The ASEAN Museum Forum 2024, themed 'Contemporary Challenges and Innovative Practices in Museums,' focuses on addressing the critical issues facing museums today. Museums encounter numerous challenges such as financial constraints, the need for digital transformation, cultural sensitivities, legal complexities, and health and safety concerns. This forum provides a platform for museum professionals, academics, technologists, and community leaders, to discuss these challenges, share insights, and exchange innovative ideas, emphasizing the need for museums to adapt to societal, environmental, and technological changes.
Innovation is vital for the survival and future progress of museums. The forum highlights innovative practices across various areas, including adopting new technologies, developing digital engagement platforms, and implementing fresh approaches to management and education. By promoting creative problem-solving and dynamic community engagement, the forum encourages museums to transcend conventional boundaries and adopt relevant methods to tackle contemporary challenges effectively.
Through keynote speeches and panel discussions, the forum will showcase research, case studies, and strategies that demonstrate museums' adaptability in times of change. This event aims to ensure museums continue to play a crucial role in preserving heritage while evolving with the needs of people, communities, and contemporary society.
• Dates: September 12-13, 2024
• Venue: Swissôtel Bangkok Ratchada, Bangkok, Thailand
• Theme: Contemporary Challenges and Innovative Practices in Museums
Program
The forum features keynote sessions and panel discussions on various topics, including:
• Crisis Management in Museums: Strategies for handling crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Financial Resilience: Approaches to navigating financial challenges in museum operations.
• Digital Innovation: Utilizing technology to enhance museum engagement.
• Cultural Narratives: Innovative methods for presenting cultural stories.
• Community Engagement: Involving local communities in museum activities.
• Environmental Sustainability: Museums’ roles in addressing climate change.
The ASEAN Museum Forum 2024 brought together a diverse array of museums and cultural institutions from across Southeast Asia and beyond. Participants included:
• Vietnam National Museum of History: Represented by Nguyen Thi Dinh, who discussed the museum’s strategies during crisis periods, highlighting both challenges and opportunities.
• National Palace Museum: Pei-Yin Shih shared insights on crisis preparedness within the museum context, emphasizing proactive measures for disaster management.
• UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok: Feng Jing, Ph.D., provided a perspective on post-pandemic museum development, focusing on fostering social cohesion and embracing new technologies.
• British Council Malaysia: Florence Lambert discussed the role of culture in responding to global challenges, presenting the “Human Nature Arts Programme” as a case study.
• Center for Research and Promotion of Cultural Heritage, Vietnam: Nguyen Duc Tang shared experiences on participatory museum approaches in cultural preservation and community development.
• National Discovery Museum Institute (Museum Siam), Thailand: As the host institution, Museum Siam facilitated the forum, providing a platform for discussions on contemporary challenges and innovative practices in museums.
Additionally, experts from various universities and cultural organizations contributed to the forum, enriching the discussions with diverse perspectives on museum management, digital innovation, and community engagement. This collaborative gathering underscored the commitment of Southeast Asian museums to address shared challenges and explore innovative solutions in the evolving cultural landscape.