National Collections Advisory Forum - Communiqué - 16 August 2002
In recognising the importance of Australia's national collections, the Cultural Ministers Council (CMC) today announced the membership of the National Collections Advisory Forum.
The Forum has been established to provide strategic advice on the cultural collections sector, and identify priorities for governments in addressing ongoing needs.
The Forum will bring both industry and community perspectives to Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers on policy and planning for the gallery, library, archives and museum sectors in regard to the Distributed National Collection.
The Members of the Forum will bring a comprehensive understanding of collections issues, and a broader community perspective to issues such as public expectations of collections and the future directions of collecting institutions.
Forum members have expertise in areas such as libraries, archives, galleries, museums, education and information technology. The members of the Forum are
- Professor Margaret Seares-Pro Vice Chancellor (Community and Development) University of Western Australia (Chair)
- Ms Margaret Birtley-Cultural Heritage Centre for Asia and the Pacific, Deakin University
- Mr Ross Gibbs-Director, Public Records Office of Victoria
- Dr J. Patrick Greene-CEO, Museum of Victoria
- Mr Brendan Hartnett-Director of Strategic Services, LgovNSW
- Ms Janine Schmidt-University Librarian, University of Queensland
- Mr Chris Tassell-Director, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery
- Professor David Throsby-Professor of Economics, Macquarie University, and
- Mr Gerry White-CEO, education.au limited.
The CMC's Key Needs Study revealed that leadership and national coordination of strategic initiatives are essential to the longer-term development of the sector. The National Collections Advisory Forum will facilitate collaboration in addressing the critical needs of the sector.
The Forum's Terms of Reference are to
- prioritise the current and future needs of Australia's collections, including benchmarks and standards, and recommend strategies and programs to address these needs,
- develop strategies to identify the community value of collections and support their potential as instruments of social, cultural and economic development,
- advise on means of enhancing the coordination of support programs offered by the three tiers of Government and industry, and
- provide a report to CMC, within 12 months, upon the feasibility or otherwise of establishing a national industry body to represent the library, archives, museum and gallery sectors.
The CMC recognises the significant contribution the Heritage Collections Council, and its predecessors, have made to heritage collections through their work in developing AMOL and the benchmark conservation and collections management tools. The Forum provides an opportunity build on work of the Heritage Collections Council.
The first meeting of the National Collections Advisory Forum will be held in Canberra on 27 August 2002.
Media contact
Erica Martin, Secretariat
Phone 02 6271 1255 or 0413 387 911
16 August 2002