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Communities and Memories: A Global Perspective

Delegates at the Memory of the World Conference, National Library, February 2008

The Memory of the World Committee for the Asia-Pacific Region

‘Imagine ... a world without memories’ was the challenge issued to those attending the third international conference of the UNESCO Memory of the World (MOW) program at the National Library from 19 to 22 February 2008. Representatives from the world’s major cultural institutions travelled to Canberra to discuss how best to preserve and safeguard collections and items of national significance, how participating MOW countries can share and develop expertise in these fields, and how to increase awareness of the aims and activities of the MOW program globally. The conference was held in association with a symposium on intangible cultural heritage at the Australian National University on 18 February and was preceded by a meeting of the MOW Committee for the Asia-Pacific Region (MOWCAP) on 17 to 18 February. The timing for the conference was particularly auspicious as it followed closely on the historic apology to Indigenous Australians by the Commonwealth Government of Australia. Respect for the culture of Indigenous Australians underpinned all presentations.

In his public keynote address at the National Museum of Australia, Wim van Zanten, from the Netherlands, stressed that ‘one of the key issues in safe-guarding intangible cultural heritage is the transmission of knowledge’; we ignore the value of the ‘invisible’ cultural record at our peril. He also emphasised how easily women’s culture can be ignored. His concerns were reiterated by speakers throughout the conference.

The format for proceedings encompassed six plenaries, four working sessions, a choice between five workshops, and 41 eminent speakers from more than 30 countries. Intangible cultural heritage and its critical importance to the identity of countries whose primary culture is maintained in oral records was an important theme throughout the conference. Sessions reflected the concerns of those delegates focused on the preservation of archival records through digitisation programs and those who are distressed about the rate at which intangible cultural heritage is disappearing. There was a strong desire expressed by the representatives of ex-colonial countries to find means of repatriating cultural heritage items from collections owned by the occupying countries.

An important event related to the conference was the official acceptance of the archives of the International Council for Traditional Music by the National Library of Australia. Significant papers from the archives were on display, such as letters written by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Major highlights of the conference included:

  • an inspirational keynote address by Professor Hilary Charlesworth, Australian National University, focusing on the intimate connection between communities, memories, documentary heritage, cultural rights and human rights
  • announcement of new inscriptions on the Australian and the Asia-Pacific UNESCO Regional Register
  • recommendations for immediate action to improve the effectiveness of the MOW program across the globe
  • recognition of the need for Australia to assist neighbouring Pacific Island countries to safeguard their documentary heritage.

Speakers at the conference adressed philosophical, technical, scientific and emotional issues relating to the preservation of cultural heritage. These excellent papers provide an important resource for all those working in related fields and most can be found reproduced on the MOW website: www.amw.org.au/mow2008/mow/mow2008.htm.

Jennifer Gall
Research Officer, School of Music
Australian National University