New collecting theory and practice

The Reinwardt Academie andcontemporary theory and practice of

collecting

Léontine Meijer-van MenschPeter van Mensch

18 June 2010

Reinwardt Academie

Dapperstraat 315Amsterdam

Reinwardt Academie

• 1976 Leiden• 1992 Amsterdam• about 550 students• 28 lecturers (20 fte)

Reinwardt Academie

• Bachelor programme (1976) Cultural heritage• Master programme (1994) Museology• Research programme (2006) Cultural heritage

Bachelor programme

• 4 years (240 EC)• Dutch• about 500 students• no selection• fee € 1620 / year

Bachelor programme

• Lectures, projects, workshops (150 EC = 62 %)• Internships (3x, 90 EC = 38 %)• Excursions (Netherlands + Paris, Berlin, London)

Master programme

• 18 months (90 EC)• English, international• about 45 students• selection• fee € 10,000

Master programme

• Lectures, projects, workshops (45 EC = 50 %)• Internship (1x, 15 EC = 17 %)• Excursions (Netherlands + Berlin)• Research project (30 EC = 33 %)

Collections based organisation

C u ra to r 1 C u ra to r 2 C u ra to r 3 C u ra to r 4 e tc.

d ire c to r

Functions based organisationC h a rt T it le

D o cu m e n ta tion C o nse rva tion

P re serva tion R e se a rch

C o lle c tio ns

E xh ib it io ns E d uca tion

C o m m u n ica tion

d ire c to r

C h a rt T it le

D o cu m e n ta tion C o nse rva tion

P re serva tion R e se a rch

C o lle c tio ns

E xh ib it io ns E d uca tion

C o m m u n ica tion

d ire c to r

theory

practiceethics

professionalism

1 2 3 4

I

II

III

IV

minor

optional

minor

optional

collection management

communication

heritage“the object”significance

the fieldinstitutionscultural biography

societyaudiencesGLO’s & GSO’s

communicationpresentation

Bachelor programme

strategic business plans

Master programme

introduction module10 EC

core modules5 x 7 EC

internship15 EC

research project30 EC

I

II

core modules: professional developmentcollection developmentaudience developmentproduct developmentsustainable development

bachelor: general competencies

• 5 core responsibilities• critical reflection & body of knowledge• personal professional competencies

bachelor: general competencies

5 core responsibilities• to manage heritage information• to analyse, interprete and value heritage• to preserve heritage• to give access to heritage• to position a heritage institution

master: general competencies

• philosophical and ethical competencies• public focus• organizational awareness• self-management

new collecting theory

society

heritage

functions

institutions

heritage

functions

institution

society

conceptualising museums

heritage

functions

institution

society

constraints

internal external

institutional

historical social

professional

heritage

functions

institution

society

internal external

institutional

historical social

professional

axis of tradition and renewal

ECCOProfessional Guidelines (2002)[the Conservator-Restorer] has a responsibility not only to the cultural heritage itself, but also to the owner or legal guardian, the originator or creator, the public, and to posterity

Code of Ethics (2003)(article 5) The Conservator-Restorer shall respect the aesthetic, historic and spiritual significance and the physical integrity of the cultural heritage entrusted to her/his care.(article 6) The Conservator-Restorer, in collaboration with other professional colleagues involved with cultural heritage, shall take into account the requirements of its social use while preserving the cultural heritage.

Museums may have been set up in an atmosphere of enlightenment, but this does not mean that they were democratic in nature, and I believe that exclusivity is in their DNA.David Fleming 2008

• New Museology• integrated museum• social inclusion

social inclusion

• Access• Representation• Participation

2007 2005

• Museum 2.0• Participation paradigm

web 2.0

• Community of connected users• The network as platform• Harnessing collective intelligence• User generated content

heritage

functions

institution

society

old paradigm

internal external

institutional

historical social

professional

heritage

functions

institution

society

new paradigm

internal external

institutional

historical social

professional

2010

Forms of participation (Simon 2010)

Council of Europe 2005Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society (Faro Convention)

a heritage community consists of people who value specific aspects of cultural heritage which they wish, within the framework of public action, to sustain and transmit to future generations.

participation paradigm

• front stagepresentationeducationevents

• back stagecollectingdocumentationconservation/restoration

new collecting practice

AmsterdamZoetermeer Düsseldorf