International Council of Museums Welcomed by Minister Marais | Western Cape Government

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International Council of Museums Welcomed by Minister Marais

17 November 2015

Today, 17 November 2015, the Western Cape Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Anroux Marais, officially welcomed the International Council of Museums (ICOM) to the Western Cape.

In opening the 31st Annual International Committee for Exhibitions and Exchange (ICEE) Conference, Minister Marais highlighted the increasing significance of museum services in the Western Cape to delegates from across the world, including Japan, Taiwan, Qatar, Finland, Italy, France, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Spain, UK, Austria, USA, Canada, Costa Rica.

[Note to editors: This is extract is from the welcoming address delivered by Minister Anroux Marais at the 31st Annual International Committee for Exhibitions and Exchange today]

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the 31st International Committee for Exhibitions and Exchange (ICEE) Conference in our beautiful Cape Town in the Western Cape. A warm welcome is extended to our first time visitors. I trust you will enjoy your stay with us and return in the very near future.

Due to the increasing significance of museums services, it is important that all stakeholders meet at conferences of this nature on a regular basis.

This conference serves to offer discussion panels, behind-the-scene visits to several museums in Cape Town, and networking. One of the favourite items on the agenda is the Market Place, where through very short presentations, participants get an overview on international exhibitions. 

With 34 000 members, the International Council of Museums (ICOM) is the most important network of museum professionals in the world. With the work of 118 national and 30 international committees, ICOM responds to the challenges museums face worldwide.  ICOM is a global actor and exchange platform for their members; working together with UNESCO in protecting national and international heritage, developing professional standards such as the Code of Ethics, defining international standards of loans, and offering learning programs and training courses for young professionals. 

Cultural and museum activities is one of the growing markets worldwide. Studies show that visits to museums and exhibitions are an important economic factor for towns and regions. One of the keys for success is offering an interesting exhibition program. It motivates visitors to choose a museum for spending their leisure time. Museums are places to make unforgettable memories with the whole family. Our very own, recently launched Stellenbosch and its people exhibition at the Stellenbosch Museum could attest to this.

I trust that this conference will enable the ICOM to constructively engage with each other in the spirit of the theme for 2015, to “Get Connected!! New Markets, Audiences and Perspectives in Exhibition Exchange”.

Media Enquiries: 

Stacy McLean
Spokesperson for Anroux Marais, Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport
Tel: 021 483 4426
Cell: 083 504 1171
Email: Stacy.McLean@westerncape.gov.za