2010 European Museum Forum Workshop

Art, Science and Heritage:
Interdisciplinary Museum Projects in the Local Communities
Turku, Finland
15-18 September 2010

The 2010 EMF Workshop

Following a series of seminars held by EMF on the islands and in the coastal areas, this workshop will focus on the potential of interdisciplinary approach in the interpretation of local heritage. As before, the EMF Workshop will be a combination of study trips, lectures, case presentations, group work and plenary discussions.The workshop expected outcomes include a series of case studies and guidelines for the heritage policy and methodology of museum interpretation.

The language of the workshop is English.

The Issues

The following issues will be in the focus of the discussion held by the international workshop participants:

• What are the aims of the Faro Heritage Convention and the contribution that can be made by the local museums?
• How can the local museums combine the artistic and scientific means of interpretation?
• Are smaller museums in more remote areas better at interdisciplinary working for the benefit of the local community?
• What does it take to make heritage work as a resource for the local social and economic development?

These and other related questions will be discussed at the sessions held at the Saari Residence and on other venues in or near Turku from 15 to 18 September 2010. Several case studies will be presented at the workshop, too, and there will be a chance for every participant to discuss the problems he or she sees as relevant to this agenda.

Who should apply

• If you work in a small or medium-sized museum in one of the 47 European countries, member states of the Council of Europe,
• If you work there long enough to consider yourself a museum/heritage professional,
• If you work in a museum not long enough to know the answers to all the questions as to how a contemporary small or medium-sized museum should operate in the contemporary world,
• If you want to receive a first-hand explanation of the principles of the Faro Convention,
• If you would like to learn about best practices in the European museums and get engaged in the professional discussions, with a group of international colleagues, to be held in the Kone Foundation's Saari Residence,
• If you wish to visit the city of Turku, which has been nominated for European Cultural Capital 2011, and explore the daring museum projects located both in the heart of the city and on the islands of extended Turku Archipelago,

Then you should apply for the participation in the workshop!

How to apply

To apply for the workshop you should fill in the application form and send it to Françoise McClafferty, EMF Trust Secretary, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

As we can accommodate only 30 participants, there may be a competition for the participation in the workshop. The selection of the participants will be made by the workshop organisers based on your applications.

In any case, we will inform you whether you have been accepted for the workshop by the beginning of September 2010 at the latest.

Those accepted should be ready to pay for their travel to Turku and a small participation fee of 150 Euro. All other costs including accommodation, meals and local transportation will be covered by the workshop organisers.

European Museum Forum

The European Museum Forum (EMF) is an independent not-for-profit organisation which is a registered charity in the UK.

It is dedicated to promoting innovation in museum practice in Europe and encouraging the exchange of best practice and ideas.

It organises workshops and networks to foster exchange of information and good relations between museum professionals and museum volunteers and supporters.

It cherishes the public engagement of museums and it recognises excellence through a scheme of awards of which the principal is the European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA). Museums considered for awards are judged in accordance with clear criteria in a process of independent peer review.

Kone Foundation

The Kone Foundation is a private non-profit Finnish organization that promotes Finnish academic research in the humanities, social and environmental sciences, and arts and culture. The Foundation also maintains Saari Residence for artists and researchers.

Saari Residence

The Saari Residence is a manor owned and maintained by Kone Foundation as a research and production facility for researchers and artists. The residence has a wide range of workspaces, from a hall for theatre and dance to researchers' rooms.

Saari Residence has good connections with many different artists' organizations and universities. Residence staff can assist the residents to find the possibilities for collaborative work which best suit their individual needs. Saari Residence also offers regular seminars and events at which artists and researchers from various fields can meet and exchange ideas.

Saari Residence is located in the Mietoinen district of Mynämäki, an attractive thriving Western Finnish agricultural region. Close by the Manor is Mietoinen Bay, which is home to a wide variety of birdlife. With its viewing towers, the area is recognized countrywide as an important location for birdspotting. The Manor is also close to preserved oak forest.

See: http://www.koneensaatio.fi/en/manor/