9.07.2017
David Ellis
Director, University Museums, The University of
Sydney, Australia
Title:
Old
collections, new opportunities:
Creating
a new museum and cultural precinct for the University of Sydney
Abstract:
Most
universities hold cultural and scientific collections - an accumulation built
over time of items associated with teaching and research, or collected by
donations and purchase. For many these collections are historically and
culturally significant and embody the history of the institution.
University
museums across the globe are at varying stages of development as many
universities grapple with understanding and managing their cultural and
scientific collections and what to do with them when their original purpose has
changed. Some are incorporated into
established university museum collections, others remain as faculty held
collections and in some cases struggle to maintain relevance in a rapidly
changing tertiary education sector. For many their role is being re-evaluated
as universities realize the potential of these collections for both
teaching-focused object based learning as well as community engagement.
This
paper will examine the development of the Chau Chak Wing Museum at the
University of Sydney bringing together the University’s cultural and scientific
collections currently held across three public museums into a new purpose-built
museum. The opportunities to enhance the collections role in teaching and
public engagement is being re-evaluated and re-purposed to meet the needs of
changing curricula and community expectations.
The
paper will cover the circumstances that lead to the establishment of this new
university museum and the strategies taken to realize it including development
of the concept, business case, and fundraising. It will also reveal some of the
challenges facing the project as we develop new exhibitions and new ways of
using collections for teaching and engaging with new audiences.
