THE CoMUSEUM
MORE THAN A CONFERENCE
DECEMBER 2 – 4, 2020
How do we lead the way out of the crisis with Culture at the centre of recovery? How can we make this recovery consistent with the urgent needs of our environment? How can museums and cultural organisations become catalysts for human equity, freedom of speech and social justice? How can we connect and engage with our audiences without leaving anyone behind in this hyper-engaging and fast-developing digital world? And, finally, how can we best serve our communities, becoming safe spaces for creativity and wellbeing? These are some of the questions that the 10th CoMuseum International Conference 2020 will raise.
During the tenth installment of this annual conference, professionals from international museums and cultural organizations, artists, civil society representatives, educators, and academics will examine: leadership in museums and cultural organizations during these challenging times; the social impact of museums with regard to their communities, human rights, and social justice; the ongoing digital transformation in the cultural sector; and the stance museums take towards climate emergency, environmental protection and the wellbeing of their staff and visitors.
The conference will feature global experts and cultural leaders from around the world who will share their knowledge and experience through a series of presentations and discussions.
On December 3 and 4, the CoMuseum will present a series of virtual workshops and masterclasses for museum and culture professionals.
PROGRAM
DECEMBER 2
14:00 – 20:10 (Eastern European Time)
Opening Remarks by Lina G. Mendoni Minister of Culture and Sports, Hellenic Republic
14:00
Welcome Remarks by:
Dr. George Manginis, Academic Director, Benaki Museum
Geoffrey R. Pyatt, U.S. Ambassador to the Hellenic Republic
Kate Smith CMG, British Ambassador to the Hellenic Republic
H.E. Mr. Patrick MAISONNAVE, Ambassador of France to the Hellenic Republic
Anastasia Andritsou, Director, British Council in Greece
Dr. Stefanie Peter, Director of Cultural Programs, Goethe-Institut Athen & Goethe Institutes in Southeastern Europe
SESSION 1 | LEADERSHIP IN MUSEUMS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS
14:50 – 15:10
Keynote
Leading Museums to an Equitable Future: Sharing Wealth and Power
Elizabeth Merritt, Vice President, Strategic Foresight, and Founding Director, Center for the Future of Museums, American Alliance of Museums (U.S.A.)
Q&A
15:10 – 15:50
Panel Discussion:
Fleurette P. Karadontis, President, Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation (GR)
Kassandra Marinopoulou, President and CEO, Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens (GR)
Nicholas Yatromanolakis, General Secretary for Contemporary Culture, Ministry of Culture and Sports, Hellenic Republic (GR)
Moderator
Dr. Tom Fleming, Director, Tom Fleming Creative Consultancy | Expert on Creative Economy, Cultural and Arts Policy (UK)
Q&A
15:50 – 16:10
Keynote
Creativity, Inventiveness, Benevolence in times of Uncertainty
Dominique de Font-Réaulx, Senior curator, Director of Interpretation and Cultural Programmation, Musée du Louvre (FR)
Q&A
SESSION 2 | THE SOCIAL IMPACT OF MUSEUMS: COMMUNITIES, HUMAN RIGHTS, SOCIAL JUSTICE
16:15 – 16:35
Keynote
The Museum As Working Title: Rethinking Institutional Policies
Anna Sailer, Deputy Director, Museum für Moderne Kunst Frankfurt (DE)
Q&A
16:35 – 16:55
Fireside Chat
Leading the way forward: a discussion about Museums, Human Rights and Social Justice
Dr. Spencer R. Crew, Interim Director, National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), Smithsonian Institution (U.S.)
with Alexandra Bounia, Professor of Museology, Department of Cultural Technology and Communication, University of the Aegean (GR)
Q&A
16:55 – 17:15
Keynote
Museum of the People for the 21st Century
Lori Fogarty, Director and CEO, Oakland Museum of California (U.S.)
Q&A
SESSION 3 | DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND DIGITAL SKILLS
17:20 – 18:00
Panel Discussion
Maïté Labat, Head of Digital & Audiovisual Department, Musée du Louvre (FR)
Zoe Metaxiotou, Head of Systems Sector, IT Department, Benaki Museum (GR)
Meriç Öner, Director of Research and Programs, SALT (TR)
Maria Zampeti, Social Media Manager, Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts (MoMus) (GR)
Moderator
Prodromos Tsiavos, Head of Digital and Innovation, Onassis Foundation (GR)
Q&A
18:00 – 18:15
Keynote
Digital Innovation for Museums: Opportunities and Gaps Highlighted by COVID-19 Crisis
Catherine Devine, Microsoft Worldwide Education, Business Strategy Leader – Libraries & Museums (U.S.)
