In the run-up to our annual Working Internationally Conference, our interview series is taking the opportunity to introduce our members to the ICOM UK committee members who have been planning and organising the event.
Last year we welcomed over 100 delegates to Leeds Art Gallery. This year the Working Internationally Conference will be online and instead of a single day, conference sessions will run over three days, 16 – 18 March 2021. This year the Conference is organised by ICOM UK and NMDC with curatorial support from Barker Langham.
Each conference day explores a key sector theme, Social Justice, Sustainability and Futures and each day is chaired by an ICOM committee member or partner.
The last day is introduced by Edmund Connolly. Edmund talks to Catherine McDermott (ICOM UK Secretary) about his work for ICOM UK, his current role at Google Arts & Culture and the last conference day on Futures.
Q: Edmund, thank you for talking to us. Will you tell us about your current role at Google Arts & Culture?
A: I am currently a Partnerships Manager at Google Arts & Culture UK, we were based in London but like so many of our colleagues working from home for now.
I have been there since 2019, my professional and academic background is much more in the traditional cultural sector. My previous role was at the British Library, leading a team scoping a national digital infrastructure for the public libraries across the UK. At the British library, I started in more ‘museum’ like roles working on initiatives like the Harry Potter, Anglo Saxons and Russian Revolution exhibitions as well as the Fashion programme within the Higher Education team. And then before this a varied mix of London organisations: British Council, UCL Museums, the Horniman Museum and Gardens.
Q: Would you talk to the members about the ICOM UK committee and your work? We would particularly like to hear about how the committee has transitioned to deliver value and support to members over the last year?
A: I first became an ICOM member as a Classics undergrad – it was a must for our Athens field trip! I joined the ICOM UK Committee a few years ago and have worked in a variety of roles, in particular working on our communications and social media. I think the committee has really grown to adaptive communications, it’s not just a case of pumping information out, but meaningful curation and timely responses. I’ve seen some extreme and harrowing events that have affected the international cultural community that we have addressed, alongside our mission to celebrate and champion museums to the greatest amount of people.
Q: Edmund, I know you helped the ICOM UK committee move from our old format of a one day conference to a 3-day online event. Would you tell us a little of what your ambition was for the event?
A: I must admit, I’ve never liked full day conferences – I don’t have the attention span nor patience for it, add to that the arduous extrapolation of being online and I wouldn’t last a day conference!
I wanted this event to be lively, engaging and worth attending. We are bombarded with online initiatives that were conceived physical and presented online, this event however was conceived and delivered to be online.
Whilst we mustn’t think online events are the answer to all our engagement woes, it does give ICOM UK a wonderful chance to be internationally engaged to our core. Not only can our audience join us from anywhere with connectivity, but we are able to welcome an even more diverse cohort of experts and speakers to the ICOM stage.
As a host of the Futures of Museums day I want to ensure the day is a conversation, a forum, and a support network. The last year has left museums, their collections, estates and people in a fragile state. We need this connectivity to be resilient and joyful – so I hope we spend the day chatting, laughing and leave our members inspired.
Q: You have commissioned a session from the new director of the Panama Canal Museum. Would you explain why you chose her, and why this session goes into the Futures section?
A: Ana Elizabeth Gonzalez is the new director of the Panama Canal Museum, a cultural leader, mentor and visionary for the sector. I have long been inspired by her work, and remember one of the first exhibitions I saw by Ana, celebrating the production of cross-cultural artworks which celebrate the engagement and connection with Latin America at the Brazilian Embassy; the VIA Arts Prize.
Ana has that rare mix of excellent academic acumen, but contemporary aspirations. Her background is in archaeology and business management, but she is just as comfortable presenting contemporary art and debating human rights. I think this is what the future of museums has to be. We shouldn’t forget the past, nor shy away from preserving histories, but we have to think with the times and work to celebrate and create culture for the many.
Q: How do you see the future for ICOM UK?
A: We are in a world that needs connectivity more than ever, and we are in a Britain that needs the world more than ever. ICOM UK has always been a portal to the global museum community and we will continue to be that.
ICOM UK, ICOM and NMDC members can book free tickets for the online 2021 Working Internationally Conference via the Eventrbite page. Tickets will be available to non-members from 16 February 2021.
