WFFM European meeting, Parma 25th to 27th October 2024
Press release
WFFM Europe meeting in Parma, Pilotta Complex, 25-27 October 2024
The World Federation of Friends of Museums (WFFM) is an international non-governmental, non-profit organization that aims to promote cooperation among associations of friends of museums associations worldwide. Founded in 1975, following the momentum generated by the General Conference of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) in Paris in 1971. The World Federation of Friends of Museums is a privileged partner of ICOM and was recognized in 1989 by UNESCO as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), reinforcing its role as a key player in promoting culture and heritage on an international scale.
The Federation’s members now represent more than 2 million Friends. The main mission of the World Federation of Friends of Museums is to foster international cooperation among associations of friends of museums to promote mutual understanding, exchange information, and share best practices. The Federation aims to enhance and enrich the life of museums by supporting the development of these associations for the benefit of both museums and the public.
The World Federation of Friends of Museums regularly organizes international meetings and gathers in Parma, in the prestigious Pilotta monumental complex, 25 to 27 October, to take stock of actions undertaken at the European level this year and plan.
To celebrate the community of a million enthusiasts across Europe, national federations initiated the first annual European Day of Friends of Museums in 2023; it takes place every second Sunday in October. The goal of this day is to celebrate and highlight Friends of Museums in Europe with events on a common theme, held on the same day in each association’s respective country.
The second edition of this event supported by the European and associations of 10 countries, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Romania, United Kingdom, and placed under the patronage of the European Parliament, took place on Sunday October 13 under the theme “Your Museums, our Passion!”. It was the opportunity for the 200 or so associations which participated to showcase the actions they carried out throughout the year to share their passion and contribute to their museums’ influence.
A wide variety of actions were proposed: presence of Friends in the museum with a stand to present the associations and its activities, guided tours of the museum or temporary exhibitions, lectures, round tables with art historians, drawing classes, workshops for children, historical reenactments in period costumes, concerts in the museum, partnerships with museums in twin cities in Europe, friendship drinks, free museum admittance, joint actions by Friends or Young Friends of Museums.
During their meeting in the Palatina Library, European countries considered the very good audience they got with their actions and decided to go along the third European Day of Museums, Sunday 12 October 2025 keeping for the next following years their motto “Your Museums, our Passion!” which identify clearly who are the Friends of Museums.
Generously and warmly welcomed by the Friends of the Pilotta and their curators they were able to immerse themselves in Parma’s rich and long cultural heritage from the archeological national museum to the Farnese theater and the colorful graces of the Correggio and Parmigianino painters throughout the city.
New Website Announcement: FEAM
FEAM has a new website! We invite you to explore our new portal, designed to offer a clearer and more accessible presentation about the Friends, the associations and the Federation. We have worked to make it easier for anyone interested to understand who we are and what we do.
Report: WE’RE NOT JUST A TREND: ART HAS ALWAYS BEEN QUEER. GUIDED TOURS & EVENTS ON QUEER PERSPECTIVES IN ART AT THE HAMBURGER KUNSTHALLE
“WE’RE NOT JUST A TREND: ART HAS ALWAYS BEEN QUEER. GUIDED TOURS & EVENTS ON QUEER PERSPECTIVES IN ART AT THE HAMBURGER KUNSTHALLE”
Change happens very quickly for those, who keep their eyes on the past. This seems to be especially true, if you look at Old Masters in an Art Museum, which show us a world that does not exist anymore – or has never existed?
Last Tuesday, Jenny Saitzek from the Hamburger Kunsthalle introduced us to a series of formats, that present a different perspective on art and that were initiated in 2022 related to an exhibition. “Femme Fatale. Gaze – Power – Gender” at the Hamburger Kunsthalle was the starting point to explore another view on history – a queer feminist perspective. This very successful exhibition gave the necessary courage to explore new topics, in the form of a Salon Fatale. Within the Salon, conversations about diversity, inclusion and queerness were initiated, laying the groundwork for what was to come the following year.
In her half hour talk, Jenny Saitzek laid out the four different formats that were organized by the Kunsthalle, namely:
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Queer Collection Tours
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Drag – Guided Museum Tours
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Queer Salon
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Pride Week
Jenny explored the team’s idea of introducing a queer gaze to the museum, and the doubts and difficulties that crossed their path in the process, even though the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. But one major assumption was, that the museum would need a queer collection to carry out such an event. She realized, during her work with the LGBTQ+ Community within the collection, that the museum can reshape its perspectives, by explicitly recognizing queer content and opening up to queer perspectives. This reframing emphasizes the fact that museums do not need to create a separate “queer collection” but rather, that it is possible to integrate and recognize queerness within existing works and collections.
Jenny Saitzek then provided the audience with a series of hard facts and data, that show how well received these events are – in fact, they are so popular, that the maximum capacity of participants is exceeded on a regular basis. She ended her talk with a key sentence for her experiences with her newly developed events: Success begins with courage and ends with luck.
© Sinje Hasheider

Young Friends Ottawa Canadian Report: August 2024
It was a Franco-Canadian meeting that had been imagined 3 months earlier, as part of the WFFM Congress in Luxembourg: our Young Friends coordinator travelled to Ottawa on her own initiative to meet the CFFM Young Friends delegates in real life once again on Tuesday August 6th, 2024 :
Robin Treleaven (27 y.o) is a professional contemporary dancer, performer, teacher and choreographer. As coordinator of Ottawa Young Friends, she affirms her ambition to “put on events that showcase everyday people“.
Nikita Koziel Ly (24 y.o) has been co-coordinator of Ottawa Young Friends alongside Robin since November 2023. A PHD student in neuroscience, she would like to organize events that bring people into the museum and participate with the space in an active way (for example she was inspired by a scavenger hunt at the National Art center and would like to organize something similar).
Megan Batty, choir director of 25 singers, with whom she will be organizing a concert at the Chapelle Bon Secours in Montreal on December 7, joined the team of a foundation specializing in philanthropy in February 2024, and is the coordinator of Montreal’s Young Friends. In this capacity, she joined WFFM’s international committee of Young Friends delegates to represent Canada from October 2023, and expresses her desire to connect Canadian Young Friends with the WFFM community.
The meeting was an opportunity to welcome Mathilde Mouchon (24 y.o), a French Young Friend from Le Puy-en-Velay, who by chance was on holiday in Canada at the time. A newcomer to the Young Friends network, Mathilde’s ambition is to create a Young Friends section at the Crozatier museum in the Auvergne Rhone Alpes region of France, with the support of the president of her association and the FFSAM. Before resuming her studies in September (Sciences Po), she is fulfilling a dream with a cultural trip to Canada lasting several weeks, which will enable her to visit the main museums in Montreal and Ottawa.
