As barriers fall between traditional cultural institutions and initiatives in the arts, education and civil society, it is the right time for museums to recognize synergies as their new capital.  Creating a culture of collaboration – internally and externally -- is a powerful tool to achieve increased effectiveness and prosperity.

Many museums around the world are building coalitions with diverse community groups and organizations, and are investing in synergies with unlikely partners -- from bike tours to tech startups, and from hospitals and elderly homes to theatres and corporations. Cultural organizations have realized that through the power of sharing experiences and combining forces with other partners, they become more relevant to their communities.  Synergies have a multiplying effect on outreach and audience development, as well as on sustainability and financial growth.

This year’s Museum Conference will highlight inspiring examples of synergies and partnerships from the U.S., the UK, Germany and Greece.  It will explore how museums and cultural organizations can imbed diverse collaborations in their strategy and planning, and how they can invite different communities and initiatives to participate in a co-creation process.

CONFERENCE PROGRAM

Speakers bios

Invited speakers:

• Myrsini Zorba, Minister of Culture and Sports (GR)
• Thanos Argyropoulos, Executive Director, Marina Abramovic Institute (U.S.A.)
• Vassilis Ηaralambidis, General Manager, Bios Organisation; Co-Founder, European Creative Hubs network (GR)
• Alexandros Kambouroglou, Executive Director, Athens Partnership (GR)
• Yannis Koukmas, Director of Audience Development and Participation, Eleusis 2021 European Capital of Culture (GR)
• Barbara Polla, Founder, Sharing Perama project (GR)
• Patrick Presch, Curator of Education, Department of Education and Outreach, National Museums in Berlin (Germany)
• Carol Rogers MBE, Executive Director, Education and Visitors, National Museums Liverpool (UK)
• Adam Rozan, Director of Programs and Audience Development, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian; Adjunct Professor, Harvard University Extension School (U.S.A.)
• George Sachinis, Co-founder, Ohi Paizoume /Urban Dig Project (GR)
• Scott Stulen, Director and President, Philbrook Museum of Art (U.S.A.)
• Monika Niki Tsiliberdi, Head of the Department for European Programs, International Synergies and Enhancement of Entrepreneurship, Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports (GR)

Our guest speakers will share their experience in public-private partnerships, conventional and non-conventional synergies, marketable and non-commercial collaborations, cross disciplinary and cross-sectoral coalitions.

There will be simultaneous interpretation into Greek and English, as well as Greek Sign Language. Entry is free.

Pre-registration for the conference will be available on November 19, HERE. 

Certificates of attendance will be provided.

Live streaming Diavlos – GrNet

The conference will be recorded and available online on  blod.gr

The Museum World Café: Launching Synergies for Cultural and Civil Society Professionals will take place immediately after the conference (16:30-19:00). After a day of inspiring presentations, this event will nurture discussions around issues of common interest in order to encourage collaboration, resource sharing and idea generation within the Athens cultural ecosystem and beyond.

Museum World Café applications will open on Monday, November 19, HERE.

On November 30 the conference will be presented in Thessaloniki, at the “Emilios Riadis” Hall (inside TIF-HELEXPO) from 11:00 – 18:00.  The conference is organized by the U.S. Consulate General, the Benaki Museum, the British Council and the State Museum of Contemporary Art and the Benaki Museum.  It is supported by TIF-HELEXPO and it is under the auspices of the the Ministry of Culture and Sports and the Thessaloniki Municipality.