Two hundred people from various parts of Europe and the world, linked to organizations in the museum sector, including 50 representatives of Portuguese institutions, participated in the international meeting of NEMO – Network of European Museums Organizations, which took place from 9 to 11 October, in Loulé.
Participants had the opportunity to debate and reflect on the themes of the present and future of museums, also exploring the territory of Loulé and the museological offer of the municipality.
“Innovation starts from within: Resilient museums in times of disruption” was the general theme launched in this edition of the meeting of NEMA, the independent association of museums that brings together 40 countries.
The theme inspired speakers from the United States, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Austria, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, Finland, Denmark, Portugal and Ukraine to share their experience in an exchange of ideas.
Technological innovation, the energy crisis and the problems associated with climate change or the social changes that are expected in a Europe at war were at the center of the discussion and are, in essence, the main challenges that museums face. It was precisely this osmosis that the American consultant Michael Peter Edson spoke about in his presentation, a new reality that marks the daily life of museums, but in which the path of these institutions requires a balance between technological innovations, culture and global social change. .
Some of Europe's most emblematic organizations attended this event to share the good practices they promote, making them examples to follow, such as the National Gallery of Denmark, through the voice of Merete Sanderhoff, or the iconic Oodi Helsinki Central Library , from Finland, which he had in a presentation by Kari Lämsä, dedicated to the dissemination of the work carried out in what is the Central Public Library of Helsinki.
There was also talk of crisis, from the outset with the impact of the pandemic and the lockdown that forced the closure of museums and the need to bet on digital and creative alternatives, as was the case with the Lisbon Museum, or the inevitable and current theme of War. of Ukraine and how the authorities of this country are dealing with the preservation of its cultural heritage in a territory that is being decimated.
But this meeting was also made up of more practical activities such as thematic workshops and the creation of small groups that, in a greater proximity between the partners, made it possible to deepen the different approaches and good practices, where the Loulé team had the opportunity to share the their experience with European colleagues.
On the other hand, visits to some museum spaces in the county, especially the Islamic Baths and the Barreto Manor House, an element that is paradigmatic of the work carried out in this county in terms of heritage, were also part of the program and excited the participants.
“This is a great meeting of museums, museum organizations, regardless of their structure, management model or organization, but the wealth of NEMO is precisely this, the advantage of bringing together representatives of all types of museum organizations in each member country”, underlined the Secretary of State for Culture Isabel Cordeiro, who joined the speakers at the opening ceremony.
According to this official, this constitutes “an extraordinarily important opportunity to discuss the challenges that museums face today, not only from the point of view of their organization but above all in the way they relate to audiences and how they meet audiences each time”. more and more demanding, while maintaining the essence of what they are as a museological institution”.
After having passed through Lisbon in 2000, at a time when this organization was “still very young” (it was born in 1992), the presence of NEMO in the Algarve, and in Loulé, rewards the region’s proactivity in this matter: “The Algarve has been an example and is absolutely to be congratulated for the work he has done and above all for the vision he has had. When well taken care of, cultural heritage is effectively an anchor to promote quality tourism, the creation of cultural habits and, above all, a responsibility, an awareness on the part of the community of how important it is to value and preserve the heritage of their lands. This is very visible in many cities in the Algarve and in Loulé in particular” underlined Isabel Cordeiro.
David Vuillaume, head of NEMO, spoke about the importance of networks in sharing knowledge. “Here in Loulé we are the community of museum professionals who are thinking on a European scale and that is worth noting. Let's discuss together and explore how museums can become more innovative and more flexible in a rapidly changing world. The pandemic has not only changed the way we live, but has challenged the museum sector in order to adapt to what is to come. We have to think outside the box and we have to admit mistakes and failures as an opportunity”, highlighted the German partner.
On his turn, councilor David Pimentel, representing the Municipality of Loulé, challenged participants to get to know the county's territory: “For us it is also a fabulous experience to have you here and to show you what Loulé has to offer. A county full of traditions, with a past, a history, a culture”.
In an allusion to the distance caused by the pandemic period, he stressed the importance of interpersonal relationships in this type of forum: “We can digitize a lot in life but not the experience of talking eye to eye, and heart to heart. In times of disruption, the best solutions come from connecting and exchanging experiences,” he said.
This official also left important information for those present with regard to the work of enhancing the heritage of the Municipality: the creation of the Cultural Quarter that “will join the history of the territory to the history of man”.
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