May 14-15: International symposium
May 16: Visits to Community Outreach Programs & Glasgow Museum Tours
May 17: Invitational Workshop on Museums & Participatory Governance, limited to 30 delegates

Museums are increasingly engaged in civic debate and developing exhibitions and programs to extend the reach of the museum beyond four walls throughout the community and, by extension, increasing their benefit to the society. Museums take an active role in presenting timely, sometimes controversial issues to improve public awareness and understanding and provoke changes in behaviour. In the past 25 years, traditional audiences have broadened to include community groups (such as seniors, marginalized groups, cultural communities, and clubs of various sorts). And rather than considering them to be just an audience, community groups may now be partners in developing exhibitions and programs. Some museums are encouraging deeper community engagement – participatory governance – in which citizens are involved in all aspects of decision-making. In these institutions there is a commitment to enabling individuals and groups to engage more fully in political issues, in public policy and in the governance of the museum at all levels. These relationships pose challenges for museums committed to sharing authority whether on a project basis or considering sustained changes.

Why Glasgow?
Glasgow is known internationally for its outreach service, the Open Museum, based at Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, which for more than 20 years has taken Glasgow's museum collections beyond the museum walls and out into the community. The Open Museum program includes reminiscence and handling kits containing artifacts, photographs and interpretive materials, and displays and exhibitions available for loan to community groups. There are more than 40 reminiscence kits that may be used to trigger memories for educational, recreational, or therapeutic purposes. The more than 30 handling kits are geared toward different age groups and interests. The program offers both free-standing displays and table top exhibits. Many of these projects have been developed in partnership with community groups. In 2014 Glasgow is hosting the Commonwealth Games, providing a unique focus on the Commonwealth.

Funding
Funding assistance may be available for CAM members from Commonwealth developing countries. Please advise whether funding is required. Criteria will take into account geographical and gender representation, professional competence and museum experience, and available matching funds. Particular consideration will be given to those who meet the above criteria and whose papers are selected for presentation. The selection of those who receive funding will be determined by the Steering Committee, based on a CV with a written statement of interest to be submitted by September 15, 2013.

Registration
There will be an application and selection process for all delegates to ensure solid participation from Commonwealth nations outside of the UK.
Early bird rates before March 31, 2014: symposium and community/museum visits £175 for CAM members/£200 for non-members; (£75 for CAM members of Commonwealth developing nations/£100 for non-members); Participatory Governance Workshop (invitation only, n/c). Fees include refreshment breaks and most lunches but not dinners or accommodation.

For more information, see the Commonwealth Association of Museums website.