Development Service
Australia's movable heritage is dispersed amongst communities throughout our country in what has become known as the Distributed National Collection. As part of the National Conservation Strategy, and as a partner organisation of the National Standards Taskforce, the Western Australian Museum extends services to organisations which care for elements of this Distributed National Collection.
- Packing costume - Collection Care workshop
- Photo from WA Museum Development Service
- Image copyright of WA Museum
Basic information is available to any organisation or individual. Provision of advisory services is delivered predominantly by telephone and electronic means. We also deliver training on specific topics to communities and institutions responsible for permanent collections which operate within the broad definition of a museum as defined by the International Council of Museums (ICOM). This includes assisting collections cared for by organisations such as Local Government, historical societies, Aboriginal cultural organisations and other community groups as well as universities and government agencies.
We offer information and advice on all aspects of the planning, operation and management of museums as community assets. Services are tailored to assist organisations to achieve the principles of best practice as outlined in the National Standards for Australian Museums and Galleries.
The National Standards for Australian Museums and Galleries are available online at Collections Australia Network (CAN) http://www.collectionsaustralia.net/sector_info_item/107
A ‘bookshelf’ of resources valuable to those caring for collections was compiled by the Collections Council of Australia in 2010. These resources were provided in digital and hard copy format as a reference tool: http://www.collectionscouncil.com.au/fifth+announcement+23+april+2010.aspx
The Development Service in action
This photo gallery shows the Development Service in action in a workshop in the Kimberley region, teaching some conservation techniques.
Contact
Please contact Clare-Frances Craig to find out about museum development programs and other activities related to museum standards in Western Australia.
Email: Clare-Frances.Craig@museum.wa.gov.au
Telephone: 08 9212 3775
Fax: 08 9212 3882
Introduction to Development Service
Our Development Service offers information and advice on all aspects of the planning, operation and management of museums as community assets. Services are tailored to assist organisations to achieve the principles of best practice as outlined in the National Standards for Australian Museums and Galleries.
The following areas of activity are covered:
- Collection Management: collection planning and policy, accessioning, indexing, storing, preventive conservation, basic cataloguing using computers
- Exhibitions: story line development, design, display
- Conservation: preventive conservation, storage, display, general museum environmental control
- Public Relations with the wider community, school groups, and local government
- Management and planning, funding, legal issues, planning for museums and Aboriginal cultural centres
- Grant fund applications project development and fine-tuning of applications.
- Strategic Planning workshop, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, October 2010
- Photo by Elaine Labuschagne
- Image courtesy of CollectionsCare Goldfields