ICME NEWS 46 - JANUARY 2007

ICME Ethnography - Ethnographie - Etnografia

International Committee for Museums of Ethnography - ICOM/ICME

Contents:

1. WORDS FROM THE PRESIDENT...
2. ICME SESSIONS AT ICOM 2007 - VIENNA, AUSTRIA. AUGUST 19 - 24
• INTRODUCTION
• CALL FOR PAPERS
• CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
• CONCURRENT SESSION ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
• SPECIAL ACTIVITIES FOR ICME MEMBERS
• POST-CONFERENCE TOUR - AUGUST 25-26
• ICME HOTEL IN VIENNA
• GRANTS
• REGISTRATION
• FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
3. ANNETTE FROMM. REPORT ON THE ICME 2006 CONFERENCE IN MIAMI FLORIDA"CONNECTIONS, COMMUNITIES AND COLLECTIONS"
4. ANNETTE FROMM. REPORT ON THE ONE HUNDRETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROMANIAN PEASANT’S MUSEUMS
5. ARNE ROKKUM. CALL FOR PAPERS - 18TH JAPAN ANTHROPOLOGY WORKSHOP (JAWS) CONFERENCE 2007 - JAPAN
6. CLAIRE WARRIOR. CALL FOR PAPERS - OBJECTS OF TRADE - MUSEUM ETHNOGROPHERS’ ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2007
7. OTHER UP-COMING CONFERENCES, EVENTS AND BLOGSPOTS
8. WORDS FROM THE EDITOR

WORDS FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dr. Rivet's museum (the Musée de l'Homme and its predecessor, the Museum of Ethnography at Trocadéro in Paris) had been involved in promoting the ideas of scientific research practice, field collection through colonial administrative channels and sharing knowledge with a broad public since the 1920s. As seen above, Rivet's ideas were influential in ICOM's formative years - an influence that continued while his former assistant, Georges-Henri Rivière, served as the first ICOM Director from 1948 until 1965.

In this way, we can say that ICOM has always been somewhat "ethnographically" oriented.

Such an ICOM orientation makes this years ICME theme "The World under One Roof: Past, Present and Future Ethnographic Approaches to Universality" all the more relevant. How can we place our collections, our research and our modes of sharing knowledge in perspective with the idea of 'universality'? How has museum ethnography changed over the years, and what does this mean for the future of our field, and of museums in general? There are great possibilities for papers here, and I'm sure that many of you will be sending in relevant abstracts to the ICME2007 working group within the next two months at icme2007@yahoogroups.com

I look forward to the August conference in Vienna, both in the hope of having spirited ICME discussions, but also in the expectation of formative interaction with ICOM members from other committees in joint paper-sessions and informal get-togethers. I look also forward to travelling with a busload of ICME members through Burgenland on the ICME post-conference tour!

YOU can also participate! The Vienna organizers seem to have been quite good in catering to all budget ranges - from elegant luxury to inexpensive student housing (the ICME hotel suggestion being somewhere in-between these two categories). The ICOM 2007 web pages also list numerous flight discounts to the conference. Remember that the lowest "early-bird" fee for ICOM conference registration expires on January 31. You still have time to reach that, if you hurry!

Best regards,
Daniel Winfree Papuga
president@icme.icom.museum

ICME SESSIONS AT ICOM 2007 - VIENNA, AUSTRIA. AUGUST 19 - 24,

THE WORLD UNDER ONE ROOF: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE ETHNOGRAPHIC APPROACHES TO UNIVERSALITY

Building on the ICOM general conference theme of "Museums and Universal Heritage"

Arranged by the International Committee for Museums of Ethnography (ICME) of ICOM

INTRODUCTION

In the Age of Enlightenment, the tension between particularism and universalism gave birth to the modern discipline of Anthropology. The scholarly challenge was to reconcile a burgeoning number of travel narratives depicting ‘strange’ customs in remote places with a general science of Humanity. In this époque, the idea of a “Universal Museum” was conceived and with it the curatorial problem of how to classify, arrange and exhibit the “curious objects” under its roof. Clearly a number of problems arise with the hierarchical ‘othering’ inherent in this historical approach, which lingers today. The ICME sessions will chart past, present and what might constitute future curatorial approaches to the following question: What universal narratives, if any, do ethnographic objects speak to?

