Alok Deshwal
\n(PIB Feature).
\n Deputy Director (Media & Communication)
\nAs one of the oldest and greatest civilizations of the world, India indeed has an incredible story to tell about its rich and glorious past.The treasures of its golden past are kept in its museums for the mankind to see, enjoy and cherish. There are over a thousand museums in India, both large and small. Over 90 percent of these are funded and maintained by the Central and State Governments and few renowned museums have also been set up through private efforts. The Archaeological Survey of India itself manages 44 site museums located near important historical sites, some of them in the remotest parts of the country like Dholavira and Lothal in Gujarat and others at well-known World Heritage Sites such as Agra.
\nSome of the oldest museums were established by the British and their collections were a combination of natural history and antiquarian remains like the 197 year old Indian Museum, Kolkata (which will be celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2014) Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, formerly Prince of Wales Museum, Mumbai.
\n Museums have always played an important role in our society by bringing us closer to our roots and making us aware of our glorious past. Museum visits as an integral part of school life were important events, which shaped our understanding of the growth of human life on earth.
\nIt is in this context that Jay Winter, American Historian has said that, \u201cMuseums are, in a way, the cathedrals of the modern world, places where sacred issues are expressed and where people come to reflect on them. A museum is also a kind of bridge between the academy and the public.\u201d
\n However, of late museums across the country have suffered a down-turn, both in terms of their working and their public image as they have not been able to keep pace with the international best practices in the field. There is a severe shortage of museum professionals in the country because of which the museum sector has suffered a setback. This is amply clear from the fact there is a high vacancy rate in almost all the National level museums in the country. Due to the unavailability of dedicated professionals many of the museums in the country today are in a state of neglect, being managed by staff with little or no knowledge or professionalism in their business.The need for modernization and up-gradation of museums in India has been felt and expressed for several decades. In the light of much needed reforms in the field the Ministry of Culture has proactively pursued a path of initiating museum reforms. After brainstorming with Museums Experts and Directors, The Museum Reforms Programme was instated by the Ministry of Culture, to address 14 key concerns in the Museum Sector. These concerns are:
\nCollection & Stores Management
\n\u00b7 Introduce computer aided collections management.
\n\u00b7 Verify physically stocks with registers\/database.
\n\u00b7 Modernize methods of storage and retrieval & introduce visible storage.
\n\u00b7 Develop adequate storage facilities.
\n\u00b7 Control\/filter atmospheric heat, dust, humidity, light and pest in Stores.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Take professional quality digital photos of stored items.
\n\u00b7 Upload entire collections\u2019 database with images of objects online.
\nProper\/Scientific Display of Artefacts<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Design and develop exhibit-specific display systems.
\n\u00b7 Up-grade display techniques on professional lines.
\n\u00b7 Introduce atmospheric control of heat\/cold, humidity, dust, etc. in Galleries.
\n\u00b7 Modernize lighting with power-saving\/auto switch & heat control.
\n\u00b7 Have variety in gallery presentations, with other \u2018attractions\u2019 interspersing.
\n\u00b7 Circulate periodically displayed materials, from Store to Gallery.
\nInformation, Signages, Floor Plans & Visitor Facilities<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Set up \u2018Visitor Interpretation Centres\u2019, & give different options to them.
\n\u00b7 Improve Object Interpretation Board, communication strategies\/narratives.
\n\u00b7 Introduce Braille plaques for the visually impaired visitors.
\n\u00b7 Arrange attractive videos and digital shows and hands-on activities.
\n\u00b7 Put interactive strategies, touch screen kiosks, \u2018sound posts\u2019, etc.
\n\u00b7 Print international-standard guide-books with floor plans\/signages.
\n\u00b7 Keep comfortable benches & resting places, and nooks\/seating corners.
\n\u00b7 Drinking water facilities and clean toilets with signages.
\n\u00b7 Set up cafeterias, vending machines and spaces to interact.
\n\u00b7 Have flexible and extended visiting hours, with some special \u2018free days\u2019.
\n\u00b7 Engage enthusiastic volunteers as museum assistants, to guide visitors.
\nMuseum Shops and Souvenirs<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Set up proper Museum\/Souvenir Shops, preferably on PPP model
\n\u00b7 Merchandise professional selected museum items, for souvenirs.
\n\u00b7 Produce, with \u2018class\u2019, replicas, prints, postcards, albums etc.
\n\u00b7 Publish world-class books & catalogues, through the best available.
\n\u00b7 Arrange inter-museum & outsourced sale of books\/catalogues & CDs.
\n\u00b7 Promote\/market India\u2019s heritage as a brand, through all museum shops.
