Organisatin Australian Institute fr the Cnservatin f Cultural Materials (AICCM) Cntact Kay Söderlund (AICCM Natinal President) Email k@preservatinaustralia.cm.au Phne (business hurs) (02) 9557 2395 D yu agree t yur submissin being made publicly available n the www.culture.arts.gv.au website?* Yes N Intrductin The Australian Institute fr the Cnservatin f Cultural Materials (AICCM) welcmes the pprtunity t cmment n the Natinal Cultural Plicy Discussin Paper. Since 1976, the AICCM has represented the cnservatin prfessin in Australia. AICCM has actively wrked t prmte the preservatin f Australia s cultural heritage in recgnitin f the rle that material culture plays in establishing and enhancing ur natinal identity and the identity f grups and individuals thrughut ur natin. Our rganisatin believes that: The develpment f a Natinal Cultural Plicy is an pprtunity t re-affirm the imprtance f cnservatin and preservatin, and f the heritage sectr as a whle. This is f particular imprtance t AICCM as cnservatin enables access t culture. Cnservatin enriches peple s experience f material culture and prvides pprtunities t develp greater knwledge f the technlgies and cultural practices that have prduced the bjects we keep. Cnservatin preserves the significance f cultural materials and thus the stries assciated with them. The gals in this plicy align with the current aims and wrk f AICCM. We are well-placed t supprt the develpment f the Natinal Cultural Plicy. 1. Abut yur rganisatin The Australian Institute fr Cnservatin f Cultural Materials (AICCM) is the peak bdy fr cnservatin in Australia. It is a nn-prfit rganisatin cncerned with the cnservatin, preservatin and prvisin f access t Australia s tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Our membership includes ver 550 prfessinal cnservatrs and allied prfessinals such as archivists, architects, curatrs, librarians and vlunteers. Cnservatrs wrk in galleries, libraries, archives, museums and private practices acrss the cuntry and internatinally. The aims f the AICCM are: T prmte the science and art f the cnservatin f cultural material, T prmte c-peratin and exchange amngst thse cncerned with the cnservatin f cultural material, T imprve the scientific and technical knwledge f the prfessin, T infrm and lbby gvernment and ther rganisatins n matters relating t the cnservatin f cultural material. AICCM is cmmitted t preserving ur tangible and intangible heritage t enable ur natin s stries t be tld. We aim t preserve significant bjects frm the past and present, which is an investment fr the future. Thrugh these bjects we can share ur knwledge, experience and assist thers t care fr their heritage. This is demnstrated by the wrk we have dne in the past. Fr example, as part f the Heritage Cllectins Cmmittee (HCC) Cnservatin and Cllectin Management Wrking Party, AICCM members were instrumental in develping a range f plicies and publicatins that ensured lng-term preservatin f Australia s Cultural Heritage. These dcuments include: 1
Heritage Cllectins Cmmittee and Cultural Ministers Cuncil, Natinal Cnservatin and Preservatin Plicy fr Mvable Cultural Heritage, Canberra, 1995. Cultural Ministers Cuncil and Heritage Cllectins Cuncil, Natinal Cnservatin and Preservatin Plicy and Strategy: Australia's heritage cllectins, Cmmnwealth Department f Cmmunicatin and the Arts, Canberra, 1998. A number f publicatins fcused n cllectins management and care as part f the Heritage Cllectins Cuncil. They are: Significance (2001), Significance 2.0 (2009), re-cllectins (1998) Be Prepared (2000) and Guidelines fr Envirnmental Cntrl in Cultural Institutins (2002). 2. D yu supprt the develpment f a Natinal Cultural Plicy, and why? The discussin paper identifies cultural heritage as sitting parallel t cre arts and creative industries. We believe that these three strands f Australia s cultural life are intermingled with Australia s rich and diverse cultural heritage, prviding inspiratin fr many new wrks and reference pints fr many creative industries. A Natinal Cultural Plicy is imprtant nt just fr thse wrking within the cultural sectr but fr the brader cmmunity wh have a right t access and experience Australian culture in all its frms. AICCM supprts the develpment f a Natinal Cultural Plicy as: The aims f the plicy are cnsistent with the aims f ur prfessin in recgnising