Contemporary touchdowns might include the Musée du Quai-Branly in Paris, where the exhibition Qu’est-ce qu’un corps? (What is a body?), features different perceptions of reality and aesthetics tied to specific places and times. The curatorial approach seems one of comparing and juxtaposing different cultural representations and perceptions of a universal category: The body. In D’un regard l’autre we enter yet another approach to universality: The production of ethnographic materials as an instrument of Empire. In other words, ethnography understood as the “White Man’s labeling”, a colonial knowledge project embedded in the relations between France and her peripheries.

Another contemporary approach is found in the Museum of World Culture in Gothenburg. Here the focus is on connections, frictions and migrations between the cultures of the world, resulting in de-territorialized patchwork of Diasporas and trans-national ethnicities as carriers and makers of hybrid ethnographic materials. This curatorial approach seems to be underwritten by the notion of a world in cultural flux, where notions of authenticity and origin are subject to critical questioning.

It is now more than a Century ago since the Pitt Rivers Museum opened its doors to yet another universal approach to ethnographic materials. In Oxford, Pitt Rivers organized the ethnographic objects typologically, according to each object’s ability to solve a technological problem associated with everyday life: fire making, shelter, clothing, hunting and gathering, etc. The layout of the displays was not organized by cultures or connections, but arranged within a universal evolutionary framework. While much of the public face of the displays reflects this discredited Victorian heritage - representing a meta-statement on the idea of universality vis-à-vis ethnographic objects - the museum today is simultaneously engaged in serious consultation with both ‘source communities’ around the world as well as local Oxford groups.

Against this backdrop of changing approaches to universality, ICME invites papers to interrogate past and present assumptions about universality so we can better understand and perhaps rediscover possible futures of Universal Heritage in Ethnographic Museums.

CALL FOR PAPERS

Paper proposals are invited addressing "The World under One Roof: Past, Present and Future Ethnographic Approaches to Universality" or any of the following sub-themes:

• 'Ethnographic Curatorship' and Universal Heritage in historical and contemporary perspectives.
• 'Locality' and ethnographic representation.
• 'Holism' as an ethnographic focus.
• The future of 'The Collection', and collections of the future: What's next?

Paper proposals of up to 250 words may be submitted to ICME2007@yahoogroups.com until March 31, 2007.

Fifteen minutes will be allotted for presentation of each accepted paper, and five additional minutes for discussion. In addition to regular presentations, a limited number of "Virtual Presentations" will be accepted, consisting of "stand alone" PowerPoint or other types of media presentations which wouldn't need a live speaker to be understood by the audience.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

The ICOM 2007 general conference runs from August 19-24, with the ICME sessions being held during the middle three days, August 20-22.

• August 19: Registration, Keynote Speeches & Forum Discussion on the Meeting´s Major Theme.
• August 20: Daytime ICME sessions. Dinner-party at the Austrian Museum of Folk Life and Folk Art.
• August 21: Morning ICME sessions. Afternoon discussions and dinner at the Museum of Ethnology Vienna.
• August 22: Morning ICME sessions. Afternoon ICME General Meeting. Early evening visit to the ethnographic collections of the Mechitarist Congregation.
• August 23: Excursion day, with a choice of several tours.
• August 24: General Assembly of ICOM, Final Plenary Session, Farewell party
• August 25-26: ICME Post-conference tour (or a choice of several additional tours organized by the ICOM committee).

CONCURRENT SESSION ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES FOR ICME MEMBERS

POST-CONFERENCE TOUR

Tour dates: August 25-26
"The sum of cultures. About dealing with heritage."

ICME board member Matthias Beitl has planned an optional two-day post-conference tour of Burgenland specially for ICME participants and accompanying persons, including encounters with local ethnographic researchers and artisans; visits to various museums, collections and cultural monuments; four-star accomodation, wine tasting, gastronomical delicacies - and more! The aim of this intensive tour is to show the variety of culture on which the identity of a region reflects. As far as possible, we have involved an expert for each topic. This tour is NOT listed on the regular ICOM Post-Conference pages and brochures.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 25 - Day I

08.00 am - Bus departure from Vienna
Direction: Burgenland north
> Introduction on the bus: Burgenland - a "European Project", 1921 - 2006

