The Idea of the Global Museum: Conference on December 2-3, 2016

28.11.2016
Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart

Offering alternative narratives to a limited yet mainstream canon of art has become one of the primary tasks of museum practice. The conference takes this status quo as a starting point for discussing museum programs, particularly those of museums of modern and contemporary art, which are thinking research, collection, exhibition, and public from a global perspective.

In current discourse, such endeavors take notions of inclusivity and diversity as well as universalism and imperialism as animating principles. They all enter into “The Idea of the Global Museum,” a title that serves as shorthand for a debate on the different approaches that museums are taking today, and that could be taken in the future.

Over two days, on December 2 and 3, 2016 conference participants offer specific knowledges and points of view:

• What are the effects of a “global” approach on museum work past, present, and future?
• What are its necessities, possibilities, and challenges?
• Is there a common denominator for “global” museum practice?

Conference program (PDF, 285 KB)

This conference is part of the project “Global Resonances” (working title), which explores the Nationalgalerie Collection with respect to its international and transregional entanglements. The project will result in a large-scale exhibition project that will take place at Hamburger Bahnhof from November 2017 to April 2018. 

On the initiative of the German Federal Cultural Foundation, the project is funded as part of its program “Global Museum.”

Conference language is English. Simultaneous translation into German is available. The conference is open to the public and free of charge. Please register your attendance before November 15, 2016 at service@smb.museum indicating your name and address.

Conference venue: Aktionsraum Hamburger Bahnhof – Museum für Gegenwart – Berlin
(right wing of the museum building; enter from Invalidenstraße)
Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Invalidenstraße 50–51
10557 Berlin