the rle that culture plays as cre t a vibrant, dynamic and resilient sciety. We believe there will be significant benefits that will flw frm a natinal apprach t managing ur natinal cultural heritage and develping prgrams fr engagement with the arts and ur cultural and technlgical histry t which cnservatrs can directly cntribute thrugh their research. Australia is nt a mn-culture and the recgnitin f diversity and effrts t draw n that diversity increases ur knwledge and understanding f each ther and ur heritage. Cnservatrs have benefited frm this diversity and their prfessin has been enriched by expsure t different ways f thinking abut preservatin and in turn we have cntributed t sensitive appraches t preservatin in different cultural cntexts. AICCM recgnises the need fr a plicy that represents cntemprary Australian sciety, lks t the future and addresses the challenges and pprtunities that technlgical, scial and envirnmental change ver the cming decades brings. These include: Opprtunities: Increased participatry engagement made pssible thrugh n-line technlgies and scial media netwrks. Develping technlgies fr cultural heritage research that allw fr new methds t bth increase and share ur understanding f cultural material fr example the Synchrtrn fr materials analysis, 3D scanning fr dcumentatin, nantechnlgy fr materials treatment, semantic web t mre effectively aggregate knwledge, and data visualisatin techniques t assist art learning. A return t craft and t cmmunity engagement (as evident thrugh such grups as the Maker Mvement; Slw Mvement; Transitin Twns) prvides an pprtunity fr sciety explre its material culture bth present and past and re-discver the ethics f care, manual skills, creativity and scial well-being. Ptential grwth in vlunteerism and engagement with traditinal cultural activities thrugh the retirement f Baby Bmers. The Asia-Pacific becming a glbal ecnmic centre in the cming decades due t the rise f China and India in ppulatin and GDP grwth is likely t increase cultural turism acrss the regin; expand pprtunities fr crss-cultural cllabratins and highlight the uniqueness f Australian arts and culture. Challenges: Resurces required fr transferring existing cllectins t n-line cmpatible frmats. 2
Keeping abreast f the grwth in new materials and techniques incrprated int artwrks and the rapid changes in technlgies t infrm effective preservatin strategies. Meeting envirnmental challenges that may accunt fr greater variance in weather patterns and preemptive natural disaster planning as well as the need t ensure a mre sustainable apprach t cllectins management. Develping a sustainable funding mdel t ensure n-ging gvernment and the develpment f private sectr funding f the arts and culture sectrs. Facilitating the discvery f cultural heritage fr yunger generatins in meaningful and engaging ways. Clarificatin f intellectual prperty bundaries. 3. What are yur views abut each f the fur gals? GOAL 1: T ensure that what the Gvernment supprts - and hw this supprt is prvided - reflects the diversity f a 21 st century Australia, and prtects and supprts Indigenus culture T be a truly natinal plicy, the NCP must reflect the natin that we are which is diverse and culturally rich. Thus AICCM strngly supprts this aim. AICCM recgnises the rle access t arts and culture can play in shaping identity and building strng, resilient, prsperus cmmunities. Cultural heritage has an imprtant rle t play in develping crss-cultural awareness, which is key t the develpment f chesive cmmunities and celebrating the diversity f 21st century Australia. AICCM encurages vibrant relatinships with Indigenus and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) grups acrss sectrs f ur cmmunity thrugh the preservatin f and research int tangible and intangible heritage assciated with cultural material. This lies at the cre f the AICCM Cde f Ethics. Fr many Indigenus Australians access t cultural heritage including phtgraphs, recrdings and secret sacred bjects plays a significant rle in reengaging with their heritage. Cnservatrs wrk t preserve cultural heritage t enable such access fr nt nly Indigenus but fr all Australians. AICCM believes that strategies that build new audiences and increase engagement with Australian culture shuld incrprate the preservatin f Australian cultural heritage t ensure