\n\u00b7 Approach corporates to popularize museum culture through gifts.
\nMulti-Media, Audio Visual & Guide Facilities<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Design, and continuously update, website & information systems.
\n\u00b7 Introduce museum related activity cum technical research blogs.
\n\u00b7 Digitize important stored artefacts for \u2018Virtual Guide\u2019, CDs and Websites.
\n\u00b7 Introduce \/ improve audio guides: work on time-bound plans.
\n\u00b7 Set up LCD panels, to display digitized artefacts on videos and power points.
\n\u00b7 Introduce 3-D holographic projections, simulated images & virtual reality.
\n\u00b7 Set up interactive sound & talking trees, musical clocks & other attractions.
\nAttract Various Audience Segments, including Students\/Children <\/p>\n
\u00b7 Plan the calendar of events for the entire year, and more, if possible.
\n\u00b7 Send newsletters and keep updating mailing lists, through visitor registers.
\n\u00b7 Arrange special training for Education Officers, PROs & \u2018Guides\u2019 for this work
\n\u00b7 Plan \u2018Out-reach\u2019 programmes for different segments, target specific.
\n\u00b7 Design invitation cards, brochures, fliers both artistically and professionally.
\n\u00b7 Organize regular interactive programmes and set up \u2018children\u2019s corners\u2019.
\n\u00b7 Formalise networks with schools and colleges, on a regular basis.
\n\u00b7 Introduce \u2018Collections Identification & Authentication\u2019 facility for collectors.
\n\u00b7 Encourage small online exhibitions to be curated by museum enthusiasts.
\nImage Building, Publicity and Cultural Events.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Have well dressed and polite museum assistants\/guides & cafeteria staff.
\n\u00b7 Plan campaigns, highlighting interesting facets & get feedbacks.
\n\u00b7 Issue attractive advertisements and informed articles in the media.
\n\u00b7 Set up and invigorate \u2018Friends of Museum\u2019 & also meet them.
\n\u00b7 Celebrate regularly \u2018World Days\u2019, \u2018State Functions\u2019 and \u2018Special Events\u2019.
\n\u00b7 Organize cultural performances and other outreach programmes.
\n\u00b7 Harmonize tangible & intangible cultural heritage, seamlessly.
\n\u00b7 Attract corporate sponsors with special exhibitions for their clients.
\n\u00b7 Engage event-managers marketing\/sales team & communication specialists,
\nVisiting & Travelling Exhibitions<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Invite exhibitions & inter-museum exchanges, including with ASI museums.
\n\u00b7 Establish curator panels and plan multiple curatorial themes, in advance.
\n\u00b7 Keep updating policies for exhibitions abroad, through regular feedbacks.
\n\u00b7 Curate exhibitions abroad \u2013 have different policies for art & antiquities.
\n\u00b7 Formulate scientific policies regarding valuation, insurance, etc. for exhibits.
\n\u00b7 Plan exhibitions (both internal & external) professionally on global standards
\n\u00b7 Insist on proper reciprocity from foreign museums\/galleries.
\n\u00b7 Publish world class catalogues for each exhibition in India or abroad.
\nExpansion & Acquisition of Collections<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Revisit art purchase procedures and committees, with transparency.
\n\u00b7 Frame policies to encourage donors, i.e., tax exemption, publicity, etc.
\n\u00b7 Devise \u2018loan policies\u2019 for short, medium & long term loans.
\n\u00b7 Prepare policy on bequeaths & have proper screening\/evaluation methods.
\n\u00b7 Set up search committees and negotiating teams, to locate\/buy rare items.
\n\u00b7 Frame policies for de-accessioning of unwanted\/unrelated collections.
\nProfessional Development of Museum Personnel<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Organise HRD training & expose personnel to international standards.
\n\u00b7 Encourage courses and exchanges of best practices, through visits.
\n\u00b7 Facilitate studies, researches to bring out better publications.
\n\u00b7 Utilize Visiting Fellows to unravel treasures within museums.
\n\u00b7 Conduct professional courses in museum studies & collections management
\n\u00b7 Start online\/correspondence courses in museum studies & heritage management.
\n\u00b7 Collaborate with Open Universities & conservation laboratories.
\n\u00b7 Publicise available courses for wider dissemination, at nodal points.
\n\u00b7 Devise administrative structure\/emoluments for good career management
\n\u00b7 Engage specialized professionals, on contract\/tenure basis, for emulation.
\nImplementation of Plan Schemes & special projects<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Ensure optimum utilization of funds, through prior planning.
\n\u00b7 Make monthly activity charts and conduct reviews \/self-assessments.
