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A TALK
FOR E
LIZABETH
TOW
N
HIGH S
CHOOL
NOVEMBER 2012
EL
AI N
E H
EU
MA
NN
GU
RI A
N
EG
UR
I AN
@E
GU
RI A
N. C
OM
BACKGROUND
I HAVE BEEN A DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR A NUMBER OF MUSEUMS. My job was to make them operate. I do not do the creative stuff like deciding what are in exhibitions though I have in the past.
I WAS DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR THE USHMM FROM 1991=1994 because I know to open museum that are undergoing change or construction.
I AM NOW A CONSULTANT TO MANY MUSEUMS AROUND THE WORLD that are undergoing change.
USHMM
The USHMM opened in 1993 after 10 years of planning and arguments
It opened with 10,000 people in attendance including 16 heads of state.
The opening was broadcast live on CNN and the speakers included the President of the United States Bill Clinton.
The first visitor was the Dalai Lama
Why did they come? why was it broadcast live? And why would every head of state thereafter come to visit when in DC?
GOVERNANCE
The USHMM is a government museum
It was built with private funds
It is free to the public
It has an annual Federal appropriation
It also fundraises separately
BACKGROUND
The Holocaust happened between 1933 and 1945 in Nazi Germany. It is not a synonym for the WW2.
It refers to persecution and genocide to all the victim groups. The largest group are Jews, the second largest are Poles. The victim groups include Roma, Homosexuals, political dissidents, handicapped individuals, people of color, communists, socialists and those who opposed the Nazi’s.
Genocide was the reason for rounding up 2 of the groups – Jews and Gypsies.
MUSEUMS
• Are public places
• Except for groups (schools) people came when they want and leave when they want
• The visitor is mostly standing and walking
• Comes alone or with a small social group that talk together
• Visitors are surrounded by strangers
• Have “stuff”, evidence, collections on display
• Have multi-sensory experiences available, not just reading or looking
• Are time limited experiences
EXHIBITION ISSUES
Forced march
Change of flooring
Use of Picture as evidence
Use of collections material as evidence
Privacy walls
Where to put the crematorium
Looking at you
Voice of the narrator
Heroes on the last floor
EXHIBITION CONTINUED
The shoes
What America knew and when did they know it?
How to end the story
Is a memorial proper in a Federal building?
Separation of church and state
Separation of Federal and Private museums