📍 Brisbane
The tour kicked off in Brisbane at the State Library of Queensland, where I spoke at the Heritage Leaders Workshop, which gathered cultural heritage professionals from across Queensland for the last in a series of symposia focused on the commemoration of the First World War. It also included several international guests like Jenny Waldman, director of 14-18 Now in the United Kingdom, and Adrian Kingston, Digital Channels Manager at Te Papa, the National Museum of New Zealand. We all shared reflections on WWI commemoration activities as well as new ways of exploring equity and impact in cultural heritage projects.
Image: State Library of Queensland
📍 Sydney, Aus
Adrian Kingston and I made our way down to Sydney where Paula Bray, DX Lab Leader at the State Library of New South Wales, hosted us for a conversation with local cultural heritage professionals and the general public. We enjoyed getting a behind-the-scenes look at the work of the DX Lab, including their recently launched Unstacked Microfiche Experience.
It was an honor to be back! And to see the best browser EVAH in action! https://t.co/eN4R7n6oHK pic.twitter.com/bjcdExNTUK
— Jon Voss (@jonvoss) June 3, 2019
Whilst in Sydney, I also got to meet with the inspiring Old Ways New team, an Indigenous led social enterprise creating a new digital world informed by Indigenous Culture and Lore.
📍 Melbourne, Aus
In Melbourne, Adrian and I met with teams from Museums Victoria and ACMI to share learnings from the US and New Zealand in regards to social equity and impact, and learn more about how these institutions are looking at these issues through exhibits, programming and design. Special thanks to Ely Wallis for organizing this event.
Last of our conversations on equity and impact with cultural institutions in Australia, with @elyw @adriankingston and teams from @melbournemuseum & @ACMI pic.twitter.com/yx4d5sQrYW
— Jon Voss (@jonvoss) June 6, 2019
📍 South Island, NZ
While mostly a holiday, I had the opportunity to tour Christchurch, the Banks Peninsula and some of the nearby mountain region with a particular focus on Maori history, community and collections, thanks to Helen Brown, Senior Researcher – Archives, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, and artist Grant Wylie. They really helped me to get a much fuller picture of Christchurch post the 2010-11 earthquakes and the white supremacist terrorist attack earlier this year.
📍 Wellington, NZ
In the New Zealand capital, I had the opportunity to facilitate a conversation at the National Library of New Zealand about social, cultural & resource equity in cultural organisations and designing for change. I also had the opportunity to take in the He Tohu exhibit at the National Library, a gold standard for equity in narrative. Special thanks to National Services Te Paerangi for supporting my talks and workshops in New Zealand.
Jon Voss. Designing for change @NLNZ #GLAMsector #Designingforequity
Jon Voss @shift_org https://t.co/Ahq2niJUJ6#Impactanalysis #foodforthought #afterlifeofideas pic.twitter.com/Lkiza20SLs— Fiona (@aquidity) June 12, 2019
📍 Auckland, NZ
Finally, I was able to spend a morning with staff at The Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, visit their newest exhibit, Carried Away, and learn about their massive digitisation, access, and collaborative cataloging efforts. We also talked about social, cultural and resource equity and how they are approaching these questions in programs and exhibits. Before leaving, I also got the chance to visit the very lively Central City branch of the Auckland Library, including their maker space, zine collection, and historical photo exhibit.
Thank you @jonvoss from @shift_org for being you and doing what you do in driving change for social equity. Your voice is powerful and we truly appreciate the time you spent with us @aucklandmuseum #futureslam Thank you also @Te_Papa for the collab. pic.twitter.com/BYOBuXESnd
— Kelly Skelton (@kellyskelton) June 13, 2019
It’s been several years since I’ve been out on a speaking tour, and it was great to be able to share some of the key reports we’ve recently released and share what we’ve learned from the work we’ve been doing around equity and cultural heritage. I’m also very grateful to have been able to connect with and learn so much from colleagues around the world doing similar work. Huge thanks to the State Library of Queensland for the invitation, and to the many other people who helped make this trip possible.