\n\u00b7 Outsource work to professional agencies, where required.
\n\u00b7 Undertake long term planning, rather than adhoc improvements.
\n\u00b7 If possible & permitted, create public private partnerships.
\n\u00b7 Invite, with proper approval, specific projects from outside.
\nSecurity: Modern Techniques<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Upgrade security systems & install latest cameras\/surveillance systems.
\n\u00b7 Deploy CISF, armed police, except inside museum galleries.
\n\u00b7 Retain own security, for gallery watch & other duties.
\n\u00b7 Introduce aesthetically pleasing dress for in-house security personnel.
\n\u00b7 Install fire-fighting devices\/techniques and undertake regular trials.
\n\u00b7 Revisit display storage plans on security \/fire-fighting considerations.
\n\u00b7 Maintain friendly, terror\/stress free atmosphere in museum galleries.
\nConservation and Restoration<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Set up or upgrade conservation laboratories and modeling workshops.
\n\u00b7 Build capacities for in-house expertise for conservation and restoration.
\n\u00b7 Upgrade regularly, conservation and restoration techniques, through training.
\n\u00b7 Utilize domain-specific external expertise and learn latest technologies.
\n\u00b7 Extend this domain knowledge to smaller museums.
\n\u00b7 Outsource, where necessary, and imbibe newer techniques.
\n\u00b7 Publish technical research & conservation treatment bulletins.
\n\u00b7 Organise special workshops outside, for basic collections care.
\nInteractions with Academics, Archaeologists and Artists<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Institutionalize a proper network with different relevant domain experts.
\n\u00b7 Organize cooperation with academics\/experts through regular workshops.
\n\u00b7 Encourage onsite exposure of museum personnel for experience.
\n\u00b7 Encourage museum personnel to make presentations before academics.
\n\u00b7 Strengthen networking through professional bodies like ICOM, MAI etc.<\/p>\n
An MoU was signed in 2010 with British Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum and British Library, London and the Ministry of Culture (on <\/p>\n
behalf of Indian Cultural Institutions) to strengthen and enhance friendly cultural relations and promote cultural cooperation and <\/p>\n
exchange. The MoU offers an appropriate platform for collaboration and sharing of best practices in different areas of Museum <\/p>\n
Management. <\/p>\n
The Ministry has recently initiated the Leadership Training Programme for in-service museum professionals in India in collaboration with <\/p>\n
the British Museum, London. This is the first Leadership Training being organized for museums in India. The Programme is being <\/p>\n
coordinated by the National Culture Fund, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture that facilitates public private partnerships <\/p>\n
for the preservation of arts and heritage in India. The Training Programme will include intensive training sessions on Curation, Museum <\/p>\n
Education, Design & Display, Scientific Storage, Conservation & Preservation, Museum Marketing, Outreach and Collection <\/p>\n
Management. 20 museum professionals from 12 Indian museums will undergo this six month Leadership Training in Delhi, London and <\/p>\n
Mumbai respectively. They will take part in three sessions of training which have been specially created to balance the theoretical with <\/p>\n
the practical, building on participants existing skills and advising on museum best practice. The training has been carefully shaped to <\/p>\n
ensure participants can immediately apply and share their knowledge and skills within their organisations. The first session was <\/p>\n
commenced in Delhi in January 2012, the second in London will be in March, and the final session in Mumbai will be in May. This will <\/p>\n
ensure the training has the highest possible impact and takes advantage of local conditions. <\/p>\n
Museums are increasingly engaging personnel with a wide variety of skills to increase their profile and remain relevant to 21st century <\/p>\n
audiences. While academic scholarship remains the bedrock of our organisations, it is increasingly acknowledged that this work benefits <\/p>\n
from, and is enhanced by individuals with different specialisms. The range of practitioners involved in conducting the training programme <\/p>\n
is broad. Among many others, sessions will be taught by specialists in strategic planning, project management, exhibition display, <\/p>\n
education, communications, marketing, digital technology, conservation and security, drawing on their extensive first-hand experience of <\/p>\n
working museum environments. This programme will generate museum leaders who will further train museum professionals all across the <\/p>\n
country to create a rich web of world class museums in India.<\/p>\n
As part of the training programme, Indian scholars will be given substantial access to the British Museum\u2019s world collection and will be <\/p>\n
encouraged to share their invaluable knowledge, particularly of the Indian collections. The exchange of knowledge between Indian and <\/p>\n
British Museum scholars will be strongly encouraged and it is hoped will form a foundation for future collaboration in the areas of <\/p>\n
research and publication as well. <\/p>\n\n