December 10-11, 2009 Australian Museum Sydney
In December 2009 we hosted a 2-day programming workshop to discuss progress on the project and develop a dialogue between researchers and partners. Below is a summary of the event.
An Introduction to the Research Project and a progress report
What is the level of awareness, concern and knowledge of the consequences of climate change in the general populations in the United States and Australia. Where do people think the responsibility for the effects and the solutions lie? A summary of the online surveys conducted during 2009
A presentation of empirical research on audiences and institutional perceptions of the roles of museums and science centres in climate change debates and decisions
Professor Neilson’s contribution to the workshop explores the challenges posed by the system of “global democratic governance” at Copenhagen. Neilson proposes to interpret the UN Conference of Parties (COP-15) itself as an instrument of global governance and brings to bear the resources of Foucauldian governmentality theory and legal positivism in analysing the structure of the UN conference, its parties, and its opposition. He draws a detailed contrast between the hierarchical structure of the UN conference body and the diffuse network of protest movements opposing the UN conference. Protest movements ‘outside the tent’ such as the anti-capitalist group “Never trust a COP” are explored as are dissenting movements ‘inside the tent’ such as the international indigenous peoples’ forum on climate change, convened during the COP-14 in Poznan, Poland in 2008. Museums as public institutions sit between the governmental parties to the UN convention and the protest movements. What role can museums play in representing and moderating this global policy debate? Professor Neilson suggests that museums might serve as ‘spaces of conflict’ where the conflicts of disputing parties can be represented and discussed. As an example, Neilson considers the recent exhibit “Rethink: Contemporary Art & Climate Change” which was part of the cultural program presented by four museums and cultural institutes in Copenhagen 2009, including the Nikolaj Copenhagen Contemporary Art Center. Among the artistic groups initially contracted to exhibit at the Nikolaj was the UK Bristol based “Laboratory of the Insurrectionary Imagination”. The Nikolaj museum was put into a difficult position by this artists’ group’s commitment to political protest and disruption of the Conference of Parties summit, eventually resulting in a breakdown of working relations between the Bristol group and the Nikolaj museum. Neilson’s contribution will enable us to reflect critically on this event to ascertain its significance for future museum engagement on politically sensitive issues.
Climate change debates and interventions are intrinsically about voice and listening. A cognitive justice approach might be useful to better understand the cultural underpinnings of climate change and the critical role that museums and science centres play within the politics of climate change communication and action
A content analysis of letters to the editor and contributed OpEds published in major Australian newspapers during 2006-2009 has been used to reflect community attitudes and understanding of climate change.
Organisational / Institutional Issues
Group discussion on programming ideas and Institutional issues, facilitated by Marco Federici
* Present summary of implications for institutional programmers from all strands.
* Discus potential pilot programs that take advantage of HSGC research to date.
* Explore opportunities for institutions and researchers to collaborate.
* Open forum for institutions to discuss practical research options.