09.00-11.30 - MÖNCHHOF - OPEN AIR MUSEUM
"Into the region > Cultural heritage and passion of collecting"
http://www.dorfmuseum.at
> Guided tour, talks and reception (“Frühschoppen” - Austrian brunch with music)

11.45-12.15 - NEUSIEDL
"Changing picture of landscape between transfiguration and contempt. Neusiedlersee and its cultural history"
http://www.neusiedlamsee.at/
> View over the lake and statement at the marina

13.00-14.00 - EISENSTADT
“From the royal tradition to shareholder business. Part 1”
Winery Museum - Visit to the Historic winery in the Esterhazy Palace
http://www.esterhazy.at/de/weinmuseum/index.htm
> Guided tour and wine tasting, shopping possibility

15.00-16.30 - NEUTAL
Museum of construction culture (MUBA)
New, small, impressive and methodological well kept museum
http://www.muba-neutal.at/content/index.php
> Guided tour and coffee + cake

16.30-17.15 - STOOB
"A traditional center of pottery in the Burgenland"
Bus drive through Stoob
interesting to see the decoration of the village, which points out the tradition
http://www.stoob.at.gg/
> Statement on the dialectic of representing culture and living of traditions

17.15-19.00 - FRANKENAU/LUTZMANNSBURG
“From the royal tradition to shareholder business. Part 2”
Winery “Pfneisl” a traditional winery with new architecture (since May 2005), representing new self consciousness, image- and marketing strategies
http://www.wine-pentagon.com/
http://www.architekturraumburgenland.at/aktuell.php
> Presentation of wine, marketing, critical statement about image, marketing, architectural trends, wine tasting with bread and cheese, shopping possibility

20.30 - EISENSTADT
Hotel Ohr****
check-in
http://www.hotelohr.at/
> If still hungry, dinner at individual cost in hotel possible

SUNDAY, AUGUST 26 - Day II

9.00-10.30 - EISENSTADT
"The new permanent exhibition"
Landesmuseum Eisenstadt (county museum)
http://www.landesmuseum-burgenland.at/
> Guided tour with chief curator, discussion

11.15-12.45 - CASTLE OF FORCHTENSTEIN
“The Esterhazys - royal collections”
Royal collection, to reign and to obtain culture marketshares
http://www.esterhazy.at/de/burg-forchtenstein/index.htm
> Special guided tour through the castle, collections, treasure chamber

12.45-14.00 - Lunch buffet at the Castle of Forchtenstein

14.45-16.45 - ST. MARGARETHEN
”Mass-culture and contemplative Art - two characters of regional culture”
Sculptors Symposiahouse and quarry (festival area)
http://www.st-margarethen.at/
http://www.die-st-margarethener.at/ort.htm#stein

http://www.bildhauersymposion.at/
http://www.ofs.at/start_set.htm
> Meeting with Katharina Prantl (manager & curator), statement to modern art in Burgenland, implementation of the project in the beginning 1960s, problems with public perception, walk through the sculptor garden

17.00-18.00 - OSLIP
"Cselley mill - an alternative cultural project starting in 1976"
http://www.cselley-muehle.at/

> Meeting with the founder, history of the institution and importance in regional culture, guided tour through the institution

18.15-20.00 - SCHÜTZEN
"Pottery: Cultural heritage, Design, Art and culinary aspects"
Robert Schneider & Evelyn Lehner pottery atelier
> Visit to the atelier, evening with food and wine in an outstanding garden environment

22.00 - Approx. arrival Vienna meeting point

ICME HOTEL IN VIENNA - "ZIPSER"

Several people have asked about a hotel in Vienna that could act as a meeting place for interested ICME members. Our recommendation is hotel "Zipser". ICME's Vienna expert, Matthias Beitl, says that "The travel agency 'austropa' has reserved 5 double and 5 single rooms with garden view. In addition, the hotel has a lot more space, all together 47 rooms, some of them are also on the garden side, very nice and quiet, each with a big old balcony. Inside, they are fine with 3 star comfort, prices see on the web. I would recommend it (ask for the garden view).
http://www.austropa-interconvention.at/hotels/en/zipser.asp
In case the 'austropa' contingent is booked out, I am sure the agency asks for more or try it directly: http://www.zipser.at/ (please refer to the ICME committee and the conference). Walking to the conference site takes about 15 minutes, to the city as well, lots of bars and restaurants in 2 - 10 minutes, across the street a spanish tapas bar called "side step" (good wine), and last but not least the Austrian Museum of Folk Life and Folk Art only 3 minutes away."

