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Australia-Indonesia Museums (AIM) Project Returns in 2024!

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Australia-Indonesia Museums (AIM) Project: Museum Object Assessment Workshop Using Significance 2.0 Methodology

Updated: Aug 14

In collaboration with Deakin University (Australia), the Western Australian Museum (WAM), and Southeast Asia Museum Services (SEAMS), the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government through the DKI Jakarta Cultural Department hosted a workshop as part of the Australia-Indonesia Museum (AIM) Project. This workshop was held on June 27-28, 2024 at the DKI Jakarta Cultural Heritage Conservation Center/Pusat Konservasi Cagar Budaya (PKCB), conducted in a hybrid format.


This workshop focuses on the Significance 2.0 methodology for assessing museum objects. It is a key component of the AIM Project, aimed at building long-term partnerships between Indonesian and Australian museum professionals through training, knowledge exchange, and co-curated exhibitions.


Enhancing Skills in Object Assessment

The workshop had four primary objectives:

  1. Introduction to Significance 2.0: Participants received an in-depth overview of the theory and background of the Significance 2.0 approach and adapted to the Indonesian museological context.

  2. Practical Application: Attendees applied the methodology to selected objects from the Jakarta Historical Museum's collection.

  3. Thematic Discussion: Discussions explored understanding and applying this approach to assess the significance of museum collections, considering factors like provenance, context, and broader themes.

  4. Planning the Online Exhibition: Participants planned a digital exhibition, including text development, digitization strategies, and timeline establishment.


Collaborative Effort

The participants involved consisted of 22 participants and 3 facilitators who were selected from museums under the management of the Government of Jakarta to enhance their skills in object assessment and digital exhibition planning. The workshop featured prominent international speakers in the field of museology, including Dr. Melathi Saldin from Deakin University, Prof. Gaye Sculthorpe from Deakin University, and Corioli Souter from Western Australian Museum (WAM). To complete the data information in assessing museum objects, SEAMS also invited two speakers, Dr. Ali Akbar from the University of Indonesia, as well as Andre Michiels and Arthur Michiels from Living Museum Roemah Toegoe.


Hands-On Learning

The interactive sessions allowed participants to apply the Significance 2.0 methodology to four significant objects from the Jakarta History Museum’s collection. These objects included:

  • Gerabah Buni

  • Miniatur Kursi Raffles

  • Macina Tugu

  • Alkitab Tahun 1701


All these objects have rich historical and cultural significance about the history of Jakarta, most of the collections originated from Bataviaasch Genootschap.


Successful Outcome

The workshop concluded with participants presenting the results of their Significance assessments and new object labels. A discussion was also held on the next steps for the development of the digital exhibition, which will be created in collaboration with Southeast Asia Museum Services (SEAMS).



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