Four South Pacific Museums: New Museums & Public Culture

Abstract

The last decade has witnessed a global explosion in the development of new museums. Nowhere is this more striking than in our region where four major new museum buildings opened between 1998 and 2001. FOUR SOUTH PACIFIC MUSEUMS will explore these regional developments by asking: -How are they renovating their institutions through exhibitionary, architectural, technological, commercial and entertainment strategies? -How are they re-negotiating relationships between indigenous people and museums in post-colonial nations? This interdisciplinary project will generate significant publications, evaluate contemporary museum practices, enrich debate about the cultural and civic roles of museums, and..