You are invited to the 2002 INTERCOM Conference that will be held in the capital of Ireland, Dublin, the first visit of an ICOM International Committee to the city.

All members of ICOM are invited to attend and participate in the Conference. A warm invitation is also extended to all members of the Irish Museums Association, to all colleagues in museums in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and to individuals with a special interest in the development and management of museums.

The National Museum of Ireland (Collins Barracks), Dublin, by kind invitation of the Director.

Museums today face many pressures for change, not least the pressure to popularize themselves. Are these pressures forcing museums to change their core purposes and values? This conference will look at this critical area and in particular at the role that leadership and management have to play in balancing these apparently conflicting demands. We will ask some key questions about the role of museum governors and indeed whether traditional scholarship and research can continue alongside new populist programmes and exhibitions.

Within our overall theme, "Leadership in Museums: Are our Core Values Shifting?" there will be three principal sessions, addressing aspects of this topic; -

1.Defining Museum Core Values in the 21st Century: Leadership in Action
2.Competing Values: who decides, the role of governance
3.Scholarship and Populism: can they co-exist?
Additionally, we will hold a session on new matters, a traditionally popular session at INTERCOM Conferences.
4.Updates on new developments in the museum management field.

Wednesday, October 16, 2002: Arrival of conference participants in Dublin. Opening reception.
Thursday, October 17, 2002. Conference sessions. Evening reception
Friday, October 18, 2002. Conference sessions. Evening reception
Saturday, October 19, 2002, Organised bus tour to Glendalough and Powerscourt House, County Wicklow, for international participants. Farewell event.

* During the Conference, special visits will be arranged to the National Museum of Ireland, The National Gallery of Ireland and the Chester Beatty Library, which has just won the 2002 European Museum of the Year Award.
* Evening receptions will take place in the National Museum of Ireland, Kilmainham Gaol Museum and other museums to be confirmed.

• On Saturday, October 19, international delegates will be taken on a bus tour to the internationally renowned Glendalough Early Christian Irish Monastery, which was founded by Saint Kevin in the 7^th century. Glendalough is beautifully situated in "the Garden of Ireland", in County Wicklow. Lunch will be provided at Powerscourt House, a 1730 Georgian mansion now housing one of Ireland’s best craft shops.

At this point in time we can confirm the following "Keynote Speakers"
Dr Jane Ryder, Director, Scottish Museums Council, on the confusion and separation between governing and managing museums.
Dr Ken Gorbey, Project Director, Jewish Museum Berlin and at Te Papa, New Zealand on leadership strategy.

Translation of the conference proceedings into the French language will be provided if 10 or more French-speaking delegates register for the Conference.

The selection of Dublin for the 2002 INTERCOM Conference provides a significant contact-building opportunity for members of IMA and ICOM-Ireland. The Conference is open to all Irish colleagues The Dublin INTERCOM Conference will present international perspectives on museums and their management and will stimulate debate and discussion on many critical issues of the day. It will equally allow museums in Ireland to discuss their work and ideas in an international forum.

Conference fees;

• International participants €150 which will cover attendance at the conference sessions and refreshment breaks, lunch on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, entry to the receptions, bus travel to evening receptions and bus travel and lunch on (Saturday).
• Generous support from the Heritage Council of Ireland allows for a reduced fee of €75 for participants from Ireland, which will cover attendance at the conference sessions and refreshment breaks, lunch on Thursday and Friday and entry to the receptions.

To reserve a place at the Conference you must fill in the form attached to this Preliminary Programme and return it, together with your Conference Fee, to Leslie Simpson, Down County Museum, DOWNPATRICK, Northern Ireland, BT60 6AH. Cheques in Euro must be made out to the "INTERCOM Dublin" and should accompany your Conference Booking Form. Bookings will close on 16 September 2002.

Two Dublin hotels are offering special conference rates.
The Mespil Hotel, Mespil Road, Dublin 4, Ireland, +353 1 667 1222; Fax + 353 1 6671 244.
Room rate per night:
EUR112.00, Bed and Full Irish Breakfast, inclusive of tax, per Single room.
EUR124.00, Bed and Full Irish Breakfast inclusive,per Double/Twin room.
30 rooms have been reserved until September 19, 2002. You must book your room directly by telephoning or emailing or faxing the hotel. No booking form is required. You must quote the INTERCOM Conference when making your booking.

After September 19, the hotel will release the rooms, but if you book late and rooms are still available, they will still offer you the conference rate. I recommend early booking as there are a number of conferences taking place in Dublin this October.

Special conference rates, starting at €170 for a single room with bathroom, (breakfast included) have been agreed with the centrally located Burlington Hotel in Dublin. 40 rooms have been reserved until 16 September so you should book right away. You must book directly by filling out the Hotel Booking Form attached to this Preliminary Programme and returning it to The Reservations Department, The Burlington Hotel, Burlington Road, DUBLIN 4, Ireland.

Please contact AIDAN WALSH BA FMA, Member INTERCOM Executive Board,
Museum & Heritage Consultancy Services,
Grove Cottage, Tromroe, Castlepollard, County Westmeath, IRELAND

ICOM, The International Council of Museums, is a non-governmental organization affiliated with UNESCO, headquartered at UNESCO in Paris. ICOM is the international professional body for museums and now has over 16,000 members across the globe, in 143 countries. ICOM-Ireland is managed by the IMA. Subject specialists can join specialist International Committees, such as INTERCOM.

INTERCOM is the ICOM International Committee for Management, focusing on the ideas, issues and practices relating to the management of museums, within an international context. The principal actions in management are defined as to plan, resource, implement, evaluate and adjust, based on an identified vision. It also watches over the implementation of ICOM's Code of Professional Ethics.

The current President of INTERCOM is Nancy Hushion who is based in Canada. The current Vice-President is Arnout Weeda, Director of The Rijksmuseum Zuiderzeemuseum in The Netherlands.

Conference Booking Form

Second Circular