During a tour of the temporary exhibitions at the Ottawa Art Gallery, where Robin will be taking to the stage for a dance and theater show titled subdivision from October 2nd to 4th, 2024, Megan gave a brief introduction to the landscapes paintings of the Group of Seven, Canada’s leading artists of the modern era, some of whose paintings depict European landscapes.
The delegates then followed Robin‘s guided tour of Ottawa’s city center: Kwakiutl Totem in Confederation Park, War Memorial, Lord Stanley’s Gift Monument, National Arts Centre, Parliament of Canada, Château Laurier, the Ottawa locks and the National Gallery building. Enriched by a wealth of anecdotes and a bird’s eye view of downtown Ottawa, Naïma, Nikita, Megan, Robin and Mathilde then sat down at an Italian restaurant in the ByWard Market to talk about their projects in their respective cities and their upcoming initiatives as part of the WFFM network.
Encouraged by Nikita, Megan, Robin and Mathilde’s enthusiastic recommendations to visit the National Gallery of Canada, Naïma went back to visit this amazing art gallery just a few hours before her return to France: impressed by Louise Bourgeois’s immense spider sculpture “Mother”, in front of the building, she was able to marvel and reflect in turn as she discovered the “Radical Stitch” exhibition, which highlights the ancestral knowledge and political-cultural perspectives of Canadian first nations people as expressed through customary beading techniques.
Instagram Young Friends CFFM : https://www.instagram.com/canadian_yfc_cja/
Friends of musée Crozatier : https://amismuséecrozatier.fr/
Summer Internship With Canadian Federation of Friends of Museums

Montreal, Canada
This Summer we have had the amazing opportunity to work as Coordinator interns at Canadian Federation of Friends of Museums (CFFM) offices at Maison Forget in Montreal! We have learned so much about working in the GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums) sector and have made valuable connections with museum friends and professionals across Canada. In addition, we have had the opportunity to undertake many interesting projects and have outlined some of our favourites below!
Young Friends Network and Tour of the McGill Visual Arts Collection
We had the delightful opportunity to participate in a Tour of the McGill University Visual Arts Collection organized in collaboration with the Montreal Young Friends (YF) community this July. This event allowed us a unique opportunity to connect with Montreal YF Coordinators Audrey Gray and Qinglian Zhang, as well as YF members and; engage with McGill University museum professionals, fostering relationships and learning about the visual arts field. At the same time, we are coordinating the Fall event program for the Ottawa and Montreal YF chapters, and helping to expand YF to new cities across Canada.
Communications and Publications
As Interns, we have developed graphics, photos and story content for CFFM social media. We have also had the opportunity to write for many interesting CFFM-related publications. Anna is working on an article about Mr. Ghislain Picard (McCord-Stewart Museum Board President in Montreal) for the September issue of Volunteer Voices (CFFM’s monthly newsletter) highlighting his contributions to the cultural sector. Additionally, Madeline is writing a feature on a local museum volunteer for the Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network Magazine and for the CFFM Newsletter, Au Courant.
Learning About Board of Directors
Anna participated in a CFFM Board Meeting in June and acted as the Recording Secretary, as well as prepared the Meeting Agenda. This was good experience in Board governance and procedures for the future.
Looking Ahead
In August, we are excited to be participating in an Indigenous Allyship workshop to learn about personal and professional pathways to Indigenous reconciliation. This experience will equip us with the tools to be more effective allies to Indigenous communities both while working at CFFM and beyond. We are also helping to organize an evening of networking for Museum Professionals at Maison Forget with the Canadian Museum Association.
Wrapping Up
We are grateful for this opportunity to intern at CFFM and are excited to apply what we’ve learned in our future endeavors as friends of cultural heritage and the arts in Canada!
Anna Boyd and Madeline Siaroff (both undergraduate students at McGill University in Montreal, Canada) during their CFFM Internship.
Stage d’été avec Fédération canadienne des amis des musées
Par Anna Boyd et Madeline Siaroff
Montréal, Canada
Cet été, nous avons eu la chance de travailler en tant que coordinatrices stagiaires dans les bureaux de la Fédération canadienne des amis des musées (FCAM) à la Maison Forget à Montréal ! Nous avons beaucoup appris sur le travail dans le secteur des GLAM (galeries, bibliothèques, archives et musées) et avons noué des liens précieux avec des amis et des professionnels des musées à travers le Canada. En outre, nous avons eu l’occasion d’entreprendre de nombreux projets intéressants et nous vous présentons ci-dessous quelques-uns de nos préférés !
Réseau des jeunes amis et visite de la collection d’arts visuels de McGill
Nous avons eu la chance de participer à une visite de la collection d’arts visuels de l’Université McGill organisée en collaboration avec la communauté montréalaise des Jeunes Amis (JA) en juillet dernier. Cet événement nous a donné l’occasion unique d’entrer en contact avec les coordinatrices des YF de Montréal, Audrey Gray et Qinglian Zhang, ainsi qu’avec les membres des YF, et d’échanger avec les professionnels des musées de l’Université McGill, favorisant ainsi les relations et l’apprentissage dans le domaine des arts visuels. En même temps, nous coordonnons le programme des événements d’automne pour les sections d’Ottawa et de Montréal de la FJ, et nous aidons à étendre la FJ à de nouvelles villes à travers le Canada.
Communications et publications
En tant que stagiaires, nous avons développé des graphiques, des photos et du contenu pour les médias sociaux de la FCAM. Nous avons également eu l’occasion d’écrire pour de nombreuses publications intéressantes liées à la FCAM. Anna travaille sur un article sur M. Ghislain Picard (président du conseil d’administration du Musée McCord-Stewart à Montréal) pour le numéro de septembre de Volunteer Voices (le bulletin mensuel de la FCAM), qui souligne ses contributions au secteur culturel. De plus, Madeline rédige un article sur un bénévole d’un musée local pour le magazine Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network et pour le bulletin d’information de la FCAM, Au Courant.
Apprendre à connaître le conseil d’administration
Anna a participé à une réunion du conseil d’administration de la FCAM en juin et a agi en tant que secrétaire de séance, tout en préparant l’ordre du jour de la réunion. Ce fut une bonne expérience de la gouvernance et des procédures du conseil d’administration pour l’avenir.
Perspectives d’avenir
En août, nous sommes ravis de participer à un atelier sur l’allié autochtone afin d’apprendre les voies personnelles et professionnelles de la réconciliation autochtone. Cette expérience nous fournira les outils nécessaires pour être des alliés plus efficaces des communautés autochtones, à la fois dans le cadre de notre travail à la FCAM et au-delà. Nous participons également à l’organisation d’une soirée de réseautage pour les professionnels des musées à la Maison Forget, en collaboration avec l’Association des musées canadiens.
Conclusion
Nous sommes reconnaissantes d’avoir eu l’occasion de faire un stage à la FCAM et nous avons hâte d’appliquer ce que nous avons appris dans nos futurs projets en tant qu’amies du patrimoine culturel et des arts au Canada !