GRANTS

ICME is pleased to announce that we will be offering TWO grants of 750 euros each to help cover registration and accommodation costs during the 2007 ICOM General conference. Priority in application evaluation will be given to:

• ICME members.
• Participants presenting papers.
• Participants from developing countries.

Grant applications for these two grants must be sent to icme2007@yahoogroups.com
before March 31, 2007. Applicants should write why they are applying for financial assistance, the title and abstract of their proposed paper (if they plan on presenting one) and include a short CV.

OTHER GRANTS:

• GRACE MORLEY FELLOWSHIP FOR ICOM 2007 (Deadline February 28, 2007)
  
• Grants and Scholarships on the ICME links page

REGISTRATION

General information about the conference is available on the main conference web site: http://www.icom2007.com

Registration for the general conference, hotel booking, registration for ICME special activities and the ICME post-conference tour is possible through the Austropa Interconvention agency: http://www.austropa-interconvention.at/congress/icom2007/book.asp

Online registration for the ICME special activities and post-conference tour is possible on the web page that opens for those that choose "ICME" as their committee during the registration process. If you have already filled out your conference booking form and later wish to make changes (such as registering for the ICME special activities or Post-Conference tour), you may enter the online registration again by using the access code that the Austropa company sent you on your registration reciept.

ADDED FEE TO PARTICIPATE IN ICME SPECIAL ACTIVITIES: 50 EUROS
The special activity fee includes the dinner-party at the Austrian Museum of Folk Life and Folk Art on August 20th, dinner at the Vienna Museum of Ethnology on August 21 and the ICME visit to the ethnographic collections of the Mechitarist Congregation on August 22.

FEE FOR THE OPTIONAL ICME POST-CONFERENCE TOUR: 300 EUROS (285 EUROS in shared double room)
This fee includes transportation, 1 night 4**** accommodation, breakfast, dinner receptions and entrance fees. Deadline for post conference tour registration: May 20th, 2007.

DEADLINES

• January 31: Deadline for the ICOM General conference Registration Fee at € 230,-
• February 28: Deadline for Grace Morley Fellowship For Icom 2007 applications.
• March 31: Deadline for paper proposals and ICME Grant applications.
• April 30: Deadline for the ICOM General conference Registration Fee at € 270,-
• May 20: Deadline for ICME post conference tour registration.
• August 6: Deadline for the ICOM General conference Registration Fee at € 300,-
• After August 6: ICOM General conference Registration Fee € 330,-

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Best regards from the ICME2007 working group:

• Daniel Winfree Papuga, ICME president
• Annette Fromm, ICME secretary
• Matthias Beitl, ICME board member

ANNETTE FROMM. REPORT ON THE ICME 2006 CONFERENCE IN MIAMI FLORIDA"CONNECTIONS, COMMUNITIES AND COLLECTIONS"

In early July 2006 (10-12), the International Committee of Museums of Ethnography (ICME) held its annual meeting in Miami, Florida. The 2006 year’s meeting topic, “Connections, Communities and Collections,” drew a number of interesting paper proposals. Unfortunately, as with many small international groups, funding prevented several of the potential speakers from attending. Nonetheless, the hot weather and summer rains did not prevent lively discussions coupled with out-of-the-way excursions.

The meeting kicked-off with an engaging pre-conference walking tour of the art deco district of Miami Beach. A slight distraction was the exuberant celebrations of supporters of the victorious Italian team at the World Cup, a cultural spectacle in itself! The following day, after a ride past downtown Miami, historic Coconut Grove and Coral Gables, the meetings commenced at the Deering Estate at Cutler, a 450 acre environmental, archeological and historic park on Biscayne Bay. The group started with a tour of the former home of Charles Deering, first chairman of the International Harvester Corporation and renowned art collector. Rick West’s paper on voices in the museum was the first delivered that day. It was followed by a review of the role of ICME in promoting museums and community by ICME president, Daniel Winfree Papuga.

