A workshop on collections conservation and management was inaugurated today at the National Museum, Nay Pyi Taw. The three day workshop is being held from January 30, 2017 to February 1, 2017 and is a collaboration between AusHeritage (Australia’s International Cultural Heritage Network) and the Department of Archaeology and National Museum. Twenty Museum personnel from the National Museum and several regional Museums are participating. A two day follow up workshop will also be held in Bagan on February 2-3, 2017.

The workshop was opened by Dr Nanda Hmun, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture, in the presence of Mr Nick Cumpston, Counsellor, and Australian Embassy. Mr Vinod Daniel, Chairman, AusHeritage, U Kyaw Oo Lwin, Director General, Department of Archaeology and National Museum, Ausheritage members Ms Alex Marsden, Director Museums Galleries Australia and Dr Charlotte Galloway, Australian National University and U Ye Myat Aung, Director of the National Museum (Nay Pyi Taw). Travel funding support for the workshop was provided by The Australia ASEAN Institute (Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade).

Dr Nanda Hmun acknowledged the two decade long collaboration between AusHeritage and Myanmar and welcomed the delegation to Nay Pyi Taw. Mr Nick Cumpston said that collaboration in cultural heritage preservation is very important and was very keen to see this grow. Mr Vinod Daniel expressed his delight that Myanmar had a strong focus on capacity building for its Museum sector which makes Museum renewal sustainable and also congratulated Myanmar on being accepted as a National Committee of the global Museums peak body the “International Council of Museums.”

AusHeritage is Australia’s international network for cultural heritage. The organisation’s members include Australian universities, national collecting institutions, State galleries, libraries and museums, private architectural firms and private and government conservation services.