The memory of the past to be saved and to be used in a creative way for the development of society
The institutions that care for it
Introducing myself
My name is Vinos Sofka
I am of Czech origin and a Swedish citizen since 1976
My path to Museology went through many
metamorphoses:
Doctor of law at Charles University in Prague
to building worker, and later brick layer
to archaeology project manager
to head of museum management
to international museologist
which were caused by the events of the 20th century
Museology - a theoretical approach to the heritage
Museology is
The study of the specific relation of man to reality, which is expressed by his
Collecting
Preserving, and
Documenting activities related to this reality and by
Communicating knowledge about it to others
Starting in the 1960s, museums defined new aims and tasks in addition to the traditional ones
In these new roles, museums are acting
The International Committee for Museology
of the International Council of Museums
ICOFOM
Founded by ICOM in 1977 at the General Conference in Leningrad and Moscow
I was member from 1978, Chairman from 1982-1989
and since then am Honorary Chairman
The aim of the Committee is the study of museology:
to develop it
to carry out annual symposia on museological issues, and
to ensure its application in the work of heritage institutions
ICOFOM SYMPOSIA
Possibilities and limits in scientific research typical for museums Poland,
1978
Sociological and ecological aspects in modern museum activities, in the light of
cooperation with other institutions Torgiano (Italy) 1979
Systematics and systems in museology Mexico City, 1980
System of museology and interdisciplinarity Paris, 1982
ICOFOM SYMPOSIA (cont)
Museology and professional training London, 1983
Museum - territory - society: new tendencies, new practices London, 1983
Collecting today for tomorrow Leiden (Netherlands) 1984
Originals and substitutes in museums Zagreb (Yugoslavia) 1985
Museology and identity Buenos Aires, 1986
Museology and museums
Helsinki and Stockholm, 1987
Museology and developing countries: help or manipulation? Hyderabad & New Delhi,
1988
Museology and futurology
The Hague (Netherlands) 1989
Museology and environment,
Livingstone & Mfuwe (Zambia) 1990
The language of exhibitions
Vevey (Switzerland) 1991
Museological research Québec (Canada) 1992
Museums, space and power
Athens & Thessaloniki (Greece) 1993
Object - document? Beijing, 1994
Museum and community I Beijing, 1994
Museum and community II
Stavanger (Norway) 1995
Museology and art Rio de Janeiro, 1996
Museology and memory Paris & Grenoble, 1997
Museology and globalization
Melbourne (Australia) 1998
Museology and philosophy
Coro (Venezuela) 1999
Museology and intangible heritage
Munich (Germany) 2000
Museology and intangible heritage in post-totalitarian countries
Brno (Czech Rep) 2000
ICOFOM SYMPOSIA (cont)
Museums, social and economic development Barcelona (Spain) 2001
Real or virtual in museums?
Cuenca (Ecuador) 2002
Museology: an instrument for unity and cultural diversity Krasnoyarsk,
Belokurikha and Barnaul
(Russian Federation), 2003
Museology and intangible heritage II
Seoul (South Korea) 2004
Preprints and reports of ICOFOM symposia
ICOFOM Study Series (ISS)
Symposia published in
ICOFOM Volumes 1 & 2, 1978-79
Museological Working Papers in 1980 and 1982
ISS published annually since 1983
Vol 1 (1983) to Vol 35a (2003)
Preprint volumes and post-conference prints
What do museums mean for us?
A statement by Magda Cordell McHale, USA, 1989
Museums are not only important depositories of the past.
They also give us signals to what is going to happen.
They change the present; they will continue to change the future.
They are educational institutions important for the future.
They are places where people can still meet.
The future of the past is in the future
The future of the present is in the past
The future of the future is in the present