Galia Gavish of Jerusalem’s Old Yishuv Court Museum spoke about how exhibits at the Museum draw materials from community members who lived there at the time of Israel statehood. Other papers addressed museums in Bavaria and the digitalization of collections in Estonia. The sessions closed with a presentation by local historian Gene Tinnie about a museum still in formation devoted to the history of the African-American community in Miami. An excursion to the proposed ocean-side site of the museum, Virginia Key Beach Park followed the presentation. This site, the city’s main African-American beach in the 50s and 60s, is currently in the ambitious process of restoration.

The second day, the group met at the Historical Museum of Southern Florida. Steven Steumphle, chief curator, introduced the group to the cultural diversity of the city, speaking of the museum’s Community Research and Crossroads of the Americas programs. Joanne Hyppolite, curator of community research, spoke of the ongoing research and documentation in the substantial Haitian community in Miami. Leif Pareli, of the Norwegian Folk Museum, spoke of the role of indigenous museums as cultural centers. Pareli made reference to the presentation of the preceding day by Rick West - that repatriation is a win-win situation in most situations. Other papers included a discussion of a folk festival presented in the setting of a historical society in New Jersey and the creation of spaces that are meaningful to communities; the Native American installation at the Milwaukee Public Museum; the role of colonial museums in Denmark; approaches taken Istrian museums to implement exhibits that focus on people, not objects; and finally a discussion on presenting difficult subject matter in ethnographic museums.

The second day of the meeting continued with a walking tour of Little Havana. The group started at the home in which Elian Gonzalez resided with his “American” family. This shrine is lovingly maintained by Gonzalez’ grandfather and is opened to interested groups. The group then had the opportunity to see the cultural, social and economic setting of the neighborhood; they also saw homes of the non-Cubans who originally established the community. Dinner was enjoyed at the famous Versailles Restaurant, a Little Havana landmark. The evening ended at the exhibit, “Tastes and Tongues,” the Miami installation reflecting the multicultural nature of food traditions created by Catalan artist Antoni Miralda.

On the third day of the meeting, the group met at the Art Deco auditorium on Miami Beach. Several papers were presented on behalf of individuals who were not able to attend, with assistance of the written word and power point presentation. A discussion on the future of “virtual” presentations at ICME meetings as a way to overcome the difficulties in attending international conferences followed. After a long drive, the group reconvened at the Big Cypress reservation of the Seminole Tribe of Florida for lunch at Billie Swamp Safari, complete with fried alligator tail and fry bread. A tour of Ah-Tha-Thi-Ki Museum followed.

The ICME traditional post-conference tour started on the next day with a group of nine participants. The destination on the first day was the St. Augustine, almost on the northern border of the state via Florida back roads. The first stop was at the Clewiston Museum along Lake Okeechobee, one of the largest fresh-water lakes in the continental United States. This small community museum, which documents the history of the development of the area, the sugar cane industry, and cultural diversity among other topics, was in the process of re-opening in a new site. The ICME group was able to view the workings of a museum as it was remaking itself.

After a delightful lunch at the Clewiston Inn, complete with a viewing of the 1940s natural history murals by J. Clinton Shepherd, we drove up the center of the state on highway 27, through cattle country and orange orchards towards Kissimmee (home of Disneyworld). There we were able to visit the vast campus of the Wat Florida Dhammaram, a Buddhist temple established by the Thai community in Central Florida. Much of the art work in the buildings was created by local Thai artists. Another long leg deposited the weary group in St. Augustine.

The next day started with an informative trolley tour around the historic town. We next met for a behind-the-scenes tour of Colonial Spanish Quarter. The group was introduced to the background of historic preservation in the city and viewed a living history museum. Free time followed during which members of the group went to many of the local attractions including the Lightner Museum and the original Ripley’s Believe it or Not. Our group evening meal was at the Columbia Restaurant, famous for the “Spanish” menu.

The next day on the return trip to Miami stops were made at DeBary Hall, another community museum. DeBary Hall preserves 19th century history associated with the St. John’s River, a significant Florida water way in the former hunting lodge/mansion of Frederick DeBary. Lunch was at the Swamp House Grill on the St. John’s River, the only river in the state that flows south to north. The second museum visit of the day was at the Morikami Museum in DelRay Beach. This Japanese museum was established in memory of the Yamato colony, an early 20th century agricultural venture by a group of Japanese farmers. The exhibit on view was “Fresh From the Sea, Tairyobata and the Culture of Fishing in Japan.” This exhibit explored the long tradition of fish culture in Japan through art and material culture. The visit concluded with a stroll in extensive gardens that are part of the Museum.

