Shanghai (China) hosted the 22nd General Conference of ICOM “Museums for Social Harmony” from November 7 to 12, 2010
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The conference highlighted such topical problems as protection and preservation of cultural heritage, especially in the regions where objects of cultural heritage are in jeopardy because of military conflicts, changes of climate, illegal trade etc. At their meetings, the ICOM committees discussed the ways to improve professional service at the museums on the basis of innovative methods and such museum functions as documentation, research, storage, communication and schooling.
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It was Mme. Alissandra Cummins, president of ICOM, Mr. Julien Anfruns, director general of ICOM, Mr. Zhang Bai, Chairperson of Chinese National Committee of ICOM, Mr. Cai Wu, Minister of Culture of China, Mr. Andrey Busygin, deputy minister of culture of Russia, and other officials who greeted the Conference participants at the opening session.
A. Busygin noted in his speech that it was the Roerich Pact and the Conventions of UNESCO dated 1954 and 1972 that laid the foundation for the modern strategies of protecting cultural heritage in Russia. He also expressed hope that Russia will be the next to host the ICOM conference.
The conference, that saw the election of Hans-Martin Heinz as the new ICOM President, welcomed about 3000 delegates from all countries of the world. The Russian delegation headed by Vladimir Tolstoy, President of Russian National Committee of ICOM, was definitely the most representative.
The Conference also hosted a Museum Fair Trade EXPO 2010. The Russian delegation prepared two projects – «Circumpolar civilization in the museums of the world: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow» represented by the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and «75 years of the Roerich Pact», dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the first International Treaty on the Protection of Artistic and Scientific Institutions and Historic Monuments in time of war and in peace, represented by the International Centre of the Roerichs (Moscow). The exhibition «75 years of the Roerich Pact» was of particular interest for those museum activists who represented regions and countries where, due to the negligence of government officials, natural disasters etc., the preservation of the national cultural heritage became especially topical.
The Conference organizers provided the delegates with a rich cultural programme that included visits to the Shanghai museums, trip to an ancient town of Sujou and a lively programme of concerts based on the ancient Chinese traditions.