Council which has prioritized key issues
With the publication of a Handbook for Conference Organisers (1997) which undergoes continuous revision.

Towards training
With the introduction of the National Diploma: Museum Technology, at Technikon SA and the establishment of the SAMA School of Conservation in 1994. A National Training Strategy was adopted in 1997 which gave rise to the provision of fast-track training for heritage workers conducted by the Robben Island Museum, University of Cape Town and University of the Western Cape in 1998. The same year, a branch of the SAMA School of Conservation was established in Pretoria.

Towards improved curatorial practice

With the introduction of a grading system and issue of revised Accreditation Handbooks in 1996. In the same year the SAMA planning workshop on sensitive materials defined points for a “best practice framework” to negotiate and produce a policy on human remains and other sensitive material that will be acceptable to both the professional and civil sectors.

Towards security of South African heritage

Through participation in the AFRICOM programme to update museum collection inventories, and essential step in the defence against illegal traffic in cultural heritage. SAMA was also instrumental in the appointment, in 1998, of an officer by the SAPS to investigate illegal trade in cultural material and thefts from collections

Towards heritage tourism

With the issue of the Tourism and Marketing Plan in 1995 and the Tshwane Declaration for Heritage Tourism (1997), which sets out guidelines for sensitive, sustainable and proactive use of heritage resources

Towards transformation of museums

With the issue, in 1997, of an Affirmative Action policy document, and by adopting Shifting the Paradigm, SAMA’s corporate plan which sets out strategic initiatives within 10 key performance areas such as heritage resource development, service in a diverse society, membership, communication, training, marketing, cultural advocacy, and managing change;

With setting up of a Transformation Task team at the Kruger National Park Conference in 1998.

With the creation of a transformation portfolio on Council in 1999.

SAMA in a new century
The four pillars of a profession, namely, service to society, specialized knowledge grounded in research, training, and ethical standards of practice are in place and stand firm. Where in the past emphasis has been laid on improvement of museum service, attention in the future will also be given to the welfare of museum workers who deliver that service. In the 21 st century SAMA will be striving towards three main goals as laid down in its mission statement.

TOP

THE MISSION STATEMENT
As a professional body concerned with South Africa’s heritage, the South African Museums Association will provide leadership in the management of the country’s diverse natural and cultural heritage for the enrichment of all people so as to:

SAMA definition of a Museum….
Museums are dynamic and accountable public institutions which both shape and manifest the consciousness, identities, and understanding of communities and individuals in relation to their natural, historical and cultural environments, through collection, documentation, conservation, research and education programmes that are responsive to the needs to society.

SAMA Beyond 2000
The dawn of the millennium saw SAMA in transformation with the election of the first Council that was partially representative of the demographics of South African society. Ms Rooksana Omar was the first person of colour to be elected President for 2001 - 2003, followed in 2003 - 2005 by Mr Khanyile Jezi, the first black president.Both presidents made concerted efforts, to expand SAMA’s contacts abroad, especially through association with ICOM, AFRICOM and The Museums Association (UK) and to lobby SAMA’s cause at home. Ms Omar addressed the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Arts Culture Science and Technology while under Mr Jezi’s leadership, Council successfully negotiated a substantial grant from the Department of Arts and Culture in 2004 for the Transformation Training Programme (TTP) the purpose of which is to facilitate transformation in museums by developing and implementing essential skills training programmes for best practice. The TTP comprises 4 sub-programmes:

The adoption of a new constitution by unanimous postal vote among members in 2000 (published 2001);
The formulation and publication of Deaccessioning guidelines in 2001;
Publication of South African Museums Association: a brief history in 2001;
A draft document, A Guide to Ethics for South African Museums produced through a process of consultation at workshops in the regions, was tabled at the 65 th SAMA Conference in Port Elizabeth and accepted with minor amendments. This together with the ICOM Code of Professional Ethics (Barcelona, 2001) was published by SAMA in 2004.
Renegotiation of the agreement with Futurserve to relieve the branches from routine administration and logistical work in organizing conferences so that their committees can concentrate on museological matters.

The period has not been without its disappointments. The SAMA School of Conservation was forced to close down through lack of finance and administrative support. Also with a fall in membership SAMA Central was abandoned, branches in Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North West fell away and the branches in Gauteng amalgamated to form SAMA North. At the time of writing negotiations are under way to start a branch in the Free State.

SAMA has also introduced several awards to give recognition for quality performance and to encourage members to do better. To the long established FitzSimons Award for the best paper presented at a national conference and the President’s award for the best paper by a first time speaker at a conference has been added the Novice Speaker’s Award for the best paper by a new recruit to the profession. Publication Design Awards to stimulate awareness of the importance of design in museum publications were introduced in 1999 and the SAMA Museum Friend of the year Award in 2000, which has only once been awarded,. The only branch to make an award has been Gauteng North with its SAMA Bursary Award for excellence in post-graduate heritage studies.

This up-date has been compiled by R M Tietz,12 August 2005.


