Hong Kong Maritime Museum Director, Richard Wesley announced on 18 July 2013 that Dr. Tianlong Jiao has been appointed as the museum’s Chief Curator. Educated at Peking University and Harvard University, Dr. Jiao has over three decades of experience working as an anthropologist, archaeologist and museum specialist in China and the Pacific. For the last decade he has been based at the world-renowned Bishop Museum in Hawaii as Chairman of the Anthropology Department.
"Hong Kong Maritime Museum believes the appointment of Dr. Jiao is a major milestone in the museum’s development, strengthening the organisation’s capacity to work in partnership with other maritime museums, located not just in China but the entire Pacific Rim. He also brings to the museum a wealth of experience that will enable HKMM to build on its current research and exhibition activities,” said Mr. Wesley.
The museum is also delighted to announce the generous donation of HK$1,200,000 by Dr. Frank Tsao Wen-king of the IMC Group to support the appointment through the creation of a Curatorial Chair. These funds will be used to support future curatorial initiatives including research, object acquisition and education programs.
In speaking about the challenges of his new appointment, Dr. Jiao stated “As a new, independent institution there are many opportunities to collaborate with maritime institutions, whether they be museums, research institutes or private companies in a whole range of subject areas including marine conservation, maritime archaeology, preservation of traditional maritime cultures and documentation of technological advances in the shipping industry. I look forward to working with my colleagues and members of the museum board to help chart a new phase in the museums development.”
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The Mariners’ Museum at Newport News, Virginia, USA, has named Elliot Gruber as its new President and CEO.
Elliot Gruber comes to The Mariners’ following two high-profile assignments on the national stage. Most recently, he was Senior Vice President of Resource Development for the United Way of the National Capital Area. Prior to that, he was vice president and COO for the Gettysburg Foundation.
He was elected after a lengthy search following the resignation of Dr. William B. Cogar, who left the Museum in late 2011.
During his time at the United Way, Elliot Gruber helped lead the organisation to substantial revenue increases achieved by widening its donor base. In eight years at The Gettysburg Foundation, he helped raise more than $100 million to build the new Museum and Visitor Center in Gettysburg. He has a 30-year not-for-profit organisation background.
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Predictions: what did they get right 25 years ago?
From the Bronze Age.
A replica of a 4,000 year old craft has just paddled out on a short maiden voyage in Falmouth, Cornwall, UK. Christened the Morgawr after a mythical monster of Falmouth Bay, she is a 50-foot long, six-ton replica of a Bronze Age boat, which was built by a team of fifty volunteers over the last eleven months at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall.
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Hong Kong's new Maritime Museum at Central Pier 8 was officially opened by Hong Kong's Chief Executive, Mr. C Y Leung on February 25, 2013. Mr Anthony J Hardy, Chairman of the Museum, Mr Richard Wesley, Museum Director and Mr Tung Chee Chen, Chairman of HKMM Trust shared the platform with the Chief Executive. Celebrities in political, business and cultural circles attended the reception which followed the official opening.
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This milestone in his career was celebrated with a festive reception at the museum. Hundreds of colleagues from all over Denmark were present.
On behalf of the international maritime museum community, ICMM sent a congratulatory telegram which was read out at the reception.
The picture is of Morten speaking at the reception
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Mary-Louise Williams who retired in 2012 as Director of the Australian National Maritime Museum and who served on the ICMM Executive Council and as Vice-President of ICMM has been made a Member (AM) in the Order of Australia in the 2013 Australia Day Honours List.
The purpose of the Order of Australia is to recognise, by way of a national honour, those who have made outstanding contributions that ultimately benefit the country.
Mary-Louise's work with ICMM, representing Australia, but also as one of the world's senior maritime museum ambassadors, contributed internationally as well as benefiting her own country.
Frits Loomeijer, President of ICMM, in congratulating Mary-Louise wrote "you have very good reasons to be proud and I can assure you, we are as well".
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Putting lists together which rate things, no matter what they are, is always a tricky business. Maritime Museums are no exception.
Eric Ruff, Curator Emeritus at Yarmouth County Museum, Nova Scotia, Canada came across a maritime museum rating published recently by the website Marine Insight.
Here’s their top ten:
1: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, UK
2: Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney, Australia
3: San Diego Maritime Museum, USA
4: Liverpool Maritime Museum, UK
5: Vancouver Maritime Museum, Canada
6: Michigan Maritime Museum, USA
7: Maine Maritime Museum, USA
8: Voyager New Zealand Maritime Museum, Auckland, NZ
9: Kobe Maritime Museum, Japan
10: The Netherlands National Maritime Museum, Amsterdam
An interesting list?
Which maritime museums would you choose?
Here's an invitation to compile your own list of the Top 10 maritime museums in the world and share it with your colleagues online. But we would like to know the reasons for your choices, so add a brief note with each museum name, telling us why you have chosen it and how you have ranked it.
No prizes, but it will be interesting to see whether your choices vary significantly and whether geography plays a part.
Click here to email your Top 10 list.
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