International Training Programme 2016

Final Report

Presented by Marie-Antoinette Gemayel

National Museum, Beirut 2016

Supported by the Marie–Louise von Motesickzy Charitable

Trust

Firstly, I am grateful to Marie–Louise von Motesickzy Charitable Trust for

having granted me the possibility to participate between of 17 July till 27

August in London on the International Training Programme. It was a great

opportunity for me to be able to discuss and to collaborate with other museum

teams from around the world, especially with the British Museum staff.

Spending 6 weeks with the ITP team was so interesting at different levels: to

meet 20 different curators at the British Museum, to spend time with new

friends for 6 weeks in the UK, with a lovely people around us. To get unique

experiences concerning museum issues. On a personal basis, I have to confess

that it was the first time I spent so long a period abroad, the first presentation I

did in English, finally the first proposal I conceived for an exhibition. All that

happened with the ITP.

The ITP group covered a full range of museum activities and showed how

diverse institutions should work together. The common aim is of course to help

save the cultural heritage, and to build a global network of colleagues crossing

geographical and cultural boundaries. These sessions gave me the opportunity

to practice the theory I learn as a museum student; also to see and compare

the collections and displays in different museums.

All the sessions were useful to me. As we know, Lebanon has suffered a civil

war through which the museum and the storerooms were badly damage. At

first, the challenge of the National museum team of Beirut was to secure the

collection and work on the reopening of the museum. But today, all the team

have to reach an objective to engage the local community with the museum

and to develop this sector. The sessions on Learning, Audiences and Volunteers

gave me a lot of ideas on how to help and engage the museum team to

collaborate with the local community. It is also important to attract the public

into the museum activities. I was fascinated by the possibilities which are

offered by the British Museum to the visitors.

This experience showed me the way and I hope to be able to use these

activities in the National Museum of Beirut because it was one of my goals

within the ITP to learn new methods in museum education. I believe that if we

support our children to learn about their history, culture and heritage, they will

be in return creative, useful citizens and will do their best to protect and

improve their country.

Before traveling to the UK and my participation in the ITP, my directors and the

museum curator suggested that I do a research on the best ways to develop

and organize our lab and storerooms. The sessions talking about collection

management, storage and documentation gave me the opportunity to learn

how the museum (British Museum and UK Partner placement museums - The

Collection in Lincoln and Museum of Nottingham University) manage their

stores, control access and handle the constraints of the museum building. The

visits of a large number of storerooms gave me a lot of knowledge and

experience to discover various materials preserved in different ways. I also

learned about the importance of regularly monitoring the storerooms, using

sensors and insect traps to identify environmental problems and potential

conservation needs.

My visit to the conservation lab of glass and pottery was particularly

interesting. I had the chance, to discuss with the conservator about the new

treatment used to different object and artefacts as well as the new projects

undertaken.

The highlights of this programme were the assignments given to us, the

Project weekend - evaluating London’s Museums, I did appreciate being split

into smaller groups. It was a great chance for each participant to present their

ideas, knowledge and experience.

During the weekend project

The Exhibition Proposal Project for Room 3 was a very challenging but useful

idea. It made us think of the eventual exhibition with only one object and

obtaining an amazing result. The ITP team encouraged us to think not just

about concepts and interpretations but also on audiences, marketing,

merchandising and events. We learned also the important of the Temporary

Exhibition in a museum and how the museum team provide a way of bringing

new research to visitors as well as an opportunity to display collections in a

modern way. Ensuring that permanent and temporary galleries can

complement each other could encourage visitors to return to the museum for

another visit.

But the most important issues for all participants is certainly to try to keep in

touch in the future and to prepare exhibitions all together through loans

between our respective countries.

Finally, I would like to underline that it was a pleasure for me to represent the

National Museum of Beirut in the International Training Programme and my

UK partner Museums, The Collection: Lincoln and Museum of Nottingham

University. The training was focused on confidence, building skills, sharing

experience, creating network and collaborations and the role of museums. I

wish in the future to provide the practical and logistical support to enable the

young archaeologist to benefit from the Programme. I am hoping that I could

also organise a programme similar to the ITP one day!!

Long Live ITP!!

Thank you