Museums and Collections

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Our Approach to Museums and Collections

Museums are not only a tool to protect and spread knowledge, improve awareness and safehouse objects and heritage, but they are also a means through which to improve and disperse knowledge. CIE holds that when thinking about cultural heritage we should seek beyond the museum building itself. CIE works closely with museums of all types in relation to all of our core themes and major projects, often being the central feature in our Culture Development programmes, such as our work in rebuilding the cultural sector of Afghanistan through national and regional museums.

Museums are a very public face to archaeology and heritage, thus as well as being community-focused and attractive for tourists, they should also take on educational roles, enhancing their accessibility for visitors of all ages and social groups. One of our central foci looks at the lowering of institutional isolation of museums and opening them up for local communities. The way in which a community, group or nation displays its cultural heritage can tell us much about how they see themselves. It is therefore essential for museums to increase community ownership and empowerment through consultation and outreach programmes, to become an institution with the community rather than for the community.

Our Track Record

CIE has an extensive track record working with Museums and Collections, covering a variety of different activities:

Exhibitions,

Knowledge Exchange

Practical Training

Expert Meetings

Conferences

Collections Research

Featured Activities

Biodiversity Exhibition, Bagh-e Jehan Nama Palace, Afghanistan

January 2014

In January 2014 CIE helped to arrange this exhibition at the Bagh-e Jehan Nama Palace in Afghanistan. The exhibition focused upon the biiodiversity and natural wildlife that can be found in the local area, and specifically within the newly renovated gardens surrounding the palace. This is a milestone step in the renovation and regeneration activities with our programme for Culture and Development in Afhganistan, where for the past 8 years we have been involved in the rehabilitation of the Museum Sector in Afghanistan. The local communities in Kholm have expressed a keen desire and interest in restoring the beautiful gardens to their former glory, as they were previously used as social spaces and picnic locations for local families and groups. Now they are once more becoming a place of natural beauty and recreation.

Afghanistan Page

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UNESCO Exhibition, 60 Years of the Hague Convention 1954

2014

In 2014 UNESCO launched a travelling exhibition celebrating 60 years of the Hague Convention 1954. The exhibition opened in May at the Peace Palace in the Hague, before moving to Brussels in the summer, and then was exhibtied at the Museum Volkenkunde in Leiden during the Autumn.

CIE took part in the roundtable discussion at the opening and was also chosen to have our image 'Hope' included in the exhibition. The image celebrates the transformation of the Bagh-e Jehan Nama Palace from a war-torn ruin, previously used by the Soviet troops, the Mujahedeen and the Taliban, into a centre for educational and cultural activities.

See our Afghanistan Page

Exhibition Page

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To learn more about CIE's work with Museums and Collections, please see the projects page.

Countries which CIE has worked with in relation to Museums and Collections: