NEoN’s second public debate to examine ‘Digital Museums’

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 10:08:17 GMT

International digital arts festival NEoN’s second public debate event will discuss the issue of ‘Digital Museums’ on Tuesday 28th September 2010 at the D’Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum, University of Dundee, in the city.

The debate will be directed by a panel of experts including Rachel Bhandari of the Museums and Galleries Scotland, Richard Brinklow of the McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery & Museum, Sarah Cowie of East Lothian Museums, Matthew Jarron of the University of Dundee Museums Services and Ger Malcolm of the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery in Glasgow. The panel will seek to examine and encourage public debate of the impact of digital media on museums’ services and curatorial concepts.

"Museums are often seen as stuffy establishments but many are now embracing advances in digital technology to reach out to new audiences. This debate will look at some current examples of the use of new technologies and ask what they mean for the future of museums,” explained Jarron.

While museums remain committed to protecting and sustaining the material culture of the past, there exists a real incentive in today’s climate to engage with new audiences and to keep abreast of developments in technology to interpret and make accessible their collections.

‘Are we doing enough to respond to the incredibly rapidly changing environment of access to information?’ Asked the then President of the Museums Association and Director of the National Gallery, Charles Saumarez Smith, as he addressed the Museums Association’s conference in October 2005 on the topic of the digital media and maximizing museums’ potential. Fast forward to 2010, and in the light of funding uncertainties, the topic of maximising a museum’s potential through digital media and audience interaction still prompts discussion, and the debate is perhaps more apt now more than ever.

The NEoN public debate event taking place on Tuesday 28th September, 6pm – 8 pm, will explore the issues involved (both practical and ethical) using a variety of case studies to examine the question ‘will new technology change our museums forever?

Booking for the debate is not essential and seating will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

For further information please visit http://www.northeastofnorth.com/events/, contact 01382 384310 or museum@dundee.ac.uk

Visit http://www.northeastofnorth.com/ for general NEoN information, join the community at http://northeastofnorth.ning.com/ or follow NEoN on twitter @weareneon.

ENDS

Contacts

Helen Reid
Revolver PR
E: helen@revolver-pr.co.uk
T: 0845 130 8992

Donna Holford- Lovell
NEoN
E: d.holford-lovell@abertay.ac.uk

Notes to editors:

North East of North (NEoN) is an international digital arts festival featuring moving image, performance, music and technology driven arts. The over arching curatorial theme for 2010 is Character: evaluating the abstracted or physical agent in a work of art; investigation of the fictional or psychological systems; observation of the unit of information, symbol, sound or written language. Through this focused dimension NEoN intends to explore the notion of collaboration between visual art, information communication, media production and gaming that will expand digital development and knowledge. (www.northeastofnorth.com)

NEoN was created by Interactive Tayside (www.interactivetayside.com).
Interactive Tayside is a partnership between public, private and academic sectors to develop and promote Tayside's digital media industry.

NEoN is sponsored by: Angus & Dundee City Council, Event Scotland, National Lot

NEoN's first public debate to discuss 'Digital Dundee'.

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:34:43 GMT

The first of digital arts festival NEoN's public debates will take place this evening, Tuesday 31st August in the Dundee City Council conference rooms, City Square, Dundee at 6 p.m. The debate will be chaired by Paul Carroll of Dundee City Council. Carroll will be joined by a panel of experts to direct the discussion surrounding the pertinent local issue of ‘Digital Dundee.’

"Dundee has so far met the challenge of adapting to the internet age and built an international reputation as Digital Dundee. Tonight's debate will ask the question how can we build on that for the future." informed Carroll.

The objective of the debate is to consider the concept of ‘Digital Dundee’ and to identify ways in which the city can harness e-technology to improve leisure, business processes and increase their competitive advantage.The debate panel will consist of experts concerned with the digital industry, including Gameelah Ghafoor, Global Project Manager for Communications and Security at NCR, Clive Gileman, Director at the DCA, Colin Anderson, Managing Director of Denki and Doug Tonner, Client Director at BT Scotland. The panel will introduce a variety of topics to the discussion including - does Dundee need a digital strategy? should it continue to develop organically? ; and, what would a world class broadband wireless technical infrastructure do for the city?

The NEoN public debate, discussing the topic of ‘Digital Dundee’ is particularly relevant this year with the city having been given the accolade of one of the ‘Top 7 Cities’ by the think tank, Intelligent Community Forum. The think tank recognizes international communities which create prosperity, stability and cultural meaning in a world which is increasingly reliant upon digital media and dependent upon the development of communications. This evening’s debate will address the issues surrounding the importance of digital to the future of the community of Dundee.

The debate will take place this evening, Tuesday 31st August, at Dundee City Council conference rooms at City Square, Dundee, 6 - 8pm. Seating will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Visit http://www.northeastofnorth.com/2010/06/neon-debate/ for further information on this evening's debate.

For all of the latest news and updates to the programme, visit www.northeastofnorth.com To get involved with the NEoN community, join www.northeastofnorth.ning.com or follow us on Twitter: @weareneon.

Ends

Contact

Helen Reid
Revolver PR
E: helen@revolver-pr.co.uk
T: 0845 130 8992

Brian Baglow
Revolver PR
E: brian@revolver-pr.co.uk
M: +44 (0) 7747 792247

Notes to editors:

North East Of North (NEoN) is an international digital arts festival featuring moving image, performance, music and technology driven arts. The over arching curatorial theme for 2010 is Character: evaluating the abstracted or physical agent in a work of art; investigation of the fictional or psychological systems; observation of the unit of information, symbol, sound or written language. Through this focused dimension NEoN intends to explore the notion of collaboration between visual art, information communication, media production and gaming that will expand digital development and knowledge. (www.northeastofnorth.com)

NEoN is sponsored by: Angus & Dundee City Council, Event Scotland, National Lottery Awards for All, The Japan Foundation, Creative City Challenge, Scottish Enterprise & the North Sea Screen Par

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NEoN’s second public debate to examine ‘Digital Museums’

NEoN's first public debate to discuss 'Digital Dundee'.