Papers delivered at the 2006 ICME meeting in Miami are now posted on the ICME website (http://icme.icom.museum). The participation of more American museum anthropologists in the activities of ICME is strongly encouraged and if you are interested in receiving information about the committee, please submit your e-mail address to the appropriate place on the website to be placed on the mailing list.

Annette B. Fromm, Ph.D.
ICME - Secretary

ANNETTE FROMM. REPORT ON THE ONE HUNDRETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROMANIAN PEASANT’S MUSEUMS

A colloquium titled “Museums and Society” was held in Bucharest in October 2006 to officially mark the 100th anniversary of the Romanian Peasant’s Museum. In 1906, the Romanian Peasant’s Museum was founded as the first ethnographic museum in Romania. Since then, it functioned as a museum of National Art, of Popular Art, and of the Communist Party. Since 1990 the focus was again returned to ethnography and renamed the Museum of the Romanian Peasant. In 1996, it was awarded the EMYA prize (European Museum of the Year). The goal of the colloquium planners was to gather researchers interested in the intertwined discourses of Museum and Society, such as anthropologists, sociologists, historians, art critics and others. The call for papers sought speakers who could present “an analysis of identity discourses in *societal museums* and a retrospective and reflexive look on the relationship between Museum and Society, generally speaking. Even more, looking towards the future the question can be raised of what kind of museums do we need and for what types of societies?” Three and one half days of engaging presentations and discussions brought together museologists and academics from Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Belgium, France, England, Spain, Italy and the United States.

On the morning of the first day, after the requisite formal presentations by representatives of the Ministry of Culture, participants were invited to visit the halls of the museum. Many artifacts from the huge collection from the rural areas of the country are displayed in a manner designed by the esteemed post-Communist period museum director, Horia Bernea. In spacious exhibition halls, artifacts are grouped together artistically in a way that they are appreciated for their aesthetic values. Other exhibits are creations of rooms and living spaces. Hand held devices in Romanian, French and English bring background historical and ethnographic information to the visitors. These exhibits are a delight.

Papers presented in English, French and Romanian varied in topics, but primarily focused on issues of identity and heritage. Several introduced participants to the philosophy of museums in the region. These included a paper on the Romanian Village Museum in Bucharest and the Transylvanian Ethnographic Museum. Another paper told documented efforts in Spain to create a museum in association with the solidarity movement in Western Sahara. Another presentation was on the relatively new movement for the creation of European ethnographic museums.

Heritage and identity in Bulgaria were the theme of another paper. Identity was the theme of several papers about museums and approaches in Transylvania where both ethnic Romanians and ethnic Hungarians live side-by-side. The theme of identity was also central in the presentation on pluralism as seen in Turkish museums. The question of Polish identity as the effects of World War II on that country are now being explored and finding a place in the Warsaw Uprising Museum. My paper traced the origins of ethnic museums in the United States, especially African-American, Jewish-American and Native American museums. All of the papers will be published in a edition of Martor, the museum’s ethnography review.

The hospitality of the Romanian Peasant’s Museum was felt during our three days in Bucharest. Daily, we lunched together at leisure in the Triumf Hotel, where the speakers all stayed. Saturday night at the hotel was a treat for the ethnographers. Upon returning from an evening on the town, we found a wedding in full swing. All the contemporary trappings including balloon garlands and hearts paired with high fashion of the day, were an interesting pair with the traditional music and circle dances. The groom joined three of us to explain that his wife had been kidnapped and he was awaiting her return. He honored us with champagne and a cookie!

The last day of the colloquium was closed with a bus trip southeast of Bucharest to the town of Heresti. Here, the noted landowner’s home is in the process of being transformed into a museum. This monumental stone house, built in the 17th century, was sparsely furnished and decorated, but gave off an air of long-gone elegance. Here, too, we were feasted on traditional foods of stuffed cabbage and spitted meat and traditional liquors and wines. As our coach was leaving the town, we came upon a wedding procession with the bride and groom, musicians and guests carrying the wedding gifts for all to see.

