
On 4 April 2014, the
Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, an ASEMUS member, held a seminar which aimed to explore
how Irish and international museum practice recognises the need to work with external partners and groups as well as
acknowledge the changing face of national identities in the twenty-first century. The resulting presentations
are now available online.
Entitled
'Museums as Places for Intercultural Dialogue and Learning', the seminar’s theme related to the diversity and inclusion urban policy agenda advocated by the
Intercultural Cities programme of the Council of Europe, of which Dublin is a leading participant.
Intercultural learning and dialogue is at the heart of the Chester Beatty Library’s exhibition and learning programme. For over 10 years, the Library has led the way in developing links with its immediate and international diverse communities as reflected in the Collections.
Speakers at the event included: Minister for Education and Skills,
Mr Ruairi Quinn, TD;
Dr Viv Golding, Director of Learning and Visitor Studies, Senior Lecturer in Communication and Education,School of Museum Studies, Leicester University;
Irena Guidikova (Intercultural Cities, Council of Europe);
Declan Hayden (Office of Integration, Dublin City Council);
Ann Luttrell (Anna Lindh Foundation, Irish Network);
Jenny Siung (Chester Beatty Library);
Margherita Sani (Istituto per beni artistici, culturali e naturali);
Brid Maher and
Jane Camara, Inclusion and Diversity Services, Northern Ireland;
Justyna Chmielewska (Chester Beatty Library) and
Alan Kirwan (House of European History; a project of the European Parliament).
Their
presentations and a video showing images of the event are available online at
http://www.cbl.ie/Education/Museums-as-Places-for-Intercultural-Dialogue---Lea.aspx
Picture: 'Tell Your Story' project, Chester Beatty Library and Draíocht Arts Centre, 2008