Anna Boyd et Madeline Siaroff (toutes deux étudiantes de premier cycle à l’Université McGill de Montréal, Canada) pendant leur stage à la FCAM.
FADAM News
FADAM NEWS | Marta Alvarez Molindi, Presidente
FADAM started the year with two highly expected cultural trips, one to the summer city of Pinamar and the other one to Corrientes, accompanying the art fair of that province.
On the outskirts of the city a great sculpture collector lived and a few years ago he decided to sell his entire collection. The company that created Pinamar and other places decided to purchase all of them and place them in public locations such as the golf course, the hotel, the nursery, and the streets. The visit included trips to art venues and an emblematic hotel in a nearby town. Nearly 40 people attended.
We paid special attention to the Friends Association of the Historical Museum of Pinamar, which is continually striving to secure a larger and dedicated space to exhibit the city’s history.
During the visit to Corrientes, activities were held with members of the four friends associations of the city’s museums, visiting private collections and attending conferences. All of this is part of the training plan that FADAM develops for its more than one hundred federated friends associations.
Similarly, the monthly meeting of delegates was held at the renovated Centro Cultural Recoleta, an emblematic space located in the heart of Buenos Aires that has hosted the most important artists from the country and abroad.
Photos provided by María Eugenia Sosa, FADAM
“Spin the Wheel and Complete the Challenges!” – Our Debut as a Young Group
Written By Ana-Rita Lopes, with the support from the FAMP
In celebration of the International Museum Day, themed “Museums, Education, and Research,” the National Coach Museum hosted its first heritage education fair. Our young group proudly made its debut at this event with an interactive and engaging booth featuring a “Wheel of Luck”.
We invited attendees to spin the wheel to win prizes, including candy, themed bookmarks, and entry into a raffle for a basket filled with museum merchandise. Each spin presented participants with a choice between two challenges designed to connect them with the museum and its collection:
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Red: take a selfie with the Coach of the Oceans OR name five from a category (kings of Portugal, museums, painters, etc.).
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Orange: follow the museum’s social media OR identify your zodiac sign in the Coach of King João V.
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Yellow: suggest an activity for our young group to organize OR find specific items in the collection (a crown, a table, a boot, a dragon, a lantern).
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Blue: persuade someone to visit the museum OR answer a trivia question.
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Purple: write a message to someone telling them you’re visiting the National Coach Museum OR draw a coach in thirty seconds.
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Green: share your relationship with museums by answering a Google Form OR spin the wheel again.
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Throughout the weekend, we engaged with numerous visitors, and the wheel quickly became a hit. Children, in particular, were our most enthusiastic fans! It was truly rewarding to bring them joy.
We praise the museum for organizing such a fun event and hope there will be more editions of the fair in the future. We look forward to participating in more activities that bring the community closer to the treasures of the National Coach Museum!
Reflections and Gratitude: the 2024 General Assembly in Luxembourg
Welcoming friends of museums from all over the world to Luxembourg has been an absolute pleasure for the Amis des Musées Luxembourg. The enthusiasm and active participation in all the activities truly overwhelmed us. We believe our four-day program successfully showcased that Luxembourg boasts a rich cultural heritage and numerous exciting museums waiting to be explored.
The journey began with the Academic Session at Cercle Cité, featuring distinguished guests including HRH Princess Stéphanie of Luxembourg, Eric Thill, the Minister of Culture, Simone Beck, President of the Luxembourg Commission for UNESCO, Carolyn Forster, President of the WFFM and numerous representatives of WFFM members presenting their reports.
Attendees then enjoyed a guided tour of the Lëtzebuerg City Museum, first welcomed by Lydie Polfer, Major of Luxembourg and the museum director, followed by a delightful dinner at the museum’s restaurant.
The following day featured an insightful Executive Council Meeting at the National Museum of History and Art, with guided tours showcasing the national treasures of Luxembourg. This was followed by a visit to the iconic “The Family of Man” photo exhibition in Clervaux.
The evening was dedicated to contemporary art at the Casino Luxembourg – Forum d’art contemporain, where participants explored the exhibition “Forced Amnesia” and engaged with local artists and curators, concluding with a cocktail and performance-concert.
On Saturday, the focus shifted to the historical Musée Dräi Eechelen, discussions on engaging younger generations of museum friends and guided tours of the fortress’s history. Optional activities included a visit to the European Investment Bank’s corporate art collection. The day wrapped up with a contemporary art exploration at MUDAM, featuring visits, a poetry reading, an arty dinner and a bit of dancing.
The Congress concluded on Sunday with the General Assembly of the World Federation of Friends of Museums at MUDAM, followed by a guided tour of Villa Vauban and a lovely luncheon in the museum park.
Overall, the event provided a comprehensive and enriching cultural experience, facilitating the exchange of ideas on promoting art and cultural heritage and sharing experiences as friends of museums.
On behalf of all the Amis des Musées Luxembourg, we extend our heartfelt thanks for your enthusiastic participation.
Day 1 – 2 May 2024
– Academic Session at the Cercle Cité
– Visit of the permanent exhibition at the Lëtzebuerg City Museum
– Cocktail at the Lëtzebuerg City Museum
– Dinner at L’Hêtre, Lëtzebuerg City Museum Restaurant
Day 2 – 3 May 2024
– Council Meeting of the WFFM
– Visit of the Nationalmusée
– Visit in Clervaux of « The Family of Man » (Edward Steichen)
– Visit and dinner at Casino Luxembourg
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Day 3 – 4 May 2024
– Round Table at Musée Dräi Eechelen
– Lunch at Musée Dräi Eechelen
– Visit Musée Dräi Eechelen
– Council Meeting at Musée Dräi Eechelen
– YFM Meeting at Musée Dräi Eechelen
– Visit of the EIB Collection
– Poetry reading by Alice Notley at Mudam
– European Day of Friends of Museums Meeting
– Welcome and Introduction at Mudam
– Visit of the exhibition at Mudam
– Cocktail and Dinner at Mudam
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Day 4 – 5 May 2024
– General Assembly at Mudam
– Visit at Villa Vauban
– Lunch at Villa Vauban
– Portraits
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Delegate Report: Justine Segui, a French Young Friend of the Musée Granet, visits Australia
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Justine Segui, a French Young Friends of the Musée Granet (Aix-en-Provence) and student in English and Cultural Studies, relates her experience as an exchange student in Australia, writing a master thesis on museums, travelling exhibitions and Aboriginal art.
They say Australia is a country of ‘mateship’. Well, let me say that in my own experience, I could not agree more. It all started with a fortunate encounter. In June 2023, I travelled to Paris with other Young Friends of the Musée Granet to attend the French Federation of Friends of Museums (FFSAM) General Assembly and celebrate its 50th anniversary. This is where I met Carolyn Forster, president of the WFFM, a remarkable and kind-hearted woman.
