Pablo Montini

Conference Report. November 2023

Participating in the CIMAM Annual Conference, organized by the Museo Moderno de Buenos Aires, involved a renewal of our vows to carry out the good practices agreed by the museums of the world. The experience has impacted the general outlines that should guide the direction of a museum. On the one hand, the organization of an event of such magnitude is an example of good management, where nothing is lacking, with the exception of time. The coordination of activities and circuits to visit, many of which were tailored to personal interests, and the ties established with the other cultural institutions of the city (museums, galleries, archives, independent spaces) allowed participants to not only gain a broad understanding of the artistic diversity of the Buenos Aires scene but also for an analysis of it from the perspective of the topics discussed in the conference presentations.

On the other hand, the selection of contents, panelists, and moderators, which took into account different contexts and geographic areas, covered both problems and strategies to address them. The richness of the arguments provided an opportunity to consider what went unsaid, making the presentations even more productive.

Perhaps there should have been more time for questions and discussions, and the dynamic of a presentation could have been put aside in the talks. If we are to build a future for museums, we must invoke history. The presentations of Elvira Espejo Ayca (rights and concepts of indigenous peoples, decolonization), Pablo Lafuente (cultural budgets and policies), and Daina Leyton (education, diversity, and social inclusion) were the most stimulating in terms of thinking about them and applying them in the museum I direct, as were those regarding historical research in the field of cultural management, in which I participate at the university.

The conference fulfilled its objectives because it allowed me to come into contact with professionals from other museums, which is rather unusual for those of us in Argentina. In this regard, thanks to the Travel Grant Program organized by the Museo Moderno with the support of ArtHaus, the selection of directors and curators from throughout the country has led to joint projects that are not only curatorial but also linked to research and collection management, and with a possibility of establishing new networks at the local level.

Bio

Academic Background:

-Professor of Secondary and Higher Education in History (U.NR., FHyA).

Complementary training in museology:

-TyPA Laboratory of Museum Management, Buenos Aires, TyPA Foundation. Theory and practice of the arts (178 hours duration), 2013.

Teaching:

-Professor Art History. Superior School of Museology of Rosario.

-Professor of Pre-Professional Internships I. Cultural Management Career. FHyA, UNR.

-Simple professor of Seminar on Collection Management. Cultural Management Career. FHyA. UNR.

Institutional management positions:

-Director of the Provincial Historical Museum of Rosario "Dr. Julio Marc". Ministry of Culture of Santa Fe (open competition and background). 2017-2025.