Workshop: Access in Museums in South Asia | India

The Commonwealth Association of Museums and the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum (MSMS II, Jaipur, India) are organising a workshop titled Access in Museums in South Asia, in partnership with ICOMOS India and supported by the Inclusive Museum. It will be held in Jaipur between 25 and 28 March 2016. The workshop will focus on the challenges of making buildings and collections physically and intellectually accessible, with a special focus on historic properties and collections such as the MSMS II Museum and its collections. The goal is for participants to sensitise themselves on issues of accessibility, and acquire the working knowledge necessary to facilitate better access at their own institutions. The activity-based workshop process as well as outcomes will be shared with colleagues and institutions and developed further. Access in Museums in South Asia will present case studies by peers on work in progress and completed projects and will draw from a wide range of expertise from across the Commonwealth, and a variety of museum roles. Facilitators will lead practical sessions on site that will help participants think through real problems and develop solutions, experience that can then be used in their own work. The workshop will be based at the MSMS II Museum in Jaipur and use the historic museum complex and its collections as resources. It will also include site visits to museums and heritage sites in and around Jaipur, which may include: Jaigarh Fort, Jal Mahal, Anokhi Museum, Government Central Museum (Albert Hall), and General Amar Singh Kanota Library & Museum. A post-workshop tour of heritage sites in the neighbouring region will be offered by historian Dr Giles Tillotson as an optional extra. Registration is open until places are filled, but a reduced, early fee is valid only until 15 January. For more information about Acceess in Museums in South Asia, please contact Bess Forrestall bess.forrestall@gmail.com or visit http://www.maltwood.uvic.ca/cam/activities/upcoming_conferences/index.html