Conference: National Museums – Narrating the Nation Conference 2021

This conference will provide a forum for discussion of historic and current museum practices and debates in different national settings including New Zealand, Russia, Pakistan, Canada, Benin and Ireland. Our motivation in bringing together this wide range of experts is to learn how ideas of the nation have been materialised, collected, visualised, manufactured, articulated, displayed and performed in national museums in the past and in the present day.

A further aim is to speculate about the future role and strategies national museums might utilise in relation to contemporary debates about material heritage.

• Full Programme and Abstracts
• Register for Day 1
• Register for Day 2

This conference is an outcome of a strategic partnership between the National Museum of Ireland and the National College of Art and Design, a collaborative project that has enriched both institutions through student projects, research initiatives and joint public events.

The conference is convened by colleagues across both institutions: David Crowley, Head of Visual Culture (NCAD), Lisa Godson, Programme Leader of MA Design History and Material Culture (NCAD), Brenda Malone, Curator of Military History, Arms and Armour, Flags, Banners and Transport (NMI) and Audrey Whitty, Deputy Director/Head of Collections and Learning (NMI)