When I heard Carolyn worked with the “National Museum of Australia” it seemed like the universe was sending me a message. Indeed, my thesis focuses on the travelling exhibition Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters from the NMA and analyses how it was adapted to the French public by the Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac who hosted the exhibition last year. Songlines is an exceptional exhibition on Aboriginal culture and its systems of knowledge which was co-curated by Aboriginal communities.
From a brief meeting in Paris last June, I ended up at Carolyn’s place in Canberra, sitting at the kitchen table with her husband, sharing and hearing stories of another time and other places. Meeting Carolyn resulted in a series of lucky events: I found a place to live in Sydney – becoming her grandson’s housemate – and, most importantly, I was introduced to museum professionals and crucial members of the Songlines exhibition team who shared with me their experiences. Among them, Deborah Hill, travelling exhibition coordinator, and Louise Palmer, collection care staff, explained how they both helped the different venues to install and deinstall (sometimes remotely) the exhibition. Sita McAlpine, coordinating curator and now First Nations outreach, discussed the relations between the museum and the ‘curatorium’, the Aboriginal communities, artists, elders and custodians, who created Songlines. Finally, Margo Neale, lead curator, told me about the genesis and the intentions of the exhibition. I was amazed at how friendly, supportive and generous they all were. Meeting these persons and having a glimpse at the behind the scenes was truly inspiring on a professional and personal level. It is also interesting to notice the cultural differences in the professional world. While France tends to be very formal and hierarchical, Australia is more casual and approachable.
Museums in Australia are mostly free. For its Triennial, the National Gallery of Victoria (Melbourne) held fascinating artworks and artistic projects like Yoko Ono’s My Mummy is Beautiful, a participative project which invites visitors to write a short letter to their mother and display it on the walls of the gallery, or Richard Lewer’s Confessions which turned visitors’ shameful truths into social art. Others, like Agnieszka Pilat’s Heterobota, questioned our use of advanced technology by creating four-legged robots which disturbingly copy human activities like playing, resting or drawing. Becoming a member of the Art Gallery of New South Wales (Sydney), I attended guided tours of the 24th Biennale of Sydney titled Ten Thousand Suns. In Canberra, I visited the National Gallery of Australia and its exhibition on Emily Kame Kngwarreye, perhaps the most famous Aboriginal artist in Australia, and the National Museum of Australia for its fabulous permanent exhibition on First Australians.
As much as museums introduce you virtually to new people and ideas, it can sometimes lead to real life encounters. Walking out of the Art Gallery NSW, I met Leslie McLeod, an Aboriginal man performing Welcome to Country and other ceremonies who spend the afternoon telling me the most incredible stories. Leaving for an adventure driving around Sydney in his 1992 vintage car, he showed me the variety of gum trees and leaves he uses for the smocking ceremonies he organises and explained the significance of some places in Sydney for Aboriginal history and culture.
The teenager I was who once dreamed to explore Australia would have never believed how far I’ve come to experience what this beautiful country has to offer.
Launch of the Golden Rose Award – Young Friends of the Musée de Cluny
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by Alexis Bracquart, coordinator of the Young Friends of musée de Cluny (Paris), delegate of the Action Youth Group of the FFSAM
The Society of Friends of the Musée de Cluny, founded in 1992, has been awarding the Prix de la Dame à la licorne – Amis du musée de Cluny every year since 2007. The prize is awarded to a book whose main theme relates to one of the Musée de Cluny’s areas of interest: history, art history or archaeology.
Noting a real revival of interest in the medieval world, the Young Members of the Society of Friends of the Musée de Cluny have decided to award the Prix de la Rose d’or – Jeunes Amis du musée de Cluny at a dedicated ceremony each year – and for the first time in 2024. The prize is awarded for a work of fiction that is accessible to any public with an interest in the Middle Ages, without any untruths, and that helps to raise the profile of the medieval period.
The prize-giving ceremony took place for the first time on 14th, March 2024 in the early evening at the Musée de Cluny, with a rich programme of events. The event opened with a musical introduction on the Chinese zither by Jiajun Zhang, followed by a solo on the harp by Iphigénie Valentin. A convivial cocktail party brought the evening to a close.
The winners were presented with original trophies designed and created using a 3D scan of the Golden Rose, made possible by hundreds of images of the work on display at the Musée de Cluny, and by a graphic designer, Aurélien Leroy.
Chaired by Florentin Machut, an associate professor of Spanish and doctoral student in medieval Castilian literature, the jury for the Prize is made up of six members, in addition to its Chairman, : Arnaud Besombes, head of corporate finance in the cultural sector; Laurent Hablot, associate professor of history, historian and teacher-researcher, director of studies at the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, specialist in heraldry; Alice Marion, history student with a passion for the medieval period; Ysée Nicaud, secretary of the Prix de la Rose d’Or and third-year Bachelor’s student at Sciences Po Paris; Philippe Plagnieux, university professor of medieval art history at the University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne.
For its first edition in 2024, the Golden Rose Award – Young Friends of musée de Cluny has been awarded to the comic strip Ségurant, le chevalier au dragon by Emanuele Arioli, illustrated by Emiliano Tanzillo and published by Dargaud.
In addition to the impressive work involved in researching and reconstructing the medieval tale of a forgotten knight of the Round Table, the jury was impressed by the beauty of the book, the graphic adaptation of the story and the way it was made available to a public with a love of medieval literature and history, or simply looking for a pleasant read.
Easily accessible, the book lifts the veil on the story of a forgotten knight and his desperate quest for a dragon, which intersects with the quest for the manuscripts of the author, Emanuele Arioli – HDR lecturer at the Université Polytechnique des Hauts-de-France, where he teaches medieval literature and language.
Secrets et destinins de manuscrits, by Nicolas Ducimetière (Notari) also won a Silver Rose.
The Young Friends of the Musée de Cluny section was created in 2022 within the Society of the Friends of Musée de Cluny. Alexis Bracquart is its coordinator and organiser of the Golden Rose Award. In addition to cultural activities and initiatives, the more than 150 young people between the ages of 18 and 35 are committed to disseminating and promoting medieval heritage, in particular the collections of the Musée de Cluny, which are honoured by the Golden Rose Award.
The Caspar David Friedrich craze
It’s a wrap! With the Easter weekend over, the anniversary exhibition Caspar David Friedrich. Art for a New Era officially came to an end and it is time to look back and reflect this exciting time.
In recent weeks and months, we have devoted ourselves to the art of our favourite Romantic artist, whose famous painting Wanderer above the Sea of Fog is housed in the Hamburger Kunsthalle – our home turf. This and many other paintings and drawings by the artist attracted a total of more than 325,000 visitors from all over the world, making it not only a record number of visitors, but also the most successful exhibition in the history of the Hamburger Kunsthalle.