it is accessible t present and future generatins. GOAL 2: T encurage the use f emerging technlgies and new ideas that supprt the develpment f new artwrks and the creative industries, and that enable mre peple t access and participate in arts and culture This gal reflects scial and technlgical changes in the way we cmmunicate and engage in cntemprary sciety. AICCM believes that withut this gal the Natinal Cultural Plicy wuld be lagging behind what is happening glbally. Technlgy cntinues t change at an unprecedented rate and the challenge will be t keep the plicy current when the unimaginable becmes reality. This gal is imprtant t ensure the sectr remains relevant in the mdern wrld. AICCM recgnises the pprtunities that emerging technlgies ffer fr the prductin as well as the interpretatin f cultural heritage. This encmpasses the ptential fr new ways f accessing ur cllectins via n-line and virtual envirnments. We see this as an pprtunity t enhance interactin and understanding f cultural heritage cllectins rather than cmpete with the tangible artefact. Emerging technlgies pen the dr fr innvatin within the cultural heritage field fr example the use f haptics technlgy fr cllectins care training r physical access t cultural heritage cllectins fr the visually impaired. This will require the cnservatin prfessin t be respnsive and pen t technlgical develpments in rder t effectively evaluate their utility fr use in the preservatin f wrks f art and ther cultural material. New technlgies als enable us t share knwledge mre readily and wrk c-peratively within the prfessin, acrss the sectr and t the brader cmmunity. 3
There is significant ptential fr peple t access and participate in arts and culture thrugh the digitisatin f existing cllectins. Hwever, natinal crdinatin f the digitisatin f Australia s cultural heritage is needed t avid duplicatin and ensure the develpment f a simple, cmprehensive access pint. As well as prviding access fr peple in reginal areas, supprt is required t prvide apprpriate access t cllectins in reginal areas. Cnservatin is an imprtant aspect f digitisatin as material ften requires sme level f cnservatin t stabilise items fr handling and t btain the best digital image. New analytical techniques ften prvide insights int cllectins that draw in new audiences. A number f cultural institutins are prviding nline access t the cnservatin and analysis f cllectins that enriches audiences understanding f cultural heritage and can prvide inspiratin fr the creatin f new wrks. Fr Indigenus cmmunities cnservatin analysis can aid in rediscvering lst knwledge. GOAL 3: T supprt excellence and wrld-class endeavur, and strengthen the rle that the arts play in telling Australian stries bth here and verseas Supprting Excellence and wrld class endeavur AICCM supprts this aspect f Gal 3 in its rle as a peak prfessinal bdy. Australia has a reputatin fr excellence in digital and Indigenus cllectin preservatin and in many ther areas f cnservatin and preservatin activity. Australian cnservatrs are emplyed verseas and Australian cnservatin expertise is valued internatinally, with many f ur members invlved in internatinal prfessinal cmmittees and having publicatins in internatinal peer-reviewed and ther prfessinal jurnals. Australian cnservatrs have been delivering training prgrams t rganisatins in reginal Australia and thrughut the Asia Pacific regin fr a number f years assisting in raising standards f cllectin care. AICCM s prfessinal accreditatin is ne aspect f hw we develp benchmark standards natinally. Strengthen the rle that the arts play in telling Australian stries Cnservatin is a key activity in the delivery f exhibitins within Australia and verseas, hence the prfessin is already, and will cntinue t be, a key cntributr t this gal. This is principally thrugh the wrk we d in caring fr cllectins held in Australia and thrugh preparing items fr lan t reginal, natinal and internatinal rganisatins. This gal is aligned with ur present and nging wrk and cmmitments. Cnservatin explres bjects and enriches knwledge f them and the histry that they represent. Cnservatin can facilitate a greater understanding f histries f use, cultural cntext, technical art histry, anthrplgy, cultural prductin, and thrugh revealing and disseminating this infrmatin enables thers t tell stries. GOAL 4: T increase