The board and staff members of IFACCA were saddened to hear of the death last week of Prof Colin Mercer, a high-profile and energetic contributor to cultural policy research and debate globally.

Colin Mercer was a keen supporter of ConnectCP - his professional profile is available here.

We welcome comments about Colin on our Facebook post:https://www.facebook.com/IFACCA

Elise Huffer, IFACCA Board Member and Adviser, Human Development Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community has written the following tribute to Colin: 

It is with great sadness that Council of Pacific Arts and Culture and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community learnt about Colin Mercer’s sudden passing. Colin co-facilitated a workshop on Cultural Mapping, Planning and Policy for the Pacific in March 2010. Colin’s easy and approachable manner were much appreciated by Pacific Islands’ representatives and his methodology has been followed in the region resulting in two countries, Solomon Islands and Tonga, having newly endorsed national culture policies, and three countries: Palau, Federated States of Micronesia and Tuvalu with draft policies following the design and publication of cultural mapping reports authored by national consultants. Colin co-authored the widely used and referenced Pacific  Cultural Mapping, Planning and Policy Toolkit and kept abreast of developments in the culture sector in the region. The tool kit has been translated into French and is now being used by Francophone countries such as Wallis and Futuna who are currently undertaking cultural mapping for policy. Colin will be sorely missed by the region.

Adi Meretui Ratunabuabua, Pacific Heritage Hub Manager, University of the South Pacific, Faculty of Arts Law and Education, Oceania Centre for Arts, Culture and Pacific Studies, Laucala Bay Campus, Suva, Fiji wrote:

So sad to hear of Colin's sudden passing. Sincere condolences to his family who he mentioned in his presentations to the region. His workshops really demystified and simplified national policy development. I am currently at the Small Islands Development States regional preparatory meeting in Nadi ...and it's good to see that there is an increase in the moves by Pacific Governments to have national cultural policies thanks to Colin's advise and worshops.... we had discussed awareness on his much appreciated online course at UBC. Colin will be sadly missed.

http://www.connectcp.org/profiles/profile.php?profileid=22&lang=en