The 250th anniversary of Caspar David Friedrich’s birthday can certainly be described as a hype that will be felt in various other exhibitions and events in Germany in the course of the year. The special feature of the Hamburg exhibition: in addition to numerous works from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, 20 contemporary artists were on display, some of which were based on Friedrichs Oeuvre and/or approached the relationship between humankind and nature in the same way as the painter did.
The adventure began with a grand opening and a speech by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who was also the patron of this exhibition.
Of course, the CDF hype did not leave us, of the association Freunde der Kunsthalle e. V., untouched – we’ve acquired more than 3.000 new members!
This was reflected in the response we’ve received from a wide variety of channels. Not only were the museum’s time slot tickets completely sold out, but so were our guided tours – what a positively challenging feeling.
As the Young Friends of the Kunsthalle, we (Shanice, Hannah and Laura) were well involved: helping hands were welcome in all areas.
For example the special opening we could arrange in December, when the Hamburger Kunsthalle opened its doors to the anniversary exhibition on a Monday exclusively for our members. This was the opportunity especially for those who wanted to escape the usual streams of visitors. We Young Friends were on site with our Bar 1923, where we served our Sparkling 100 cocktail – specially created to celebrate our association’s anniversary in 2023.
After booking time slots for guided tours months in advance, we got started with our Young Friends events in January. We were delighted by the high level of interest and the good New Year’s resolutions, which led to our available slots being quickly filled up. No wonder, as our series of guided tours started with a classic tour by Shanice and Hannah, which examined the highlights of the exhibition from different perspectives and also focused on the artist’s working methods.
In February, we invited the young members of the Bucerius Kunst Club to visit us as part of our friendliest format Chez Amis, which has now taken place for the third time in three years and always leads to lively mutual exchanges on the occasion of exhibitions worth seeing. After a brief general introduction, we explored with Laura the first floor and took a closer look at Friedrich’s classical works together with the neighbouring circle of friends, before moving on to the contemporary positions on the second floor with Shanice.
In March, our small series of guided tours culminated with Hannah’s tour KmK! Caspar meets climate, which focused exclusively on the contemporary positions and highlighted climate policy aspects in particular.
After many hours spent amongst paintings and drawings of Friedrich and his contemporary peers, this exhibition hast left a wanderer-shaped imprint on us, which we will carry with us for a long time to come. We are very thankful to have experienced this once-in-a-lifetime-exhibition.
Spanish Young Friends delegate report about the FEAM Congress in Caceres : April 11, 2024
Report of the XXX National Congress of Friends of Museums
Cáceres, Spain, 15-17 March 2024
By Irene Benito, Young Friends delegate from the FEAM (Federación Española de Amigos de los Museos)
Challenges and opportunities for Friends of Museums through the eyes of Artificial Intelligence
From 15 to 17 March I had the pleasure of participating in the organisation of the XXX National Congress of Friends of Museums in Cáceres. Every year, the Spanish Federation of Friends of Museums (FEAM) holds a congress that brings together representatives of associations, programmes and foundations of Friends. This meeting forum aims to encourage debate on current issues of cultural interest as well as the management of associations and their activities in support of museums.
In this edition the proposal was the challenge of exploring the opportunities and challenges that Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents to the Friends of museums. The main objective was to learn about the tools available to streamline daily management, create content and achieve more effective communication. And to learn how to generate knowledge from the information we handle and to better measure and evaluate the impact of our actions. This is an interesting challenge that can help us to perfect strategies, be more effective and demonstrate with more precise data the social and economic impact of the Friends’ associations.
Each edition offers an academic programme, based on a specific theme, and a cultural programme, aimed at all those interested in learning about the artistic and cultural environment of the region they are visiting. In the academic session held on
Saturday 16 March, we had the participation of 3 AI specialists : Alba Mejide, Carlos Fernández and Manuel Mejide.
Overall, the session was very entertaining, as it dealt with such a topical and attractive subject. Despite the variety of institutions and ages, we were all able to understand the basic concepts of the AI. And personally, I was able to take note of those tools to implement in the Associations in order to facilitate and enrich the work in social media.
An important event to highlight at the Congress is the presentation of the ODS 2023 Excellence Award to the Association of Friends of the Museum of Fine Arts of Asturias for its Educational Initiatives for Young People Programme at the Museum of Fine Arts of Asturias. The Aon España Foundation and the Spanish Federation of Friends of Museums have created this distinction to be awarded annually to an Association or Foundation of Friends of a Museum for its alignment with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 169 goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.
It was a real pleasure to be hosted by the Helga de Alvear Museum, an international reference point for contemporary art in Spain. And to be delighted by the city of Cáceres, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. Next year’s National Congress will take place in the southern Spanish city of Córdoba.
UK Young Friends Ambassador report about the Carve & Craft Weekend : April 4, 2024
To celebrate National Craft Month, in March the Youth Ambassador of the British Association of Friends of Museums (BAFM), Heather Stracey, hosted an event called Carve & Craft Weekend: Inspired by Tunbridge Ware at The Amelia Scott (The Amelia) in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, where she works as the Senior Collections Officer. This event was funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
On the 23rd and 24th of March, Heather teamed up with local craftspeople and artisans, to deliver a programme of talks, tours, workshops, demonstrations, trails, and children’s activities, that were inspired by Tunbridge Wells’ local famous craft: Tunbridge ware.
Iconic Tunbridge ware was invented in the 1680s to support Britain’s earliest tourist industry. These decorative souvenirs flourished at a time when the idea of browsing in shops was new. In the 1700s, they were often manufactured with painted designs or prints showing local attractions. The Victorian era saw the mass production of inlaid mosaic Tunbridge ware in factories, but the industry failed to adapt to changing tastes. Since the 1970s, Tunbridge ware has been revived on a small scale. Today, there is only one known Tunbridge ware maker left!
Over the weekend, The Amelia welcomed 2,000+ visitors, who attended activities such as:
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Mini Maker Workshops by Ash & Co., during which children and their parents had the opportunity to build a wooden character of their choice in a child-friendly woodworking workshop.
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Tunbridge ware: An interactive experience by Genetic Moo, which included a selfie station that transformed visitors into Tunbridge ware.
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Look Behind the Scenes Tour by Heather, which allowed visitors to view some of the treasures in The Amelia’s Museum and Archive collections that aren’t on display.
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Making Marquetry: Demonstration by Simon Jewell, which showed The Amelia’s guests how to blend traditional wood crafting skills with contemporary techniques.
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Robert Russell the 19th Century Tunbridge Ware Manufacturer: Talk by Michael Howes, which gave visitors the opportunity to learn about a Tunbridge ware maker who invented a unique form of the craft.
All the activities were free of charge, to give all members of the community a chance to participate and learn about local heritage. Tickets could be booked via The Amelia’s website. By the time of the event, every activity was fully booked!
