CC(3) PWA19
Communities and Culture Committee
Scrutiny Inquiry : Promoting Welsh Arts and Culture on the World Stage
Response from : Traude Allison Rogers
A Wales-Africa Museum/Gallery/Archive/Library Network
'Placing Wales in the World’
*Note is made that whilst specific cultural institutions are mentioned in this paper, these are the personal views of the author and in no way represent the views or submissions of these cultural institutions or bodies.
Rationale and Background
This proposal sets out the case for the development of a Wales-Africa Museum/ Archives/ Libraries Network, based on core principles of mutuality and sustainability, and illustrates that Wales is uniquely placed to develop an international network of this nature. This is envisaged as a network which would be collaborate in nature, under the umbrella of the Welsh Assembly Government (CyMAL), engaging national, regional and local museums, galleries, libraries and archives within Wales and which could attract funding and support from a variety of Wales-based, UK, European and international sources.
Policy Context
A Network would support and implement the vision and strategies of both 'One Wales’ (1) and 'Wales for Africa’ (2). Furthermore, a Wales-Africa Network could enrich the directions of the National Museum of Wales Development Plan (3). Amgueddfa Cymru / National Museum of Wales and Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru/ National Library of Wales are already at the forefront internationally in illustrating the role of national cultural institutions as pivotal in creating and maintaining national identities (and minority community identities within this) and developing positive citizenship (4). In the African context progressive paradigms of sustainable development place participation of communities as a goal of development, envisaging culture and heritage as central to effective implementation. Museums therefore are of increasing significance in Africa as interfaces between cultural heritage and appropriate sustainable development.
In 'One Wales’, 'Placing Wales in the World’ (p. 38) a goal for the next four years is, 'We will develop a more strategic approach to putting Wales on the world map, bringing greater coherence to the breadth of the Assembly Government’s overseas activities and representation….’ and (p. 38) 'We will continue to make our contribution to the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, with support for the Wales for Africa programme and its international development fund’. In 'Wales for Africa’ the First Minister emphasises, 'there is a demand within Wales for there to be an identifiable Welsh response to contributing to international development’ (p.1) and he speaks of the importance of building, 'effective links between Wales and developing countries in Sub Saharan Africa by facilitating the transfer and exchange of knowledge, skills and expertise to and from where they are needed most in the world’ and that 'actions undertaken are mutually beneficial’ and that 'sustainable development is at the core of all work undertaken’ (p. 2). Furthermore in the proceedings of the European and External Affairs Committee (5) on the issue of the image and branding of Wales, '…..Wales as a nation of original thinkers: a nation which is prepared to follow its own path……a land that cherishes culture and creativity; and a place which prides itself on being different and given to innovation and lateral thinking’…the Committee also spells out the Welsh national attitude which looks for 'original / lateral solutions to develop and improve itself as a nation; prides itself in being a small clever country with big ideas, that punches above its weight’. With regard to the Development Plan of the National Museum of Wales (3) a network could play a key role in 'strengthening Wales’s cultural identity and promoting the cultural life of Wales’, 'promoting our cultural strengths and expanding our international profile’ and 'promoting racial equality in Wales’ (p 5, 6)
A Wales-Africa Network as proposed in this draft paper would be an effective method of achieving these policy aims and directions and would significantly raise and enhance the profile of Wales in Britain, Europe and the World.
1. One Wales: A progressive agenda for the government of Wales. An agreement between the Labour and Plaid Cymru Groups in the National Assembly - 27th June 2007
2. Wales for Africa - A Framework for Welsh Assembly Government Action on International Sustainable Development: The Sustainable Development and Spatial Plan Division - September 2006
3. National Museum of Wales Development Plan 2006-2016
4. National Museum Wales - Centenary Conference 2007, 'National Museums and Small Nations’.
5. Proceedings of European and External Affairs Committee of Welsh Assembly Government- 12th July 2006
What is a Wales/Africa Museum/Gallery/Archive/Library Network?
A Network would strategically develop partnerships and projects between Welsh and African institutions so as to mutually enhance the capacity, outreach and social relevance of these institutions. This collaboration would have the benefit of communities and sustainable development at its core. The Network would have a collective identity and membership of museums, galleries, archives and libraries from Wales and Africa. There may also be potential to develop these links with countries that have Consular representation in Wales.
What makes Wales uniquely placed to initiate and develop an international 'Museums’ Network - 'Rhwydwaith Cymru Affrica’?
A well established British Council Wales Office with links to some 23 African countries and their cultural institutions.
A high profile renowned National Museum with bi-lingualism and the promotion of indigenous and other Welsh cultural identities as key portfolios.
A National Library as a world-leader in widening access to a nation’s intellectual records and archives through a variety of innovative media.
Effective structures within Wales to engage and access Welsh museums, galleries and libraries; through the initiatives of CyMAL an association of over 150 museums and galleries in Wales spanning a diverse range of disciplines (railways, military, art, mining, motoring, communities, rural, maritime etc).
The positive image of Wales in Africa.
A small and innovative country with a strong drive and proven track record in vigorously promoting and developing special and distinct cultural identities /languages as vital to healthy national development.
A key international player as a country that has 'rescued’ and empowered its threatened indigenous culture (of special relevance to Africa).
A leader in movements for global citizenship and sustainable development.
A progressive and forward thinking view in Welsh governance that sustainable development and the flourishing of culture are interdependent.
