Event Description

As Libraries are moving through the social space looking for ways to create a space for themselves online, many other cultural spaces are doing similar work. Dr. Caroline Wilson-Barnao, Craig Middleton and Lisa Enright reviewed how the National Museum of Australia was able to gather information about the 2019/2020 bushfire season while also dealing with the restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic. Together they have identified a lack of policies and practices that, in a similar to many libraries, made is difficult to cater to the communities that depend on them.

This webinar presentation is a deeper dive into their research, with their research team, as well as a following Q&A session that will inspire some communication across the GLAMR sector. 

Abstract from the Research Paper of Dr Dr. Caroline Wilson-Barnao, Craig Middleton and Lisa Enright:

Covid-19 has highlighted an urgent need for museums to develop and implement policies and practices that allow them to be more responsive to audiences' during a crisis, in many cases pushing them to explore new technologies and approaches. Based on an analysis of the National Museum of Australia and its digital engagement throughout the 2019/2020 bushfire season and the Covid-19 pandemic, this paper identifies a lack of literature to support the need for digital channels to be incorporated in institutional crisis planning. Referencing "Momentous", a purpose-built website, and two Facebook groups, “Fridge Door Fire Stories” and “Bridging the Distance”, we explore the content shared on these platforms by users and place this in conversation with the reflections of the cultural workers who created and maintained these online platforms. We claim that historically museums have responded to their communities by seeking out new ways to provide physical collection access but suggest that we are witnessing the emergence of new approaches enabled by technologies that allow communities to take a more active role in negotiating how the museum represents their experiences.

Presenters

Dr. Caroline Wilson-Barnao PhD | Director Museum Studies | The University of QLD

Mr. Craig Middleton| Senior Curator | National Museum of Australia

Q&A facilitated by ALIA QLD 

When

Wednesday, 14 June    11:00am - 12:30pm AEST              

Where

On Zoom - a link will be sent the day prior to the webinar. 

Please note: the webinar will be recorded and available for registrants to view.

Cost

ALIA Members - FREE

Non-Members - $5

More information 

Cancellation Policy