The event was also supported by The Friends at The Amelia Scott (The Friends) and The Royal Tunbridge Wells Civic Society (The Civic Society), who generously donated money to The Amelia, to purchase some pieces of 17th Century Tunbridge ware, which have now been added into the overall collection. Both The Friends and Civic Society were present at the Carve & Craft Weekend: Inspired by Tunbridge Ware. They welcomed visitors, telling people all about The Amelia’s collection and the roles of their groups. They even had a few sign-ups! Therefore, now have a few new members.
One of the aims of holding this event was to encourage people to learn more about Tunbridge ware, as it is a dying trade. Visitors left the event knowing a lot more about Tunbridge ware than what they did when they arrived. They also had a lot of fun along the way! Due to the event being a success, the Carve & Craft Weekend: Inspired by Tunbridge ware will return to The Amelia in 2025.
Young Friends Cranbrook & Tunbridge Wells Report: February 24th, 2024
After an initial meeting to find out about her workplace, Heather Stracey, UK Young Friends ambassador and Senior Collections Officer at The Amelia Scott (The Amelia), arranged to meet Naïma Sagna, WFFM Young Friends Coordinator, the following morning. This time, they were off to Cranbrook, Kent, a 30-minute drive from Royal Tunbridge Wells, to visit Cranbrook Museum, with whom The Amelia team regularly collaborate with, particularly on object loans.
Welcomed on arrival by Mike Huxley, Curator of Cranbrook Museum, the two Young Friends delegates were given a guided tour of the galleries, and were told about the Museum’s history, which celebrated its 50th anniversary on the 17th of June 2023, alongside some sixty guests in the presence of the Mayor of Tunbridge Wells and the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Kent.
What makes this museum unique? It is run entirely by volunteers.
A team of twenty-two volunteers are responsible for the day-to-day running of the Museum; five are in charge of the Archive, website, and donation process, and another five look after the garden. Temporary exhibitions are organised three times a year, and the permanent galleries highlight the history of Cranbrook. These include a series of pictures painted between 1850 and 1890 by the Cranbrook Colony of artists. These artists came from London to Cranbrook to paint rural scenes. There is also an entire room containing the immense ornithological collection of Boyd Alexander (1873-1910), a bird-loving officer who brought dozens of birds back from his explorations in Kent and Sussex.
In addition to hosting and maintaining Cranbrook Museum, the History Society of Cranbrook also organises lectures and, each summer, three visits with historical themes, to enable its members to discover other museums.
Back at The Amelia, another remarkable project awaited Naïma at Tunbridge Wells: a presentation on 3D digitisation projects, using technology that is at the cutting edge of what is currently being developed in museums in the UK.
Heather took the time to introduce Naïma to her colleagues Matthew Simpson, Collections Officer, supervising the 3D projects, and Richard Peretti, Digitisation Consultant, to find out more about their studio and their current projects: started seven months ago, this is a major long-term investment to facilitate access for as many people as possible, from children to scientists. Several hundred objects have already been digitised, and there are thousands more in the collections. The digitisation technique, which Matthew and Richard have mastered perfectly, enables them to reproduce the texture (leather, metal, wood, etc.) of each object by hand, and then list them on the Sketchfab.com platform.
This second and final day by Heather Stracey‘s side therefore saw a number of facets of intergenerational synergy between voluntary work and professional commitment: a true testament to the richness and vitality of the initiatives and projects that exist in Cranbrook and Tunbridge Wells, and a very promising one for the future development of the Young Friends of Museums network in the UK.
Young Friends Tunbridge Wells Report: February 20, 2024
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After an initial stopover in Manchester, where she presented the WFFM‘s current Young Friends project to the BAFM regional delegates, Jean Knight (South East) and Margaret Stebbing (North West), our Young Friends Coordinator Naïma Sagna travelled to Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
This Town, renowned for its Chalybeate Spring, discovered by the nobleman Dudley Lord North in 1606, is where the new UK Young Friends Ambassador works: Heather Stracey. Six months ago, the BAFM presented Heather with the 2023 Young Museum Professional Award of the Year. Her application, which had been strongly encouraged by the Chairwoman of The Friends at The Amelia Scott, Anne Stobo, stood out thanks to her plan to use her bursary to promote the costume collection. Heather has now been invited to join the BAFM team to represent Young Friends around the UK.
At the age of 29, Heather has already had a very successful career. After obtaining her Bachelor of Arts (Hons) and Master’s by Research in History, she first worked in London at the National Archives. In 2019, a professional opportunity at The Amelia Scott (The Amelia) brought her closer to the area where she grew up: Heather has treasured childhood memories of what was formerley Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery, which pays tribute to Amelia Scott (1860-1952), one of the first women to be elected as a local Councillor and a campaigner for women’s suffrage.
For over five years, Heather has been involved in the re-invention of this iconic venue in Tunbridge Wells, as the new building opened in April 2022. In the same year, her position was upgraded to Senior Collection Officer.
The Amelia, which houses over 60,000 objects and works of art in its collections, is not just a museum: the new and improved spaces also include a Library, Tourist Information, Adult Education (for learning opportunities), front-line council services, and study rooms.
Accompanied by Heather, Naïma was able to explore the many facets of this unique venue located in the heart of the Town, a stone’s throw from the Town Hall, and of course visit the permanent collections which represent the local history, its key figures and specialities, such as Tunbridge Ware. For several months now, Heather has been coordinating the preparations for the Carve & Craft Weekend: Inspired by Tunbridge Ware, which will be held from the 23rd to 24th of March, to celebrate local crafts, alongside a team of six volunteers, for a programme of talks, tours, workshops, and children’s activities.
The visit also provided an opportunity to explore The Amelia’s store rooms and to meet a large part of Heather’s team, starting with Dr Ian Beavis, Research Curator, renowned for his immense knowledge of the history of Tunbridge Wells, as well as Miriam Rodriguez, Learning & Engagement Assistant, and Christine Beckton, Education Officer.
One of the special features of the organisation? A team of around thirty volunteers is involved in day-to-day tasks – digitisation, cataloguing, etc. – which testifies to the vitality of the collaborations that bring this place to life.
Young Friends Manchester Report: February 17, 2024
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The BAFM (British Association of Friends of Museums) affirms its sincere ambition to integrate Young Friends into its actions: encouraging the creation of a Young Friends network in the United Kingdom is one of its short-term objectives.
This is how, for a few hours, Manchester has been at the crossroads of a meeting between :
Naïma Sagna (Grenoble, France), Young Friends coordinator of the WFFM
Jean Knight (Carshalton), South East regional coordinator of the BAFM
Margaret Stebbing (Lancaster), North West regional coordinator of the BAFM
The three delegates shared the same objective : to get to know each other and to draw up a report taking into account the functioning of the existing Young Friends sections, and their current situation within the WFFM network, in comparison with the functioning of the BAFM.
