PIMA Press Release

12 October 2007

In May 2008 PIMA will host a two-day symposium in Port Vila, Vanuatu exploring the topic of “Oceanic Art Today: Status, Production and Tendencies”

PIMA’s first ‘Oceanic Art Symposium’ (‘Assises des Arts d’Océanie’) to be held in May 2008

Preliminary Title of Symposium:
“Oceanic Art Today: Status, Production and Tendencies”

Aims:

• To ensure the safeguarding of intangible creative traditions, the transmission of knowledge from acknowledged artists and the stimulation of interest amongst young generations of artists to keep contemporary practice alive and evolving
• To identify opportunities for international and regional interaction with Pacific Islands museums, artists and creative industries
• To bring international art scholars and museum professionals to Vanuatu to share new ideas about creative traditions and contemporary arts practice in the Pacific Islands region today
• To promote recognition of PIMA’s Code of Ethics for Pacific Islands Museums and Cultural Centres, particularly amongst international Oceanic Art scholars, museum curators and dealers
• To strengthen and promote the Pacific Islands Museums Association (PIMA), to develop the relationship between PIMA and the Pacific Arts Association (PAA) and to foster cooperation between Independent Pacific Islands States, French Pacific Territories and International Museums
• To produce a set of recommendations advocating a way forward for enhancing ethical research and practice in the field of Oceanic Art.

Organisation:

A two-day symposium in Port Vila preceded by a one-day field trip to an area of cultural significance on a regional island of Vanuatu. Invited speakers will address selected topics and be asked to organise a panel of peers to assist them to explore different facets of philosophical debate, scholarship and practical examples relating to the topic.

Potential topics for discussion include: the concept and definition of Oceanic Art and art practice, the role of Oceanic Art in the creative industries, safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage associated with Oceanic Art (including safeguarding traditional knowledge and intellectual property rights) and the collection, exhibition and research of Oceanic Art (including the issues of repatriation and illicit trafficking) respecting the ethics PIMA promotes.

Venue and date:

Vanuatu Cultural Centre, Port Vila, Tuesday 6th to Thursday 8th May 2008

Lead Agencies:

Pacific Islands Museums Association, the Vanuatu Cultural Centre and the French Embassy in Vanuatu.

Main Sponsor:

Government of the Republic of France, through the ‘Fonds de cooperation économique sociale et culturelle pour le Pacifique’. Financial support has been provided for the Symposium and for the PIMA Secretariat to employ an Assistant Secretary General to undertake the organisation of the 2007 Symposium, produce printed proceedings of the Symposium, implement outcomes from the 2007 Symposium and prepare guidelines to assist with the organisation of the following Symposium (pending successful funding). The organising committee will be seeking additional sponsorship for the Symposium from a variety of sources.

Potential Participants:

Museum directors, curators and staff, artists, oceanic art academics, students and invited speakers from the Pacific Islands and from outside the region.

Potential Partners:

• Musée du Quai Branly
• Oceanic Arts Centre (Suva)
• Agence de développement de la Culture Kanak - Centre Culturel Tjibaou (Symposium coincides with 10 year anniversary celebrations. Some participants to attend both events)
• UNESCO (International HQ in Paris and Pacific Culture Office in Samoa)
• Secretariat for the Pacific Community – Human Development Program
• Pacific Arts Association
• Others as identified.

Timeframe:

An organising committee comprising staff from the three lead agencies will manage the Symposium. At this stage, the organisers have received very positive feedback on this project, and particularly on topics to be covered, from participants at the following meetings:

• Emerging Pacific Cultural Centres Workshop – May 2007, Sydney Australia
• Pacific Arts Association Annual Conference – July 2007, Paris France

Additional feedback and ideas for the program will be gathered from PIMA Board Members at the following meetings:

• PIMA/Taiwan Symposium on Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region – October 2007, Taiwan
• Australian/Pacific Museum Directors Workshop – November 2007, Australia

Contact:

Secretary General, Pacific Islands Museums Association
C/- Vanuatu Cultural Centre PO Box 184 Port Vila, VANUATU
Ph : (678) 28063 0r (678) 28064
Fax : (678) 26590
Email: pima@vanuatu.com.vu