A changeable approach for dynamic museum collections \ Candice Cranmer
The Changeable Collection Program at the NMA is a key project initiated as a part of a multi-year, digital transformation initiative which articulates a decade-long vision to advance digital capabilities across the organisation and enhance the museum experience for visitors. At the core of this program is the recognition of the importance of developing frameworks that can re-conceptualise the museum’s approaches and activities to assess, care for, interpret and share NMA’s collections.
The NMA's changeable approach addresses the unique needs of all collection objects as dynamic, relational, and inherently changeable. This perspective aims to enhance our understanding, management, and care of such collections through a lens of positive change to ensure these objects can develop, evolve, and maintain their significance as time, contexts, and audiences shift.
In this presentation we reflection on:
The impact of embedding a philosophical approach and and building a specialist Changeable and Digital team to embed digital collection management practices and collaborative workflows
Initiating ten cases studies to embed practical strategies that map relational knowledge, expand preservation strategies and explore the use of new technologies to unlock narratives and methods for activation
Building upon the Museum’s community engagement strategies to embed two-way knowledge sharing, informed consent, community exchange and sustainable collaboration for both First Nations and non-indigenous collection
To ground our theoretical framework, we will present the methodological approaches we’ve developed via specific case studies such as our work with the Hetherington Family Collection (Mr. Squiggle and Friends) and the WLAN testbed prototype. In these case studies we explore innovative digital techniques such as 3D laser scanning and body motion capture to produce archival-quality data packages that enable production for a range of experiences for our audiences. We also reflect on our engagement and consultation processes with creators and communities to help us understand how a changeable approach can support and communicate intergenerational transfer of knowledge, performance and care practices, to not only enhance the museum’s operational effectiveness but also ensures that its digital transformation remains relevant and responsive to the needs of diverse stakeholders.
Candice Cranmer, National Museum of Australia: Candice Cranmer is currently the Changeable and Digital Collections Senior Officer at the National Museum of Australia. She was ACMI's first Time-based Media Conservator and has held roles across conservation and digital preservation at ACMI. She is the co-convener of the Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Materials special interest group ‘Electron’ and enjoys exploring innovative conservation methodologies and collaborative practices. Candice holds Undergraduate and Honours Degrees in Fine Art from Monash University and a Masters of Cultural Materials Conservation from the University of Melbourne.
PROJECT COLLABORATORS:
Asti Sherring, National Museum of Australia: Asti Sherring is the Manager of Changeable and Digital Collections at the National Museum of Australia and Honorary Senior Lecturer, Humanities, Arts and Social Science, Australian National University. She has completed a Bachelor of Media Arts (honours) from Sydney University and a Masters of Materials Conservation at Melbourne University. Asti has held positions as Time-based media consultant at Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and senior time-based art conservator at The Art Gallery of New South Wales. Asti is currently undertaking doctorate research at Canberra University (in its final stages) which explores contemporary Museum theories and practices of digital, ephemeral, immersive, participatory and technological cultural heritage.
How analogue intelligence complements AI \ Paul Rowe
Artificial Intelligence is providing benefits in many areas of work within the heritage sector, from image analysis, to ideas generation, and new research tools. However, it is more critical than ever for people, with analogue intelligence, to ensure the integrity and ethical use of AI. Including real people can improve the use of AI by identifying potential biases, cross-checking results, refining workflows, and providing contextual relevance to AI-driven results.
News about the impact of AI often paints a rosy picture. In practice, there are many potential pitfalls. This presentation discusses these issues and looks at the role of analogue intelligence and analogue interfaces in providing the best results to our audiences. How do we deal with factually incorrect results? How do we get content generated that better reflects the diversity of our communities? What roles are there for physical, in-person experiences in the digital world?
Paul Rowe, Vernon Systems: Paul Rowe is CEO of Vernon Systems, an Auckland-based museum software company. Vernon Systems develops software for organisations and individuals that collect, interpret and share collections. He works with museums around the world to increase public access to their museum collection information. He is occasionally seen caving.
Mapping Rangitāhua's Natural History Collections and Historical Expeditions Through a Decolonizing Lens \ Marina Klemm
The historical collection and distribution of natural history specimens from Rangitāhua represents a complex intersection of scientific exploration and colonial practices. This groundbreaking study presents the first comprehensive analysis of Rangitāhua specimens held in global institutions, combined with a detailed examination of historical expeditions to the rohe. Through extensive data collection, we documented 40,804 records comprising over 1.73 million individual specimens and observations, currently distributed across 88 institutions in 17 countries.
Through innovative cross-referencing of temporal and geographic data, we successfully mapped the journey of individual specimens from their collection sites to their current institutions, reconstructing the historical pathways of scientific expeditions and their cargo. This presentation outlines our methodology and research and critically examines these collections within the context of indigenous rights and cultural heritage, particularly considering Rangitāhua's significance as tupuna to Ngāti Kuri and the historical exclusion of iwi from their traditional territories while scientific collection and settlement continued.
Marina Klemm, Auckland War Memorial Museum: Marina Klemm is the Associate Curator of Te Mana o Rangitāhua at Auckland Museum's Natural Sciences department, where she contributes to projects focused on restoring Rangitāhua's taiao and retelling this tupuna's story through indigenous lens.
As tauiwi to this land, with whakapapa in Brazil, Marina began her career studying forensic entomology in her home country before moving to Aotearoa to complete her PhD on small RNAs of human parasites at the University of Auckland in 2023. When COVID lockdowns prevented laboratory access, Marina pivoted to data analysis, discovering a passion for statistics and large datasets that continues to inform her work today.
Marina joined Auckland Museum in 2022 as a Kaitiaki Kaiako, delivering learning programs to schools across the Auckland region. Since January 2024, she has served in her current role with Te Mana o Rangitāhua, where she's delighted to work once again with her beloved creepy-crawlies. She treasures the opportunity to bring together science, data analysis, and cultural understanding to support environmental restoration and indigenous storytelling.