Jean Knight volunteers for the Carshalton Water Tower and Historic Garden Trust, which has over 80 members. The Trust supports the maintenance, restoration and preservation of the Water Tower, the Hermitage, the Lodge, the Folly Bridge, the lake and surrounding land as historic, architectural or otherwise of public interest. It promotes public education, particularly in relation to the history and architecture of the heritage asset, supports residencies for professional artists and encourages students to come and photograph, paint and draw the buildings and landscape, make an installation and carry out research. It sometimes organises short-term projects for teenagers and guided tours for groups of young people.
Margaret Stebbing volunteers for the Judges’ Lodgings Museum. Situated close to Lancaster Castle, it was named after the travelling « red judges » of the Assize Courts it hosted from 1826. The house now exhibits Georgian furniture by Gillows of Lancaster, elegant period pieces and the popular Museum of Childhood. The Friends of Lancaster Judges’ Lodgings supports The Lancaster Judges’ Lodgings Museum Trust and the owners of the building, Lancashire County Council in promoting the Lodgings as one of the premier heritage attractions in Lancaster. The Friends of Lancaster Judges’ Lodgings was formed in 2016 when a group of local people got together to try and keep the venue open as a museum and community asset. The Friends Group has 40 members. The Friends take part in a range of activities and events organised by the Museum and they also run their own events to help raise money for the development of the museum. These include Raffles, a Summer Fair and Summer Musical concerts. The introduction of a pop up Victorian Tea Room once a month in the courtyard has proved extremely popular. Volunteers from the Friends act as room stewards and help maintain the Judges’Lodgings garden.
Jean and Margaret are both regional delegates for the BAFM, which awarded its 2023 Young Professional Award a few months ago to Heather Stracey, 28, Senior Collections Manager at the Amelia Scott Museum, Tunbridge Wells : she will use this award to develop her skills in the field of costume conservation.
After their meeting, Naïma, Margaret and Jean visited the Manchester Art Gallery, which celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2023. A historic building where the presentation of works questions contemporary issues. For example, the British Afro-Caribbean artist Sonia Boyce, to whom the museum had organized a retrospective in 2018, has been invited to collaborate with a group of museum staff, artists, collaborators and visitors to initiate a process of change in the permanent collections : exploring the politics of class, gender, race and sexuality, which can be seen from the very first rooms, inspired by classic paintings such as Sappho from Charles Mangin (1877).
Encouraged by the BAFM‘s excellent welcome in Manchester, our Young Friends coordinator Naïma Sagna then travelled to Tunbridge Wells to meet her colleague Heather Stracey, recently appointed UK Young Friends Ambassador : a new step in the development of the Young Friends network, supported by the BAFM and the WFFM.
PROGRAM: Council and General Assembly Meeting of the World Federation of Friends of Museums from 2 to 5 May 2024
We are pleased to present the program of the upcoming meeting including special arrangements for Young Friends of the Museums. Our Friends of the Museums association is associated with the six museums and art centres of the City of Luxembourg. You will be welcomed and guided by their directors, introducing what makes each museum and art centre unique and original. Click here to see interviews of the directors of the museums.
INVITATION & REGISTRATION FOR THE 2024 GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Young Friends of the Museums:
All visits will be accompanied by a guide for the Young Friends of the Museums. For certain meals, tables will be specifically reserved for the Young Friends of the Museums, to encourage dialogue. On Saturday afternoon, time will be dedicated to the Young Friends of the Museums, to discuss programmes that could be developed in the months and years to come.
Thursday 2nd May – Afternoon
The afternoon will start with an academic session in the presence of HRH Princess Stéphanie of Luxembourg and the Minister of Culture, Mr Eric Thill, who will address the participants as well as Florence Reckinger, President of the Friends of Museums of Luxemoburg and Carolyn Forster, President of the WFFM.
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Theme: Discovery of the history of the City of Luxembourg
Following the academic session, we will proceed to the Lëtzebuerg City Museum, where we will have a guided tour with Mr Guy Thewes, the museum Director. Telling the story of the city, its territory, and its population, from its origins in the 10th century to the present day, placing it in both a national and transnational context, lies at the heart of this institution’s mission, and this presentation will provide an initial insight on these angles.
Dinner will also be held at the restaurant of the Lëtzebuerg City Museum.
Friday 3rd May – Morning
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Theme: Discovery of the national treasures of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
During the morning, we will have a guided tour at the Nationalmusée um Fëschmaart (National Museum of History and Art), in the presence of its Director, Mr Michel Polfer. Located at the heart of the city centre, this museum, a space of over 6,000 m2, presents Luxembourg’s national archaeological, historical, and artistic collections. Thematic routes (Archaeology, Coins and Medals, Fine Arts, Decorative and Popular Arts) and temporary exhibitions resonate with both the museum’s own collections and societal issues, providing an overview of relevant themes in the Grand Duchy as a whole. We will also visit the exhibition of photos by Edward Steichen, a Luxembourgish photographer of international renown.
Friday 3rd May – Early Afternoon
After the visit, lunch and departure for the exhibition of The Family of Man in Clervaux. The Family of Man photo exhibition is a legendary element in the history of photography and globally recognised. Curated by Edward Steichen and first presented in 1955 at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, it is considered a manifesto for peace and equality among peoples, expressed through the humanistic photography of the post-war era. The collection comprises a total of 503 photos by 273 photographers from 68 countries. After touring more than 150 museums worldwide, the complete version of The Family of Man has been permanently exhibited at Clervaux Castle since 1994 and was inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of the World register in 2003.
Friday 3rd May – Late Afternoon
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Theme: Discovery of the Contemporary Art Centre
Our day will continue with a visit to Casino Luxembourg – Forum d’art contemporain. Founded in 1996, this venue showcases exhibitions on contemporary art through an international programme, primarily focusing on artists from younger generations. In contrast with many conventional museum programmes, the Casino Luxembourg operates as a laboratory for artistic experimentation and emerging trends. Its Director, Kevin Muhlen, will welcome us and introduce an exclusive artist performance for our group.
Dinner will be held at the Casino, followed by a festive evening.
Saturday 4th May – Morning
We will be welcomed by François Reinert, Director of the Dräi Eechelen Museum (Museum of the Three Acorns), where a round table discussion on the theme of transmission and inclusion will be organised, followed by two workshops. The ancient fortress hosting the museum appropriately contains a distinguished collection of armaments and military artefacts, however it is also intended as a centre for collaboration and research on historical and contemporary themes.
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Round Table: Next Generation
Topic: How to pass on the torch to the younger generations of Friends of the Museums
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Workshops / Discussions:
1. Best practices in communication
2. Friends of Museums: players in city culture
Lunch on the museum terrace.
Saturday 4th May – Early Afternoon
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Theme: Discovery of the fortress’s history
After lunch, we will have a guided tour of the Three Acorns Museum with its Director, Mr François Reinert.
