Museum Forum at SEAMEO SPAFA

Collaborators

• The Research Institute of Language and Culture of Asia, Mahidol University (mainly assists in public relations, with its lecturers and students acting as moderators for the forum);
• The Thai Human Imagery Museum (offers staff to help organize the venue, and bears the expenses for refreshment).

Rationale/Description The Museum Forum is organized monthly on every third Wednesday, and has continued regularly since February 2004 in collaboration with the Research Institute of Language and Culture of Asia, Mahidol University and the Thai Human Imagery Museum.  The forum gathers resource persons from museums in Thailand, students, and the interested public to meet and inform one another on museum practices.  In 2010-2011, the forum will focus on community learning centres and small-to-medium sized museums since many such institutions have closed down because of management problems. In the monthly forum, where paper presentations, practical workshops and discussions are conducted, the knowledge of museum staff will be enhanced.  Study visits would be regularly organized to broaden interest in museums and learning centres.  In 2011-2012, the Museum Forum will continue to focus on community learning centres and local museums.  Apart from the monthly forum and annual study visit, the Centre will also expand the forum into a regional programme as mentioned in the 6^th Five Year Strategic Plan (2012-2016) on International Museum Forum: Establishing the Network of Small-to-Medium Sized Museum in Southeast Asia.   The international forum aims to establish stronger network of small-to-medium sized museums and community learning centres in Southeast Asia. Background information/Statement of the problem As mentioned above, numerous private museums and community learning centres in Thailand have closed down because of lack of knowledge on museum management.  As an organization involved in conserving cultural heritage, SPAFA should take a significant role in assisting these museums by educating museum staff through practical training and workshops. Specific Objectives

1. To to contribute useful museum knowledge to community learning centres and small-to-medium sized museums
2. To exchange knowledge between experienced museum staff and individuals from community learning centres and small–to-medium sized museums
3. To encourage museum staff to be aware of current issues

Target group/Beneficiaries Museum personnel, students from related fields, and interested individuals Output Online publication of articles presented by the speakers. Outcome

1. Museum personnel are more active in their work.
2. Museum personnel are encouraged to learn from, and to share new ideas with, their colleagues.
3. Museum personnel can apply experiences and knowledge from the forum in their actual work.
4. The interested public pays more attention to small-to-medium sized museums and local learning centres.