Call for Abstracts for 2011 National Conference

The Organising Committee is pleased to announce the Museums Australia and Interpretation Australia 2011 National Conference ‘At the Frontier: Exploring the Possibilities’ to be held on Monday 14 – Friday 18 November 2011 in Perth, Western Australia.

Call for Abstracts Open

We are delighted to advise Abstract Submissions are now open.

The Committee invites you to submit a current and unpublished abstract of no more than 250 words using the themes below which relate to the Conference theme ‘At the Frontier: Exploring the Possibilities’.

•  The Future
•  The Landscape
•  The Vehicle

The deadline for abstract submissions is Thursday, 2 June 2011. Before you submit your abstract please take a few moments to view the submission guidelines below.

Where are we going? What is our destination and what are we trying to achieve? What is our vehicle? What innovative processes or technologies are helping us to achieve our aims? What barriers must we break through? What challenges lie across our path? What are the new opportunities for our sectors?

 At the end of the first decade of the 21^st Century we find ourselves facing exciting, troubling and unknown futures.

At the Frontier 2011 will explore this negotiable landscape over four days. Papers, workshops and interactive forums will encourage debate and speculation. At the Frontier 2011 will open up a space of conjecture about the futures of museums, galleries and interpretive centres as well as museology, interpretation and education.

We welcome abstracts from members and non-members alike that explore the possibilities of museum and interpretive practice:

Where are we going?

The future – intellectual frontiers; new directions for museums, galleries & interpretive spaces; permeable museums; fictional museums; curatorial frontiers; virtual curating; the evolving curator; the role of artists; reinterpreting collections; education frontiers & the national curriculum; research & discovery; sustainability & biodiversity; pop culture; multi-culturalism; new communities; interdisciplinary & collaborative practice.

How are we getting there?

The vehicle – pioneering technologies; innovative interpretation; creative architecture & physical infrastructure; inspired design; new media; social media; convergence of facilities; mobile platforms; trans-media opportunities; ground-breaking exhibition practices; contemporary collecting; new learning models; education theories & pedagogy; audience engagement; the role of affect; intellectual, creative & emotional access; diversity & inclusiveness.

What challenges do we face?

The landscape – moral, economic & political frontiers; coping with natural disasters; responding to climate change; the cost of being green; public, private & commercial funding models; philanthropy; issues of ethics; memory & commemoration; obsolescence; loss of traditional skills; social barricades & opportunities; provocative practices; representing trauma & contentious issues; creating social change.

These are just some suggested topics; we are open to any submissions on current theory and practice.

PRESENTATION FORMATS

Oral Presentation:   Presentations of 20 minutes, with 5 minutes for Q&A.

Pechakucha: Short, focused presentations limited to 20 slides of 20 seconds each.  The presenter speaks for 6 minutes, 40 seconds in all. 

Workshops: Workshops should enable delegates to engage with each other and share experiences in relation to problems or issues. Workshops can be for either 1 hour 30mins, or 3  hours (half day).

1. Name(s) of author(s) and contact details

2. Title of your presentation

3. Type of presentation (oral presentation, Pechakucha, workshop)

4. Theme or topic of presentation

5. If you wish your paper to be peer reviewed (Y/N)

6. Short biography. (Max 50 words per presenter)

IMPORTANT POINTS TO NOTE

• Presenters should note that all costs to attend the conference must be met from their own resources. As a commitment to attend and support the conference, accepting presenters are required to pay and register for the full conference program or for the day of their presentation.
• All abstracts will be reviewed by the Program Committee who reserve the right to reject any abstract it considers does not meet the conference criteria.
• Due to space restrictions of the conference program, it may not be possible for all abstracts to be included in the program.

To submit your abstract click here. Please ensure you follow the abstract template, which can be downloaded via the call for abstracts portal.