ARNE ROKKUM. CALL FOR PAPERS - 18TH JAPAN ANTHROPOLOGY WORKSHOP (JAWS) CONFERENCE - JAPAN AND MATERIALITY IN A BROADER PERSPECTIVE

Dear Group Colleagues with a Japan focus,

You are invited to sign up for the next Japan Anthropology Workshop (JAWS) conference in Oslo, the University of Oslo. The Museum of Cultural History, March 14-17, 2007.The conference addresses the theme "Japan and Materiality in a Broader Perspective." But any other topic as well is equally welcome, whether this would be a proposal for a panel, an individual paper, a special lecture, a media event, or a round table discussion. Contributors to the conference are also invited to approach issues related to Japan from across-disciplinary point of view. Students and doctoral candidates are welcome to participate. The inclusive approach to the issue of Japan and materiality may be illustrated by the following possible topics:

* Popular culture: media, film, fashion, commercial culture, food & drink
* Place and landscape: monuments, sights, itineraries, mementos
* The materiality of display: theme parks, museums, games, virtual reality
* Significant objects: tools for identity making, proprietorship, emblems of power and interest
* Inalienable or marketable crafts and skills
* Nature, body, sexuality, and the sacred within the context of tools and technology
* The physicality of selfhood: social use of the body

Received submissions will be posted on the conference website http://www.khm.uio.no/jaws-2007/. Some of the already registered panels may be open for additional participants. Please contact the organizer for information on this. Papers submitted as individual presentations will be grouped into thematically coherent panels. You are welcome to address any inquiry to the email address below. Conference communication in Japanese is welcomed.

Email address:
jaws-2007@khm.uio.no

Looking forward to seeing you in Oslo!

Best regards,
Arne Rokkum
--
Professor of Social Anthropology
Department of Ethnography, Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo
P.O. Box 6762 St. Olavs Plass, NO-0130 Oslo, Norway
Tel +47-22859965. Fax +47-22859960
Mobile phone: +47-97711558
http://www.khm.uio.no

CLAIRE WARRIOR. CALL FOR PAPERS - OBJECTS OF TRADE - MUSEUM ETHNOGRAPHERS’ ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2007

A work in progress session is planned for up-to-date information on current and on-going projects (informal 5-10 minute presentations required). Papers from the conference may be considered for publication in the Journal of Museum Ethnography. Details of the Journal and the Museum Ethnographers Group can be found at the website - www.museumethnographersgroup.org.uk
For further information on the 2007 conference or to propose papers or sessions contact: Claire Warrior, Curator of Exhibitions, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, SE10 9NF, United Kingdom Tel: +44 20 8312 8562 Email: cwarrior@nmm.ac.uk closing date for submissions is Friday 16 March.

Claire Warrior Curator of Exhibitions National Maritime Museum Greenwich London SE10 9NF Tel: +44 (0)20 8312 8562 Fax: +44 (0)20 8312 6620 or 6722 http://www.nmm.ac.uk

OTHER UP-COMING CONFERENCES, EVENTS AND BLOGSPOTS

February 13-15, 2007: Conference on Repatriation of Cultural Heritage. The Greenland National Museum & Archives, Nuuk, Greenland. http://www.natmus.gl/con2007/

March 14-17, 2007, 18TH JAPAN ANTHROPOLOGY WORKSHOP (JAWS) CONFERENCE, JAPAN AND MATERIALITY IN A BROADER PERSPECTIVE, University of Oslo, http://www.khm.uio.no/jaws-2007/

March 17-25, 2007: Bilan du Film Ethnographique. Musée de l'Homme, Paris, France. http://www.comite-film-ethno.net/

March 28-April 1, 2007: "New Frontiers in Arts Sociology, Creativity, Support and Sustainability", 4th Interim Conference of the ESA Research Network Sociology for the Arts, Lueneburg and Hamburg, Germany. Deadline for proposals: October 15, 2006. http//www.new-arts-frontiers.eu

April 10-13, 2007: "Thinking through tourism", Association of Social Anthropologists annual conference, London, UK. http://www.theasa.org/asa07/

May 11-12, 2007: "Collecting across Cultures in the Early Modern World", San Marino, California, USA. Deadline for proposals: November 1, 2006. <http://www.usc.edu/schools/college/emsi/conferences>;

May 13-17, 2007: American Association of Museums Conference, Chicago, IL, USA. http://www.aam-us.org/

