Thursday, March 06, 2008

Oceanic Art Symposium

Announcement: Oceanic Art Symposium

Organised by the Pacific Islands Museums Association (PIMA) and the Vanuatu Cultural Centre (VKS)
Port Vila, Vanuatu, 6–8 May 2008
Final date for Registration Monday 14 April 2008

The first Oceanic Art Symposium on “Oceanic Art Today: Status, Production and Tendencies” provides a space for international art scholars and museum professionals to share new ideas about creative traditions and contemporary arts practice in the Pacific region today. The symposium, organised by PIMA and the VKS in collaboration with the French Embassy in Vanuatu, aims to ensure the safeguarding of intangible creative traditions, the transmission of knowledge and the stimulation of interest amongst young generations of artists to keep contemporary practice alive and evolving. The symposium will include the opportunity for participants to identify opportunities for international and regional interaction with Pacific Islands’ museums, artists and creative industries. It will be an opportunity to promote recognition of PIMA’s Code of Ethics for Pacific Islands Museums and Cultural Centres, and to develop the relationship between PIMA and the Pacific Arts Association (PAA). The symposium aims to produce a set of recommendations advocating the way forward for enhancing ethical research and practice in the field of Oceanic Art.

Optional Tour (additional cost)
The two-day symposium will be preceded by an optional one-day field trip to Chief Roi Mata’s Domain on Efate Island, Vanuatu’s first World Heritage-nominated site.

Of additional interest to visitors, the Vanuatu National Sand Drawing Festival will be held on the island of Ambrym from the 13th to the 15th of May, the week after the Symposium.

Please see http://www.culturepacific.org for further details of the Symposium program, discounted accommodation and flight options, the Field Trip, and links to Vanuatu Sand Drawing.

Registration includes
* Attendance at all symposium sessions on Wednesday 7 May and Thursday 8 May, 2008;
* Registration materials (information package, program, symposium proceedings etc.);
* Refreshment breaks and lunch on Wednesday and Thursday;
* Welcome reception on Wednesday 7 May;
* Closing reception on Thursday 8th May.

Registration does not include accommodation or travel costs. PIMA has negotiated discounted accommodation and travel prices for symposium participants. Please check the PIMA website for details and updates.

To Register for the Symposium
Registration forms in Word or PDF format are available online at http://www.culturepacific.org/en/bm/whats_on/
Please return completed registration form (with payment) by email, post or fax to:
PIMA, c/o Vanuatu Cultural Centre,
PO Box 184, Port Vila, Vanuatu.
Fax: +678 26590.
Email: pima@vanuatu.com.vu.

Enquires may be directed to Secretary-General, PIMA.