This course focuses on developing skills in managing small museums located within heritage places and/or precincts.  Students will have the opportunity to learn practical heritage management skills alongside of gaining a thorough understanding of the theoretical and political issues relating to small museum and collection management and, more generally, cultural heritage management.

This course focuses on:

• Heritage place and museum collection management philosophy, guidelines and protocols;
• Developing practical skills in cataloguing, writing, significance assessment and strategic planning;
• Physical conservation issues and knowing when and where to get specialist advice;
• The challenges and politics of managing small museums with often only limited resources;
• Working with local communities, volunteers, and developing outreach programs;
• New developments in small museum management.

The aims of this course are to:

1. assist students in developing a range of skills for managing small museums or other small heritage-related institutions;
2. foster support networks in the museum and heritage industries;
3. encourage interdisciplinary problem-solving and skills development in relation to museum practice and heritage management;
4. provide students with an understanding of the conservation of objects and collections and to outline networks from which professionals can seek specialist conservation help;
5. develop student skills in cataloguing, writing, significance assessment and strategic planning for small museums and heritage places;
6. increase understanding of the importance of community engagement and the contribution of volunteers;
7. provide a wider understanding of gaining funding for small museums and how to make best use of limited resources;
8. gain an appreciation of key new developments and innovations in museum practice and heritage management as they relate to small and/or regional institutions;
9. increase the ability of participants to work as part of a team to address key problems associated with managing small museums and heritage places; and
10. make students aware of the unique practical and political context of managing small museums.

On completing this course, students will have skills in:

1. the management of small museums and/or heritage places such as historic sites;
2. the use of appropriate concepts and technical language for a variety of relevant professional and academic purposes that involve museum practice and heritage management;
3. interdisciplinary problem-solving and applying theoretical ideas to specific case studies;
4. ethical and reflective practice in regard to museum , collections, and heritage management;
5. applying a functioning knowledge of current policy and industry frameworks for museum practice and heritage management to academic and professional practice.

Assignment 1: Cultural heritage management plan for one (part) of the collection or part of the heritage site (3000 words) OR public outreach program design (equivilent of 3000 words) 50%

Assignment 2: Catalogue and website entry for 5 objects (1000 words each) 50%

Contact time for this 6 unit graduate course will be approximately 30 contact hours.

As we have limited places for this course, enrolment requires the permission of the Course Coordinator/s.

Not applicable

Nil

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