and strengthen the capacity f the arts t cntribute t ur sciety and ecnmy This is an imprtant gal fr us as a natin as well as fr the sustainability f heritage cllectins. The cnservatin prfessin is cmmitted t educatin. Cnservatin activities are an excellent vehicle fr cmmunicating messages f heritage preservatin, material science, cultural histry and prductin in educatin prgrams. We believe that the cnservatin prfessin makes a direct cntributin t educatin, scial inclusin and mst particularly t turism and the ecnmic benefits that flw frm it. Our cntributin t turism includes: Cnservatin f cllectins fr exhibitins and turing exhibitins Cnservatin f public mnuments and histric interirs Cnservatin f archives and primary and secndary research resurces Cnservatin f technlgy items A cntributin t the sustainability f intangible culture e.g. language, dance, perfrmance etc. Enabling access t heritage material that has nt been accessible due t its cnditin 4
Knwledge f material science and cultural prductin that can engage and infrm the wrk f practising artists. 4. What strategies d yu think we culd use t achieve each f the fur gals? GOAL 1: T ensure that what the Gvernment supprts and hw this supprt is prvided reflects the diversity f a 21 st century Australia, and prtects and supprts Indigenus culture AICCM supprts the strategies utlined in the discussin paper but wuld als add that cnsideratin be given t: Increasing supprt fr research int the material culture f the diverse grups in Australia t facilitate crss-cultural understanding. Supprting the develpment f netwrks fr infrmatin sharing. Facilitating natinal and internatinal training and activities in cllectin care. GOAL 2: T encurage the use f emerging technlgies and new ideas that supprt the develpment f new artwrks and the creative industries, and that enable mre peple t access and participate in arts and culture In additin t the gals in the discussin paper the AICCM recmmends that the NCP: Recgnise the ptential and supprt the develpment f nline training acrss the arts Encurage innvatin and the use f new technlgies acrss the brad spectrum f the cultural sectr in the areas f research, cnservatin, access t cllectins Build n Australia s existing strengths in digital preservatin Make prvisin fr a natinal netwrk dealing with cultural heritage educatin and research and cllectins access as was previusly addressed by the Cllectins Australia Netwrk (CAN) and Cllectins Cuncil f Australia (CCA) Make prvisin fr researching methds fr preserving cntemprary media wrks f cultural significance GOAL 3: T supprt excellence and wrld-class endeavur, and strengthen the rle that the arts play in telling Australian stries bth here and verseas AICCM strngly supprts the strategies utlined in the discussin paper. In additin t these the AICCM recgnises the need t: Assist in the develpment and funding fr internships and prfessinal skills develpment f Australian cnservatrs t bth study and wrk verseas and spnsrship f internatinal clleagues t learn and benefit frm Australian expertise. Engage with rganisatins such as the AICCM, t develp their prfile and build netwrks while at the same time drawing n AICCM s expertise t develp standards and t strengthen natinal stewardship f ur heritage. GOAL 4: T increase and strengthen the capacity f the arts t cntribute t ur sciety and ecnmy In additin t the strategies utlined in the discussin paper the AICCM seeks: Supprt fr the develpment f a range f pathways t prfessinal develpment including internships and craft skill apprenticeships. Examinatin f mre flexible funding arrangements fr heritage sectr rganisatins t enable skills develpment and effective successin planning in areas where wrk pressure ften precludes this. Prvisin f incentives fr philanthrpic supprt fr internships, training prgrams and research. Prmtin f the arts and cultural heritage sectr t a brad audience nt as just smething t enjy, but as a sectr that prvides fulfilling careers, satisfying vlunteer experiences and smething fr peple t be actively invlved in. Recgnitin that cnservatin can be used as a frm f aid, utreach and crss-cultural relatinship develpment with ur neighburs in the Asia-Pacific regin as well as glbally. Prmtin f the develpment f netwrks acrss the cllecting and cultural heritage sectrs as well as acrss reginal and urban Australia. 5
