[Bcma-l] War Museum Discussion

Tue, 4 Sep 2007 16:31:17 -0700

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Re: [Bcma-l] War Museum
Hello,

When an organization like the museum has the mandate to inform about =
history and culture, it takes on the responsibility of gathering the =
facts and displaying the information without taking sides. It could be =
from a certain prespective and thus appear biased but it is acceptable =
as long as it is accurate.

Irrespective of where museums gets its funding from and who their =
governing body is, like media, it is only accountable to facts, not to =
sentiments. Much like our publically owned CBC Radio and CBC TV, which =
are funded by taxpayers (and linked to politicians that represent =
taxpayers). However CBC is not restricted in reporting facts on =
policitians that may not represent them in good light. I wouldn't like =
to see censorship there.

If we had special interest groups interfere in how information is =
presented, it doesn't help organizations be true to its mandate. I =
definitely think all groups should be part of the information gathering =
process, but museum professionals and historians should have the final =
responsibility in how they present the information.

Having had my ties to the media, I think sentiments often come in the =
way of criticising how facts are portrayed. I am all for autonomous =
organizations irrespective of whether the City or Regional District or =
Federal government funds it.

I resisted from replying to previous emails. But I am concerned when I =
hear words like censorship. I also don't see the need to censor =
discussion on this topic by having other list serves dedicated for the =
purpose. It is definitely relevant to the functioning of all museums.

Sincerely,
Rashmi Narayan=20
---
Administrator
Valemount Museum & Archives
Box 850, Valemount, BC V0E 2Z0
Phone (250) 566-4177
Fax: (250) 566-4244
vmuseum@telus.net
www.valemountmuseum.ca
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca=20
  To: bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca=20
  Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2007 11:43 AM
  Subject: RE: [Bcma-l] War Museum - Autonomy in research and =
interpretation for educational institutions?

  I believe that an educational institution is usually accountable to =
its funders and is not really autonomous. Any granting agency or =
benefactor has its things they want to fund. If you don't want to do =
those things, then of course you don't have to . but you also don't =
receive their funding.=20

  A city museum is accountable through the administration to its City =
Council which in turn is accountable to the citizens. Such a museum =
might wish to address issues of racial prejudice for example in that =
city, but the reality is that they might not be able to do so in the way =
that staff might want to. Sometimes it is in the timing. The Vancouver =
Museum now has an exhibit about the Japanese in Vancouver but the issue =
of the forced evacuation in 1942 could not have been addressed by them =
at the time. Even a museum of an educational facility (e.g. MOA) might =
face censorship if staff decided in the name of educational freedom to =
address a very controversial and emotional topic. Sometimes it is =
self-censorship - reading the situation and realizing that discretion is =
the better part of valour sometimes. On the other hand, a Museum =
Director could stick their neck out.

  Colin MacGregor Stevens,

  Manager,

  New Westminster Museum and Archives,

  302 Royal Avenue,

  New Westminster, BC,=20

  V3L 1H7

  Phone Office:    604-527-4639

  Work Cellular : 604-830-6965

  Fax:                  604-527-4641

  E-mail: cstevens@newwestcity.ca=20

  Web Site: www.newwestminster.ca=20

  -----Original Message-----
  From: bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca =
[mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca]=20
  Sent: September 1, 2007 2:23 AM
  To: bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
  Subject: Re: [Bcma-l] War Museum

  This is an important issue and all of us as museum professionals =
should be concerned.   Irregardless of the source of funding we need to =
be autonomous in the research and interpretation that we offer as an =
educational, not a political, institution.

  James Tirrul-Jones
  Railway and Forestry Museum

    =20

    =20
    I believe that BC Museums  and CMA should lend what little weight =
they have in support of the War Museums  independent ability to present =
history.

    The idea of political and  single interest groups lobbying in such a =
case is reprehensible, and I believe  we should make our views known.

    In a land where people  died over the issue of free speech, where is =
it, and where is the free [and  independent prerogative] in doing our =
job objectively?

    Our museum was subjected  to such pressure and caved in due to an =
in-camera meeting by our city council,  which went on to dictate as to =
what we could or could not exhibit. No members  of the public or =
delegations were allowed to debate such an important  issue.

    To our shame,  we accepted their ultimatum in, but it still does not =
destroy the  principle and concept of museum independence,.

    Our alternative  would have been to close the museum.

    This is an important  issue and I am surprised that I have not heard =
any pronouncements about this  by our museum organizations.

    Are we too busy planning  conferences and workshops and patting =
ourselves on the back to pay attention  to such an important issue?