A strong commitment to the delivery of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
A world leader in placing bi-lingualism and multi-culturalism as central to cultural life and national development.
An excellent track record of Welsh friendship and dynamic engagement in Africa through the National Museum of Wales, 'PONT’, Dolen Cymru and the Southern Ethiopia Gwent Health Link.
Would this Network be competing with other comparable Museum networks?
No. The British Museum through the office of their Director is establishing links with museums in Africa through individual Memoranda of Understanding. A vital element of these understandings is the existence of collections in the British Museum from those respective countries in Africa. Furthermore ICOM (International Council of Museums) is in the process of developing links between museums in Europe and museums in Africa based on the shared principle of the existence of collections originating from Africa being present in the respective European museum collections. AFRICOM (the Africa side of ICOM) is a lobbying, informational and empowerment structure for museums in Africa but does not have a network with museums in Europe as part of its work. Samp (Swedish Intercontinental Museums Network), which has been funded by SIDA (Swedish International Development Agency) (this ends in the current financial year) began some fifteen years ago and embraces Sweden, Africa, Asia and Latin America. Samp has not placed sustainable development or attainment of the MDGs in Africa as its primary objectives but lessons could be drawn from the experiences and work of Samp in developing a cutting edge international Wales-Africa museum network. Samp will no longer be funded by SIDA and will operate from 2009 as a self funding body. It remains to be seen how this develops.
What would be the benefits of a Wales/Cymru International Museum Network?
A mutually beneficial transfer of knowledge, skills and expertise.
High profile showcasing of the internationalism and world-class expertise of Wales.
Place Wales as a leader in unique UK international cultural initiatives.
Niche for Wales in promoting and showcasing culturally sensitive, people-based sustainable development.
Through research and community projects on museum sites and with communities in Africa and Wales, movement towards achievement of the MDG’s in Africa and development of global citizenship in Wales.
Collaborations with National Art Galleries on the African continent to inform Wales’s initiative to establish a National Art Gallery.
Museums in Africa are very adept at engaging urban and rural communities in exhibitions and outreach programmes. This 'participative’ experience could empower cultural institutions in Wales.
Museums in Africa through programmes such as community museums have been successful in reaching and empowering minority religious, ethnic and cultural minorities. Again this experience could empower Welsh institutions to effectively reach Wales’ black and ethnic minority communities.
Increased social relevance and centrality of cultural institutions in development and global citizenship.
The issue of threatened indigenous languages is now a critical issue in Africa but cultural institutions seek empowerment in strategies to tackle this area. The excellence and experience of Wales in this area would be vital.
Enhancement of collaborative networks between museums, galleries and libraries in Wales given that projects and partnerships could embrace north-south linkages and also north-north-south linkages.
Application of research to issues of environmental sustainability in both Wales and countries in Africa.
What types of initiatives would a Network undertake?
The following are some possibilities for collaborative projects and partnerships:
Drawing on lessons from the Inquiry of the Communities and Culture Committee, to develop a strategic collaborative vision for future international initiatives to be undertaken by AC, CyMAL, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru, other Welsh libraries, museums and galleries, British Council Wales, Wales Arts International and key bodies. This would build on and further develop the current range of positive partnerships and projects within Wales.
Africa-Wales and Wales-Africa-European collaborative applied research projects to investigate and contribute positively to environmental and developmental challenges.
Exhibitions to showcase topical social issues such as health (HIV and AIDS), social (empowerment of women, domestic violence etc), developmental (planning with people as an end in development rather than a means), and environmental (pollution, global warming, recycling).
Collaborative youth citizenship projects to link teenagers in Wales and Africa so that they learn about the challenges of each other’s lives.
Art projects which involve sustainability such as 'something from nothing’: art from waste.
Community museum initiatives to empower minority and possibly marginalised communities and linguistic minorities.
Engage and include organisations and collaborations in Wales already active in Africa: for example Dolen Cymru: the National Museum, National Archive and Library of Lesotho could be engaged in a cultural collaboration project.
Sustainable development projects such as bee-keeping ventures for cultural and natural heritage management.
A critical issue in collections based cultural institutions in Africa is illicit traffic in cultural property and security of their objects, specimens, books and documents. A Wales-Africa collaboration could significantly raise the profile of this crisis situation and help to find practical solutions.
Collaborations on collections and estates management, project management, exhibitions design, human resources, financial management, marketing and education, and other areas of museum and cultural institution management to raise capacity and develop appropriate models for the African and Welsh contexts: for example life-long learning and literacy projects.
What would be the first steps in the creation of a Wales-Africa Museum/Gallery/Archive/Library Network?
A strategy to attract funding from a variety of sources: the Welsh Assembly Government (for example Department for International Development, British Council Regional Programmes for Africa, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, possibly UK based Trusts, Commonwealth Foundation, International Trusts (Prince Klaus, Kellogg Foundation), Big Lottery and the Corporate sector).
Development of draft four year development plan and budget to begin with a few pilot linkages in the first year to a network by year four.
Engagement and involvement of cultural institutions in Africa to draw up Vision and Mission Statements, Values and 'SMART’ Aims and Objectives within the backdrop of the Millennium Development Goals. This would be re-visited on an annual basis as the network learns and develops.
Traude Allison Rogers (BA Hons, MSc, MA)
Cardiff, Wales
December 2008
*Note is made that whilst specific cultural institutions are mentioned in this paper, these are the personal views of the author and in no way represent the views or submissions of these cultural institutions or bodies.
