The 8th General Conference of the Asia-Europe Museum Network (ASEMUS) titled "New Curatorial Perspectives for a Changed World", will be hosted by the Sarawak Museum and held at the Waterfront Hotel in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, between 14 and 16 November 2018. Over 3 days, participants from across Asia and Europe will be able to take part in workshops, masterclasses, panels and case study presentations. The last day will be dedicated to the discovery of the cultural and natural heritage of Sarawak and Borneo. The 8th ASEMUS General Conference will enable participants to discover the Sarawak Museum Campus, which aims to revive the international status of the Sarawak Museum and to build a new museum to showcase Sarawak's rich cultural and historical heritage.

The theme

The central topic addressed by the 8th ASEMUS General Conference looks at the on-going changes in the role of curators in the light of dramatic changes in the landscape within which museums operate. The world is becoming increasingly fractured and divided across nationalistic and ideological lines. Audiences have become more sophisticated and demanding. Technology, in particular, digital technologies, have revolutionised the delivery of knowledge and content to end users. In the meantime, issues of ethics and provenance have become more pertinent than ever before in museological practice.  The role and relevance of the museum and the curator in contemporary society is shifting in light of these changes. An international line-up of speakers from European and Asian museums will present perspectives, experiences and best practices on the ground, offering conference participants practical insights into how their museums can respond and adapt. The full list of speakers will be announced in the upcoming weeks.

The programme

A programme is now available. See also this summarised programme in the conference flyer. The first day of the 8th ASEMUS General Conference, Wednesday 14 November, will be devoted to training. 5 masterclasses and workshops, targeted to young professionals in particular, will address the following topics:

• Exhibition development
• Scientific communication
• Curating a space for communities
• Developing digital interactive and multimedia for exhibitions
• Collections management and care

The central day of the conference, 15 November, will present 3 panel discussions and presentations of case studies addressing a range of themes related to curating:

• The changing role of the museum and the curator
• Panel on "The Big Picture" - Museums in transition, addressing changes in structure and curatorial narratives
• Panel on "The Ethics of Collecting" - new standards and approaches
• Panel on "The Engaged Museum" - curating with the community
• Three case studies addressing these issues will also be presented

Finally, on 16 November participants will be able to choose among a set of cultural visits and excursions offered by organisers. An optional one-day trek in the Rainforest of Borneo will also be offered for Saturday 17 November.

Registration to the conference is open and closes on 1 November 2018: Register Now!

The 8th ASEMUS General Conference is organised by the Sarawak Museum Department with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports of the Sarawak State Government, Malaysia; in partnership with the Asia-Europe Museum Network (ASEMUS) and the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF).