Being Collected: From Outlines to Ambassadors

Many museums across the world today are acknowledging the nature of their Indigenous collections as being complex but are museums are also using these challenging histories as a transformational opportunity to add new layers of meaning and interpretation to their collections. Indigenous cultural leaders are calling for the development of consultation opportunities that reflect broader international conversations about the way museum collections are managed, exhibitions are designed, and how public and education programs use these collections to inform audiences of the role of museums today.  

Matt Poll is Manager Indigenous Programs at Australian National Maritime Museum.  In this talk he reviews his work with the University of Sydney's Macleay collections over the past decade to strengthen relationships between peoples and their heritage and the respectful exhibition of culture.

Feature image: Ngarukuruwala - we sing songs members, Ambassadors of the Murrakupuni, photo: Matt Poll 2021