	HOME PAGE CONTACT US		Brief history of SAMA Foundation The Museums Association UK with the support of the Carnegie Trust undertook a survey of the status of commonwealth museums in Africa in 1932. In their report of South Africa the Carnegie Commissioners noted that some excellent museums existed but that they were isolated and would benefit from the creation of a museums association as well as a publication dealing with curatorial practice in the sub tropics. Directly a standing committee of state-aided institutions was formed which saw the need for museum cooperation. Their first attempt to hold a meeting of museum representatives failed but a second was prompted by the Union government with sponsorship from the Carnegie Trust. So it was that 22 delegates representing 19 institutions in Southern Africa met in Kimberley on 23 rd April 1936. The proposal to form a museums association was unanimously carried and the constitution drafted with the following aims: to improve and extend the museum service in South Africa to encourage helpful relations amongst museums of all kinds… other educational and kindred institutions, and persons interested in the aims and objects of the Association: and to increase and diffuse knowledge of all matters relating to museums and art galleries and to apply such knowledge to South African conditions. Meeting the objectives 1936 – 1990 Co-operation between diverse and widely scattered institutions was achieved by holding a conference in a different centre each year, including memorable meetings in neighboring states. That attendance has grown from 30 to over 387 illustrates the need for this forum for the exchange of ideas and social contact. The rapid establishment of new museums and expansion of museum posts meant that only a small proportion of members could attend annual conferences. To encourage museological activity at a local level, branches of SAMA were established in the Western cape (1975) followed by the Transvaal(now SAMA North), Eastern Cape (1984), KwaZulu Natal (1984) and SAMA Central (1991) to serve the Free State and Northern Cape. After 1994 further groups were formed in Gauteng North and South, Mpumalanga, Northern Province and North-West. TOP Since 1936 conference proceedings and research reports have been published in the Associations bulletin. SAMAB which in 1988 was joined by a newsletter SAMANTIX(now changed to SAMANTICS) keep members up to date with news and developments nationally and at a branch level; while SAMA’s Guide to Museums of southern Africa (1978) was for many years the only directory of museums on the sub-continent. In tackling its goals it is the conference that provides the spur to SAMA Council for action. There have been notable achievements by members who volunteered their time and expertise over the years. Improvement of museum service through the introduction of the SAMA Code of Ethics (1979) followed by the Documentation Data Standard (1987), and minimum standards for correct curatorial practice were laid down in Professional standards: Accreditation handbook for southern African Museums (1989). In the same year the publication Museum Education and Communication: guidelines for policy and practice set the scene for the development of museum educational services and has been widely acclaimed. In addition to running Technicians’ and Education Officers’ conferences and training workshops, SAMA was the examining body for southern African candidates studying for Museums Association (UK) Diplomas and Certificates from 1955 to 1993. SAMA was instrumental in the establishment of the National Diploma in Museum in Museum Techniques at the Cape Technikon (1978-1986) and supported post graduate museum diplomas at the Universities of Pretoria and Stellenbosch from 1976. SAMA conducted in-service training for museum staff who had completed Standard 8, which let to the award of SAMA’s Technical Certificate (1963-1995). This training was open to all ranks in museums and certification was officially recognised. From its inception SAMA saw its role as regional, rather than purely South African in scope and membership was open to all museum workers regardless of nationality. In order to make itself accessible to members north of the Limpopo during the apartheid years, and to retain contact with the mainstream museum movement, SAMA officially changed its name to Southern African Museums Association from 1975 to 1995. In this way it forfeited status as a national organization with the advantages of official recognition of museum work as a profession and the possibility of the principles SAMA frequently conflicted with official “own affairs” policy and, after bitter confrontation at the 51 st Conference, strongly re-affirmed its position in the 1987 Pietermaritzburg Declaration for South African museums. TOP 1987 Pietermaritzburg Declaration for South African Museums We the members of the Southern African Museums Association, declare our earnest desire: that South African museums in their various programmes purposefully direct their efforts to promote the dissemination of information to and enjoyment of museums by all South Africans; the South African museums actively assist all our various communities better to understand the circumstances of both their separate and common history so as to give them a clearer view of their present relationships and thereby how they can be more harmoniously involved one with the other in the future; that South African museums sincerely strive to be seen to belong to all South African irrespective of colour, creed or gender; that all South African be encouraged to express openly their views as to how the country’s museums may better serve the interests of all in South Africa. Concurrent with the 1987 declaration SAMA embarked on a process of democratization. The constitution was amended in 1990 to make provision for election of branch representatives to Council and objectives expanded to include encouragement of museological research, promoting the use of museums, furthering of professional training, and safeguarding the interests of members. There followed a period of intense consultation where members discussed SAMA’s mission (Port Elizabeth, 1990), a liaison strategy for museums ( Pretoria 1994), and a corporate plan for SAMA ( Kimberley, 1996). It was a time when SAMA was also an active participant in the many workshops arranged to make proposals for policy and development of the museum sector in a New South Africa. TOP Developments in the 1990’s Major strides were made in the 1990’s. Towards a more efficient organization With the appointment of an administration manager, working as Futurserve, in Grahamstown in 1997; With a portfolio driven Council which has prioritized key issues With the publication of a Handbook for Conference Organisers (1997) which undergoes continuous revision. Towards training With the introduction of the National Diploma: Museum Technology, at Technikon SA and the establishment of the SAMA School of Conservation in 1994. A National Training Strategy was adopted in 1997 which gave rise to the provision of fast-track training for heritage workers conducted by the Robben Island Museum, University of Cape Town and University of the Western Cape in 1998. The same year, a branch of the SAMA School of Conservation was established in Pretoria. Towards improved curatorial practice With the introduction of a grading system and issue of revised Accreditation Handbooks in 1996. In the same year the SAMA planning workshop on sensitive materials defined points for a “best practice framework” to negotiate and produce a policy on human remains and other sensitive material that will be acceptable to both the professional and civil sectors. Towards security of South African heritage Through participation in the AFRICOM programme to update museum collection inventories, and essential step in the defence against illegal traffic in cultural heritage. SAMA was also instrumental in the appointment, in 1998, of an officer by the SAPS to investigate illegal trade in cultural material and thefts from collections Towards heritage tourism With the issue of the Tourism and Marketing Plan in 1995 and the Tshwane Declaration for Heritage Tourism (1997), which sets out guidelines for sensitive, sustainable and proactive use of heritage resources Towards transformation of museums With the issue, in 1997, of an Affirmative Action policy document, and by adopting Shifting the Paradigm, SAMA’s corporate plan which sets out strategic initiatives within 10 key performance areas such as heritage resource development, service in a diverse society, membership, communication, training, marketing, cultural advocacy, and managing change; With setting up of a Transformation Task team at the Kruger National Park Conference in 1998. With the creation of a transformation portfolio on Council in 1999. SAMA in a new century The four pillars of a profession, namely, service to society, specialized knowledge grounded in research, training, and ethical standards of practice are in place and stand firm. Where in the past emphasis has been laid on improvement of museum service, attention in the future will also be given to the welfare of museum workers who deliver that service. In the 21 st century SAMA will be striving towards three main goals as laid down in its mission statement. TOP THE MISSION STATEMENT As a professional body concerned with South Africa’s heritage, the South African Museums Association will provide leadership in the management of the country’s diverse natural and cultural heritage for the enrichment of all people so as to: Develop and support an inclusive South African heritage practice Build the capacity for an effective South African heritage industry Address and advocate critical concerns for the future of South African heritage management SAMA definition of a Museum…. Museums are dynamic and accountable public institutions which both shape and manifest the consciousness, identities, and understanding of communities and individuals in relation to their natural, historical and cultural environments, through collection, documentation, conservation, research and education programmes that are responsive to the needs to society. TOP SAMA Beyond 2000 The dawn of the millennium saw SAMA in transformation with the election of the first Council that was partially representative of the demographics of South African society. Ms Rooksana Omar was the first person of colour to be elected President for 2001 - 2003, followed in 2003 - 2005 by Mr Khanyile Jezi, the first black president.Both presidents made concerted efforts, to expand SAMA’s contacts abroad, especially through association with ICOM, AFRICOM and The Museums Association (UK) and to lobby SAMA’s cause at home. Ms Omar addressed the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Arts Culture Science and Technology while under Mr Jezi’s leadership, Council successfully negotiated a substantial grant from the Department of Arts and Culture in 2004 for the Transformation Training Programme (TTP) the purpose of which is to facilitate transformation in museums by developing and implementing essential skills training programmes for best practice. The TTP comprises 4 sub-programmes: Training programmes and mentorships. The first project “Professional Standards and Transformation Indicators” is drawing to a close while conservation training is in process. Evaluation Research and Development Planning and Management. Further projects tackled in recent years included The adoption of a new constitution by unanimous postal vote among members in 2000 (published 2001); The formulation and publication of Deaccessioning guidelines in 2001; Publication of South African Museums Association: a brief history in 2001; A draft document, A Guide to Ethics for South African Museums produced through a process of consultation at workshops in the regions, was tabled at the 65 th SAMA Conference in Port Elizabeth and accepted with minor amendments. This together with the ICOM Code of Professional Ethics (Barcelona, 2001) was published by SAMA in 2004. Renegotiation of the agreement with Futurserve to relieve the branches from routine administration and logistical work in organizing conferences so that their committees can concentrate on museological matters. The period has not been without its disappointments. The SAMA School of Conservation was forced to close down through lack of finance and administrative support. Also with a fall in membership SAMA Central was abandoned, branches in Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North West fell away and the branches in Gauteng amalgamated to form SAMA North. At the time of writing negotiations are under way to start a branch in the Free State. SAMA has also introduced several awards to give recognition for quality performance and to encourage members to do better. To the long established FitzSimons Award for the best paper presented at a national conference and the President’s award for the best paper by a first time speaker at a conference has been added the Novice Speaker’s Award for the best paper by a new recruit to the profession. Publication Design Awards to stimulate awareness of the importance of design in museum publications were introduced in 1999 and the SAMA Museum Friend of the year Award in 2000, which has only once been awarded,. The only branch to make an award has been Gauteng North with its SAMA Bursary Award for excellence in post-graduate heritage studies. This up-date has been compiled by R M Tietz,12 August 2005.

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