The Irish Museums Association’s Annual Conference 2012 will bring together Museums Professionals in order to determine where Ireland’s collecting institutions are placed to embrace change and the role of the sector in wider society.

In times of national economic stress, the provision of cultural and heritage sector support can seem like a luxury. There are many fractures in the structure of our society.

Unemployment rates continue to rise, people are losing their homes and health services are being curtailed. In these circumstances support for museum and galleries is not an anomaly - it is a necessity.

Caring for cultural assets and treasures is a priority. Our collections, whether national and local, are a physical manifestation of our identity. They have a key role to play in education, research, scholarship, tourism and overall social and community wellbeing.

We acknowledge we are in a time of change but with change come challenges. Are we prepared and willing to embrace these challenges?

The IMA Annual Conference 2012 will set out to determine where our collecting institutions are placed to embrace change and to prove our worth to wider society.

Presentations will be given by National & International Industry Leaders:

• Julien Anfruns, Director General, International Council of Museums (ICOM);
• Chris Bailey, Director, Northern Ireland Museums Council;
• Tania Banotti, Chief Executive, Theatre Forum Ireland & Secretary, National Campaign for the Arts;
• Pat Cooke, Director, MA in Cultural Policy and Arts Management, University College Dublin;
• Elizabeth Crooke, Senior Lecturer, Museum and Heritage Studies, University of Ulster;
• Niall Crowley, Independent Equality Expert;
• André Gob, Professor of Museology, University of Liège, Belgium;
• Peadar Kirby, Professor of International Politics and Public Policy & Director of the Institute for the Study of Knowledge in Society, University of Limerick;
• Mark O’Neill, Director of Policy & Research, Cultural & Sport Glasgow (Glasgow Life);
• Aidan Pender, Director of Strategic Development, Fáilte Ireland
• Michael Starrett, Chief Executive Officer, Heritage Council

For more information and full schedule, please contact Gina O’Kelly at the Irish Museums Association.

Ticket Price: €20 - €140

Phone: +353 1 4120939

Email: office@irishmuseums.org

Web: www.irishmuseums.org