Regional Museums in a Post Industrial Age

[StephGaub]

CALL FOR PAPERS
Regional Museums in a Post Industrial Age
20-24 October 2008
Pittsburgh and Johnstown, Pennsylvania USA

The International Committee for Regional Museums [ICR] seeks papers for its annual meeting to be held 20-24 October 2008 in Pittsburgh and Johnstown, Pennsylvania USA. The theme is “Regional Museums in a Post Industrial Age.”

What is the future of Regional Museums? What strategies must they adopt to thrive in a global economy? Presenters are encouraged to address issues relating to economic sustainability and/or the challenges of increasing community involvement while documenting, collecting, preserving and interpreting changing cultural and physical landscapes.

The conference begins in Pittsburgh with keynote speeches and presentations at Fort Pitt Museum. Located at the point of land where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers meet to form the Ohio, Fort Pitt’s permanent exhibit interprets the physical and cultural landscape of western Pennsylvania in the 18th century. Additional presentations are scheduled at the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh History Center, noted for collecting and exhibiting Pittsburgh’s ethnic and corporate history. Staff will discuss issues relating to documenting and preserving 20th century history.

Participants will visit Old Economy Village, challenged with interpreting the Harmony Society’s industrial and manufacturing community and the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, a “green” museum known for its community involvement. Attendees will also have the opportunity to visit the Carnegie Museums; the Nationality Rooms at the University of Pittsburgh; Clayton, the home of industrialist Henry Clay Frick and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater.

Somerset Historical Center interprets a changing rural landscape and serves as an example of a successful partnership between state government and a local historical society. The conference concludes in Johnstown, which persists as a community despite three disastrous floods, economic reversals and loss of industry. Participants will learn about the Johnstown Area Heritage Association’s efforts to preserve and interpret local history through partnerships and sustainable museums and visit the Johnstown Flood Museum; Wagner Ritter House and Johnstown Discovery Center.

Papers on the topic are limited to twenty minutes and must be in English or provide a written translation. A limited number of ten minute presentations focusing on museums or projects relating to the theme will also be accepted.
See www.icr-icom.org or contact Susan Hanna at shanna@state.pa.us for additional information.