18:15 – 18:35
Fireside Chat
Catherine Devine, Microsoft Worldwide Education, Business Strategy Leader – Libraries & Museums (U.S.)
Prodromos Tsiavos, Head of Digital and Innovation, Onassis Foundation (GR)
Q&A
SESSION 4 | GREENING THE MUSEUM AND WELLNESS FOR VISITORS AND STAFF
18:40 – 18:55
Keynote
How can Museums help mitigate the Climate and Ecological Crisis?
Nick Merriman, Chief Executive, Horniman Museum and Gardens (UK)
Q&A
18:55 – 19:40
Panel Discussion
Professor Guillaume Lecointre, Scientific Advisor of the President, Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle | Head of the Department of Systematics and Evolution (FR)
Nick Merriman, Chief Executive, Horniman Museum and Gardens (UK)
Amy Porteous, Project Producer, Creative Programmes, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (UK)
Ifigeneia Taxopoulou, General Secretary, mitos21 | Julie’s Bicycle Associate (GR)
Moderator
Jenny White, Head of Visual Arts Programme, British Council (UK)
19:40 – 20:10
CLOSING SESSION: Key Take-Aways
Sophia Handaka, CoMuseum Host, Curator of World Cultures, Benaki Museum (GR)
Alexandra Bounia, Professor of Museology, Department of Cultural Technology and Communication, University of the Aegean (GR)
Prodromos Tsiavos, Head of Digital and Innovation, Onassis Foundation (GR)
Jenny White, Head of Visual Arts Programme, British Council (UK)
Moderator:
Adam Reed Rozan, Director of Audience Engagement, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution | CoMuseum International Advisory Committee (U.S.)
Conference Lead Moderator:
Sophia Handaka, CoMuseum Host, Curator of World Cultures, Benaki Museum (GR)
DECEMBER 3
WORKSHOPS AND MASTERCLASSES
14:00 – 19:30 (Eastern European Time)
14:00 – 15:30
WORKSHOP
Museums and Recovery: Empathy, Interaction and Co-creation in a Time of Profound Change
with Dr. Tom Fleming, Director, Tom Fleming Creative Consultancy | Expert on Creative Economy, Cultural and Arts Policy (UK)
14:00 – 15:30
MASTERCLASS
Game Changer – Exploring History and Heritage with Minecraft
with Stephen Reid, Senior Customer Engagement PM, Microsoft (UK)
17:00 – 18:15
WORKSHOP
How to Explore a Highly Disruptive Future
with Elizabeth Merritt, Vice President, Strategic Foresight, and Founding Director, Center for the Future of Museums, American Alliance of Museums (U.S.)
18:00 – 19:30
MASTERCLASS
Museum Reboot: Reimagining our Journey
with Lori Fogarty, Director and CEO, Oakland Museum of California (U.S.)
DECEMBER 4
WORKSHOPS AND MASTERCLASSES
13.00 – 17.00 (Eastern European Time)
13:00 – 14:30
MASTERCLASS
Embracing the Relationship, Museums and Audiences: A Presentation from the International Audience Engagement Network
with
Elisha Buttler, Audience Engagement Manager, National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) (AU)
Leigh Cartwright, Front of House Manager, National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) (AU)
Chris Lee, Chief Marketing Officer, National Gallery Singapore (SG)
Donna McColm, Acting Assistant Director, Curatorial and Audience Engagement, National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) (AU)
Kristin Prestegaard, Chief Engagement Officer, Minneapolis Institute of Art (U.S.)
Adam Reed Rozan, Director of Programs and Audience Development, Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History (U.S.)
14:00 – 15:30
WORKSHOP
Museums and Recovery: Empathy, Interaction and Co-creation in a Time of Profound Change
with Dr. Tom Fleming, Director, Tom Fleming Creative Consultancy, Expert on Creative Economy, Cultural and Arts Policy (UK)
16:00 – 17:00
MASTERCLASS
Refresh your Collection Data. New Media – New Content Needs
with Thalia Tsalkitzi, Department Manager, Solutions in Culture, Unisystems S.A. (GR)