5. Hw can yu, yur rganisatin r sectr cntribute t the gals and strategies f the Natinal Cultural Plicy? GOAL 1: T ensure that what the Gvernment supprts and hw this supprt is prvided reflects the diversity f a 21 st century Australia, and prtects and supprts Indigenus culture Act as a pint f cntact and advice abut the care f Australia s cultural heritage. Assist in the develpment f culturally apprpriate keeping places. Prvide training t rganisatins and cmmunities in the care f their cultural material. Develp prtcls that determine ur appraches t cnservatin and preservatin wrk that takes accunt f cultural difference and the needs f diverse grups within the cmmunity. Preserve and care fr cultural heritage items that reflect the brad diversity f 21 st century Australia. Examples include the cnservatin f Indigenus rck art; preservatin framewrks fr cmplex digital artwrks; and the treatment f icnic Australian artwrks such as Tm Rberts Shearing the Rams. GOAL 2: T encurage the use f emerging technlgies and new ideas that supprt the develpment f new artwrks and the creative industries, and that enable mre peple t access and participate in arts and culture Cntinue research int and implementatin f digital preservatin activities. Identify and research the applicatin f emerging technlgies t infrm cnservatin practice and create new means fr access and educatin abut Australia s cultural heritage. Cntinue t pursue innvative and effective methds fr sustainable cllectin management including the develpment f passive envirnmental cntrls fr cllectins strage. GOAL 3: T supprt excellence and wrld-class endeavur, and strengthen the rle that the arts play in telling Australian stries bth here and verseas Maintain and develp ur internatinal prfessinal netwrk. Cntribute t prfessinal frums, with a particular emphasis n ur strengths and ur unique skills and knwledge, fr example ur wrk in the cnservatin f Indigenus cultural material and the research int the materials and methds used in the manufacture f cultural heritage items. T increase publicatins cncerning the stries f cultural heritage items, their manufacture and materials histry. GOAL 4: T increase and strengthen the capacity f the arts t cntribute t ur sciety and ecnmy Shwcase the wrk we d mre effectively heritage cnservatin has prven t be a very effective vehicle fr cmmunicating the wrk f museums, galleries and libraries. Engage with educatrs t increase knwledge f cnservatin, which embdies science and the arts and cultural stewardship. Embrace alternative rutes int ur prfessin, recgnising the value f a range f skills and the rles they can play in ur wrk. In mre general terms: Sustainability - assisting cmmunities with managing the effect f climate change n their cultural capital. Facilitating access - helping make cultural heritage items available thrugh cnservatin treatment. Cnservatrs are well-placed t help sciety explre its material culture bth present and past. 6
6. Are there any ther gals yu wuld like t see included in the Natinal Cultural Plicy? AICCM advcates the prvisin f a gal that utlines the imprtance f the preservatin f Australia s cultural heritage fr future generatins. Cultural heritage is f natinal imprtance and prvides an understanding f wh we are, a pint f reference fr the develpment f new wrks and pprtunities fr engagement with audiences f all ages. Its nging care and management is imprtant t ensure future generatins can tap int this imprtant cultural resurce. The AICCM wuld welcme a mre clearly articulated cmmitment t preservatin f the cllectins, cultural practices, skills and knwledge that we already have. This culd build n develpments, which came ut f The Piggtt Reprt (1975). Culture rts us in ur past and enables us t imagine and explre ur future. This is basic t telling ur natin s stries and learning frm the past t create a better future. AICCM and its members als seek a cmmitment t the supprt f netwrks acrss the cllecting and cultural heritage sectr. Mdels used in the past may need t be reviewed and updated, but there is n dubt that these were extremely valuable in helping the sectr t develp, grw and shwcase Australian expertise. Many f the utcmes arising frm these netwrks have effectively shaped and ensured the preservatin f the cultural resurce that Australia enjys tday and garnered internatinal recgnitin in the prcess. 7