    Larry A. Ewashen, Curator  & General Manager
    The Doukhobor Discovery Centre
    112 Heritage Way,  Castlegar V1N 4M5
    1-250-365-5327
    www.Doukhobor-Museum.org <http://www.Doukhobor-Museum.org>=20

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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Hello,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>When an organization like the museum =
has the=20
mandate to inform about history and culture, it takes on the =
responsibility of=20
gathering the facts and displaying the information without taking sides. =
It=20
could be from a certain prespective and thus appear biased but it is =
acceptable=20
as long as it is accurate.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Irrespective of where museums gets its =
funding from=20
and who their governing body is, like media, it is only accountable to =
facts,=20
not to sentiments. Much like our publically owned CBC Radio and CBC TV, =
which=20
are funded by taxpayers (and linked to politicians that represent =
taxpayers).=20
However CBC is not restricted&nbsp;in reporting facts on =
policitians&nbsp;that=20
may not represent them in good light. I wouldn't like to see censorship=20
there.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>If we had special interest groups =
interfere in how=20
information is presented, it doesn't help organizations be true to its =
mandate.=20
I definitely think all groups should be part of the information =
gathering=20
process, but museum professionals and historians should have the final=20
responsibility in how they present&nbsp;the information.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Having had my ties to the media, I =
think sentiments=20
often come in the way of criticising&nbsp;how facts are portrayed. I am =
all for=20
autonomous organizations irrespective of whether the City or Regional =
District=20
or Federal government funds it.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I resisted from replying to previous =
emails. But I=20
am concerned when I hear&nbsp;words like censorship. I also don't see =
the need=20
to censor discussion on this topic by having other list serves dedicated =
for the=20
purpose. It is definitely relevant to the functioning of all=20
museums.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Sincerely,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Rashmi Narayan</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>---<BR>Administrator<BR>Valemount Museum &amp; Archives<BR>Box 850, =

Valemount, BC V0E 2Z0 Phone (250) 566-4177 Fax: (250) =
566-4244 <A=20
href=3D"mailto:vmuseum@telus.net">vmuseum@telus.net</A> <A=20
href=3D"http://www.valemountmuseum.ca">www.valemountmuseum.ca</A></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
 <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
 <DIV=20
 style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black">From:=20
 <A title=3Dbcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca=20
 =
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca">bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.b=
c.ca</A>=20
 </DIV>
 <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">To: <A =
title=3Dbcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca=20
 href=3D"mailto:bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca">bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca</A> =
</DIV>
 <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">Sent: Tuesday, September 04, =
2007 11:43=20
 AM</DIV>
 <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">Subject: RE: [Bcma-l] War =
Museum -=20
 Autonomy in research and interpretation for educational =
institutions?</DIV>
 <DIV> </DIV>
 <DIV class=3DSection1>
 <SPAN=20
 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I believe =
that an=20
 educational institution is usually accountable to its funders and is =
not=20
 really autonomous. Any granting agency or benefactor has its things =
they want=20
 to fund. If you don=92t want to do those things, then of course you =
don=92t have=20
 to =85 but you also don=92t receive their funding. 
 <SPAN=20
 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">&nbsp;
 <SPAN=20
 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">A city =
museum is=20
 accountable through the administration to its City Council which in =
turn is=20
 accountable to the citizens. Such a museum might wish to address =
issues of=20
 racial prejudice for example in that city, but the reality is that =
they might=20
 not be able to do so in the way that staff might want to. Sometimes it =
is in=20
 the timing. The <SPAN=20
 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">Vancouver<FONT=20
 face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> =
<FONT=20
 face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">Museum<FONT=20
 face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> now has an =
exhibit=20
 about the Japanese in <SPAN=20
 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">Vancouver<FONT=20
 face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> but the =
issue of the=20
 forced evacuation in 1942 could not have been addressed by them at the =
time.=20
 Even a museum of an educational facility (e.g. MOA) might face =
censorship if=20
 staff decided in the name of educational freedom to address a very=20
 controversial and emotional topic. Sometimes it is self-censorship =96 =
reading=20
 the situation and realizing that discretion is the better part of =
valour=20
 sometimes. On the other hand, a Museum <SPAN=20
 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">Director<FONT=20
 face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> could =
stick their=20
 neck out.
 <SPAN=20
 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">&nbsp;
 <DIV>
 <SPAN=20
 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">Colin MacGregor=20
Stevens,
 <SPAN=20
 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">Manager,
 <SPAN=20
 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">New Westminster Museum and=20
 Archives,
 <SPAN=20
 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">302 Royal =
Avenue,
 <SPAN=20
 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">New Westminster, BC, =

 <SPAN=20
 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">V3L 1H7
 <SPAN=20
 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">&nbsp;
 <SPAN=20
 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">Phone Office:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; =

