On Wednesday 10 August, the research group “PaperLab” will hold a roundtable entitled “Museums: In search of new models” in Astana, Kazakhstan. Speakers at the event include representatives of the two biggest museums in Kazakhstan – the National Museum (Astana), an ASEMUS member, and the Museum of Fine Arts named after Kasteev (Almaty), representatives of city administrations, the Ministry of Education and Culture as well as “PaperLab” researchers Alexandra Tsay and Malika Tukmadiyeva. Museums all around the world are undergoing a transformation process; they are becoming active actors of public space and contributing to the development of cultural and human capital. Kazakh museums are developing these functions, and facing a range of obstacles and problems. The roundtable “Museums: In search of new models” aims to discuss the changing role of museums in Kazakhstan. The discussion will address the following questions:

• What are the roles of museum in urban space?
• What are the educational and social functions of museums? How can institutions increase their educational and social impact?
• How to involve audiences in cultural activities? Successful audience development case studies
• What is the role of governments in the transformation process of museums?

The research group "PaperLab" invites all interested international institutions to take part in the discussion via Skype to share their cases, ideas or ongoing programmes on audience development, creative learning and other dimensions. The working language of the roundtable is Russian, but organisers will be providing English-Russian translation for the Skype presentations. The roundtable “Museums: In search of new models” is the first phase of a research project, conducted by “PaperLab”. Research will examine the educational and social functions of the two biggest museums in Kazakhstan, implement short-term educational or audience development programmes and evaluate their impact. “PaperLab” researchers are currently looking for international partners for this research project, who could be interested in sharing experiences, providing methodological support or other forms of involvement Professionals and institutions interested in the roundtable or the research project, or with any questions about these, may contact info.paperlab@gmail.com or alexandra.tsay@gmail.com.  

Pictured above: one of the galleries of the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Astana