2017 Irish Museums Association Annual Conference

11:00 – 11:30    

Registration and tea/coffee, Town Hall Theatre, Galway 

11:30 – 11:45   

Welcome and launch of proceedings by Eithne Verling, Director, Galway City Museum   

11:45 – 13:00   

Cultural tourism starts at home Claudia Köhler, Education, Community & Outreach Officer, Kerry County Museum

Partnership possibilities Aoife Ruane, Director, Highlanes Gallery

‘Every Person Is Connected’: ensuring the sustainability of EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum’s exploration of diaspora heritage Fiona Ross, Director, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum

Moderator: Brian Crowley, Chair, Irish Museums Association   

13:00 – 14:00     

Lunch, Town Hall Theatre   

14:00 –15:30

Cultural tourism in a post-liberal world Simon O'Connor, Curator, Little Museum of Dublin

Developing cultural heritage tourism: the role of museum professionals. Lee Jolliffe, Professor, Hospitality and Tourism, University of New Brunswick, Canada 

Creative Ireland John Concannon, Director, Creative Ireland

Moderator: Eithne Verling, Director, Galway City Museum 

15:30 - 16:00

Tea/coffee Break

16:00 - 16:45

What do you know about your museum’s visitors? Chris Bailey, Director, Northern Ireland Museums Council

Irish Museums Survey 2016: a brief overview Dr Emily Mark-FitzGerald, Lecturer/Assistant Professor, School of Art History and Cultural Policy, University College Dublin

Moderator: Carla Marrinan, Chief Executive Officer, National Print Museum 

16:45 - 17:00

Closing remarks by Brian Crowley, Chair, Irish Museums Association

17:45 – 18:15

Annual General Meeting for IMA members, Galway City Museum   

18:15 - 19:30

Visit and welcome reception - Galway City Museum and Galway County Council 

20:00

Conference Dinner, Harbour Hotel, New Dock Road, Galway       

10:00 - 10:30      

Registration and tea/coffee, Town Hall Theatre, Galway   

10:30 – 12:30      

Welcome & launch of proceedings by Brian Crowley, Chair, Irish Museums Association

Museums at the heart of a successful tourism destination Kathryn Thomson, Chief Executive, National Museums Northern Ireland 

Cultural tourism and the contemporary museum – a lifetime’s reflection Michael Day, Chief Executive, Historic Royal Palaces

Moderator: William Blair, Director of Collections, National Museums Northern Ireland                 

12:30 – 13:30      

Lunch, Town Hall Theatre   

13:30 – 14:45

Museums and tourism: Challenges and opportunities Paddy Mathews, Head of Investment and Innovation, Fáilte Ireland

Creating excellent visitor experiences at heritage sites: the challenges of balancing the management of historic places with the demands of modern tourism Frank Shalvey, Principal Officer, National Monuments, Office of Public Works

Moderator: Lar Joye, Assistant Keeper Grade I, National Museum of Ireland – Art & Industrial Division 

14:45 - 15:15

Tea/coffee break

15:15 - 16:45

‘Museums without Boundaries’: Cultural tourism – a win/win for the local community and the preservation of our cultural heritage Eamonn McEneaney, Director, Waterford Treasures – Three Museums in the Viking Triangle

Museums and tourism: a new role for the contemporary museum? Eithne Verling, Director, Galway City Museum

Museums at the heart of the vibrant city experience Dr Bridget McConnell CBE, Chief Executive, Glasgow Life

Moderator: Aoife Ruane, Director, Highlanes Gallery   

16:45 – 17:00

Closing Remarks by Brian Crowley Chair, Irish Museums Association