  604-527-4639</SPAN></FONT></P>
  <P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
  style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">Work Cellular :=20
  604-830-6965</SPAN></FONT></P>
  <P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
  style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: =
navy">Fax:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nb=
sp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
  604-527-4641</SPAN></FONT></P>
  <P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
  style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">E-mail: <A=20
  href=3D"mailto:cstevens@newwestcity.ca">cstevens@newwestcity.ca</A>=20
  </SPAN></FONT></P>
  <P class=3DMsoAutoSig><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3Dnavy =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
  style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">Web Site: <A=20
  =
href=3D"http://www.newwestminster.ca">www.newwestminster.ca</A></SPAN></F=
ONT><FONT=20
  color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy">=20
  </SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
  <P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DArial color=3Dnavy size=3D2><SPAN=20
  style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</P>
  <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=3DTahoma =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
  style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">-----Original=20
  Message-----<BR><B><SPAN style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B>=20
  bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca [mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca] =

  <BR><B><SPAN style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> September 1, =
2007 2:23=20
  AM<BR><B><SPAN style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B>=20
  bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca<BR><B><SPAN=20
  style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Re: [Bcma-l] War=20
  Museum</SPAN></FONT></P>
  <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=3D"Times =
New Roman"=20
  size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</P>
  <P class=3DMsoNormal=20
  style=3D"MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; MARGIN-RIGHT: =
0in"><FONT=20
  face=3DVerdana size=3D1><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: =
Verdana">This is=20
  an important issue and all of us as museum professionals should be =
concerned.=20
  &nbsp;&nbsp;Irregardless of the source of funding we need to be =
autonomous in=20
  the research and interpretation that we offer as an educational, not a =

  political, institution.<BR><BR>James Tirrul-Jones<BR>Railway and =
Forestry=20
  Museum<BR><BR></SPAN></FONT></P>
  <BLOCKQUOTE style=3D"MARGIN-TOP: 5pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5pt">
    <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT =
face=3DVerdana=20
    size=3D1><SPAN=20
    style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: =
Verdana"><BR>&nbsp;<BR><BR>&nbsp;<BR><FONT=20
    color=3Dgreen><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: green">I believe that BC Museums =
&nbsp;and=20
    CMA should lend what little weight they have in support of the War =
Museums=20
    &nbsp;independent ability to present =
history.<BR></SPAN></FONT><BR><FONT=20
    color=3Dgreen><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: green">The idea of political and =

    &nbsp;single interest groups lobbying in such a case is =
reprehensible, and I=20
    believe &nbsp;we should make our views =
known.<BR></SPAN></FONT><BR><FONT=20
    color=3Dgreen><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: green">In a land where people =
&nbsp;died=20
    over the issue of free speech, where is it, and where is the free =
[and=20
    &nbsp;independent prerogative] in doing our job=20
    objectively?<BR></SPAN></FONT><BR><FONT color=3Dgreen><SPAN=20
    style=3D"COLOR: green">Our museum was subjected &nbsp;to such =
pressure and=20
    caved in due to an in-camera meeting by our city council, =
&nbsp;which went=20
    on to dictate as to what we could or could not exhibit. No members =
&nbsp;of=20
    the public or delegations were allowed to debate such an important=20
    &nbsp;issue.<BR></SPAN></FONT><BR><FONT color=3Dgreen><SPAN=20
    style=3D"COLOR: green">To our shame, &nbsp;we accepted their =
ultimatum in, but=20
    it still does not destroy the &nbsp;principle and concept of museum=20
    independence,.<BR></SPAN></FONT><BR><FONT color=3Dgreen><SPAN=20
    style=3D"COLOR: green">Our alternative &nbsp;would have been to =
close the=20
    museum.<BR></SPAN></FONT><BR><FONT color=3Dgreen><SPAN=20
    style=3D"COLOR: green">This is an important &nbsp;issue and I am =
surprised=20
    that I have not heard any pronouncements about this &nbsp;by our =
museum=20
    organizations.<BR></SPAN></FONT><BR><FONT color=3Dgreen><SPAN=20
    style=3D"COLOR: green">Are we too busy planning &nbsp;conferences =
and=20
    workshops and patting ourselves on the back to pay attention =
&nbsp;to such=20
    an important issue?<BR></SPAN></FONT><BR><FONT color=3Dgreen><SPAN=20
    style=3D"COLOR: green">Larry A. Ewashen, Curator &nbsp;&amp; General =

    Manager<BR>The Doukhobor Discovery Centre<BR>112 Heritage Way,=20
    &nbsp;Castlegar V1N =
4M5<BR>1-250-365-5327<BR>www.Doukhobor-Museum.org <A=20
    =
href=3D"http://www.Doukhobor-Museum.org">&lt;http://www.Doukhobor-Museum.=
org&gt;</A>=20
    </SPAN></FONT></SPAN></FONT></P></BLOCKQUOTE>
  <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=3D"Times =
New Roman"=20
  size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</P>
  <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=3D"Times =
New Roman"=20
  size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: =
12pt"></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</P></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>

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