May 21-22, 2007: “Objects of trade”, The Museum Ethnographers' Group Annual UK Conference 2007 (www.museumethnographersgroup.org.uk). The closing date for submissions is Friday 16 March. Claire Warrior Curator of Exhibitions National Maritime Museum Greenwich London SE10 9NF Tel: +44 (0)20 8312 8562 Fax: +44 (0)20 8312 6620 or 6722 http://www.nmm.ac.uk

May 24-27, 2007: 'Region, Regional Identity and Regionalism in Southeastern Europe", International Association for Southeast European Anthropology (InASEA) - 4th Conference, Timisoara, Romania. Deadline for proposals: November 1, 2006. http://www-gewi.kfunigraz.ac.at/inasea/conference4.html

August 19 - 24, 2007: "Museums and Universal Heritage: Universal Heritage / Individual Responsibility - Individual Heritage / Universal Responsibility", 2007 ICOM General Conference, Vienna, Austria. http://www.icom-oesterreich.at/2007/index.html

September 24-28, 2007: "Preserving Aboriginal Heritage: Technical and Traditional Approaches", Canadian Conservation Institute, Ottawa, Canada. Deadline for paper proposals: January 15, 2007 http://www.cci-icc.gc.ca/symposium/callforcontributors_e.aspx

October 11-16 2007 : International Mining History Conference 2007, Flanders, Belgium. Deadline for paper proposals: June 1 2007 http://www.miningheritage.org/

BLOGSPOTS
http://museumanthropology.blogspot.com/

WORDS FROM THE EDITOR

This first ICME Newsletter of the New Year certainly holds the promise of a stimulating 2007 ICOM-ICME conference, just one among many others. Let us hope that the Vienna location proves successful and attracts a record turnout of members as the ICME conference team have worked tirelessly since Miami and continue to work extremely hard on our behalf. So fingers crossed and best of luck with those funding applications to all of us!

After a rather sedentary 2006 my working life became very exciting from October to December. First I was appointed to the new post of Director of PhD Research Students at the University of Leicester Dept of Museum Studies. This is proving to be a specially rewarding role as I get a chance to really know our brilliant students in a deeper sense, social, emotional, and intellectual than was possible before. Now for a shameless plug - I hope you will all remember us in the ‘Heart of England’ when you have prospective PhD research student candidates - Leicester really is a great place to live and study as a visit to the Leicester PhD student Blog spot demonstrates - http://attic-museumstudies.blogspot.com/

Despite these new tasks at the very last minute it transpired that I was able to attend the October ICTOP conference in Cape Town, where out very own Henri (Jatti) Bredekamp made us all extremely welcome. I was particularly impressed with Henri’s exceptionally well-organised education team at IZIKO who seem to complete a huge range of thought provoking activities - both inside the museum and during outreach - with such a small dedicated staff team. My other special favourite sites from the educational perspective were District 6 Museum, the Holocaust Centre and the Slave Lodge, probably once again largely due to the superb collaborative practice. Cape Town Museums are all well worth visits if anyone is in the area and I certainly cannot wait to return.

Then in November I did some teaching on the Communication and Education Module for the Master of Arts Programme at Museion in Goteborg, Sweden, which gave me the opportunity to revisit the excellent Museum of World Culture and best of all see some Museion graduates in action teaching there. Finally in December I made my first trip to Norway. I delivered a paper on some recent projects carried out by the University of Leicester, Department of Museum Studies, Research Centre for Museums and Galleries (RCMG) to a most receptive audience at the Medieval Museum and the Museum of Natural History in Trondheim - both wonderful sites. Following this work I was lucky enough to visit Per Rekdal’s Museum of Ethnography in Oslo while they were hosting an Ancient Egypt Family Day. Once again it was most impressive to see what amazing work in fun learning such a small but dedicated team can achieve.

I send you all my very best wishes until we meet in Vienna, if not before. Be well everyone.

Viv

Viv Golding, Editor of ICME-news

E-mail: editor@icme.icom.museum

Contact address: University of Leicester

Department of Museum Studies

105 Princess Road East

Leicester LE1 7LG. UK

Telephone: +44(0) 116 252 3975

Fax: +44(0) 116 252 3960

The deadline for the next issue is 30th March 2007. Please send your news to any of the above contact addresses, although email is preferred.

ICME - International Committee for Museums and Collections of Ethnography
Updated by webmaster, January 28, 2007
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