Young Friends of the Museums: Meeting of the Young Friends of the Museums to share best practices, discuss young friends’ expectations and challenges. Debriefing of the morning round table. Focal point: Discussions on strengthening collaborations between national federations, among young friends’ groups.
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Optional visit of a Corporate Collection: Following the afternoon sessions, you have the choice between free time or visiting the collection of the European Investment Bank, in the presence of its curator, Delphine Munro. Advance registration necessary
Saturday 4th May – Late Afternoon
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Theme: Discovery of contemporary art at the Museum of Modern Art
Visit to the Mudam Luxembourg – Musée d’Art moderne Grand-Duc Jean, the Contemporary Art Museum of Luxembourg, with its Director, Bettina Steinbrügge, who will offer us a dedicated program.
The Mudam aims to be a leading museum for modern and contemporary art and an iconic institution in Luxembourg in terms of artistic and cultural excellence. Through its programmes, the Mudam promotes creativity, visionary thinking, openness, and broad participation in culture. Like Luxembourg, the Mudam draws on its situation at the heart of Europe, with a global outlook.
Artsy dinner at the Mudam.
Sunday 5th May – Morning
General Assembly of the World Federation of Friends of Museums at the Mudam.
After the General Assembly, visit to Villa Vauban, where we will be welcomed and guided by its director, Mr Guy Thewes.
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Theme: Discovery of the collections, largely donated by art enthusiasts and Luxembourgish collectors.
The exhibitions organized at Villa Vauban draw from the collections of the City of Luxembourg, which consist mainly of Dutch Golden Age works (17th century), on one hand, and French historical and landscape paintings from the 19th century, on the other. Paintings, sculptures, and engravings by European artists from the 17th to the 19th century complete the collection. The City of Luxembourg’s collections also include numerous works by Luxembourgish artists, especially from the 19th and 20th centuries.
Lunch in the garden.
Sunday 5th – Afternoon
Optional: Visit to the Mansfeld site.
The Mansfeld site includes the remnants of the castle and gardens, as well as the landscape created by the governor of the Duchy of Luxembourg, Count Pierre-Ernest de Mansfeld (1517-1604). Like the great figures he encountered at the Court of Brussels, Mansfeld used art and architecture to enhance his standing and influence. The result was one of the most important private residences of the Renaissance in the former Netherlands.
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This programme is preliminary and content may change. A finalized programme will be shared with attendees closer to the date of the Annual Meeting.
With the exception of the bus tour, we will walk or use Luxembourg’s public transportation system to visit museums and other attractions. In Luxembourg the public transport is free of charge.
If you have any questions or require additional information, please feel free to contact us: Luxembourg-2024@amisdesmusees.lu
Federação de Amigos dos Museus de Portugal: our Federation’s Young Friends of Museums

Encontro Jovem FAMP, taken during the second Youth Meeting, Coimbra, 2023 © FAMP
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Last October, Federação de Amigos dos Museus de Portugal (FAMP) organized in Coimbra what is becoming the traditional annual Youth Meeting. It was the second national event for young members of FAMP. Friends from all over the country gathered in this city which is home to the oldest university in Portugal, Universidade de Coimbra, hosting Portugal’s most prized library, built by King John V in the eighteenth-century.
In line with these meetings, the current board of FAMP is and has been greatly focused on the development of a thriving youth community. Such a community will allow the fruits of cultural volunteering to ripen. In parallel, it will shape the role culture, art, and civic engagement have in our young friends’ lives. This year, FAMP’s foremost contact with the young friends will be made via Ana Rita, a young art-lover who is currently working at the Museu Nacional dos Coches (National Coach Museum). Ana Rita has attended both our Youth Meetings – and we are very happy she is joining us for closer collaboration from now on, especially for the preparation and organization of our 3rd Youth Meeting, the time and place of which are still to be confirmed.
Museu Nacional dos Coches, where Ana Rita is based, is a very special museum in the wide panorama of Portuguese heritage and art institutions. It is both the newest museum building in Portugal (it opened in 2015 with a design by architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha), and plays host to an outstanding collection of coaches, the like of which cannot be seen elsewhere in the world. Museu Nacional dos Coches is generous in welcoming FAMP, whose headquarters are established in this museum. For some time now, Ana Rita has worked and collaborated with Museu Nacional dos Coches, and we are sure the Young Friends will benefit from her experience in such an institution and from her art expertise. Curiously, one might perfectly fathom the Young Friends of Museum’s spirit in the logic of Museu Nacional dos Coches. What was a highly valuable collection which lacked protagonism is now a dynamic collection which showcases a radical contrast between old and new, between different forms, materials and mindsets – the collection now showcases the value of compromise and understanding and the compelling freshness which a new perspective might bring to a classical object.

Experience from a Young Friend delegate from the Federação de Amigos dos Museus de Portugal (FAMP)

Encontro Jovem FAMP, taken during the second Youth Meeting, Coimbra, 2023 © FAMP
The II Youth Meeting of Friends of Museums was held in October of last year. This time, the gathering took place in Coimbra, a city steeped in history as the resting place of the first king of Portugal, making it a remarkable location for exploring our cultural identity. The meeting provided a platform for engaging discussions on cultural volunteering, addressing the noticeable absence of younger generations in this context, and devising strategies to counteract this phenomenon. Amidst city tours and shared meals, attendees expressed their enthusiasm, embodying a spirit of open arms.
My journey as a museum volunteer began in 2019 during my bachelor’s studies in History. I felt the need to grow professionally and to connect with our heritage. I am currently working with the National Coach Museum, which has a network of young volunteers who conduct visits and support pedagogical activities. The museum develops several initiatives focused on younger audiences: Cluedo-style game visits, free concerts, interactive replicas. I praise its efforts and care.
I fell in love with the collection and became attached to the team, to whom I am grateful for their warm welcome. The museum feels like a second home, and I wish everyone could experience the joy of the space, the people, and the captivating stories each artifact tells. Cultural volunteering has not only provided me with a purpose but also shaped my academic path, leading me to pursue a PhD in Sociomuseology. By giving a little of ourselves, we are rewarded with something priceless. My hope is that more young people join us. I am confident that, with time and determination, we can inspire a new wave of passionate volunteers and continue making a positive impact on our cultural heritage.
The French Group Action Jeunes: a dynamic relationship between young people and museums

Meeting with Young Friends delegates, 50th anniversary of the FFSAM, Musée Cluny, Paris, June 2023 © FFSAM
Within the French Federation of Friends of Museums, the Action Jeunes Group, made up of 11 Young Friends of museums, is dedicated to three key objectives to create strong links between young people and the cultural wealth of museums.
1- Raising awareness and encouraging young people to join Friends of Museums associations
One of the main aims of the Action Jeunes Group is to make these associations more visible and attractive to young adults. They are working together on actions to highlight the opportunities offered by these associations, actively encouraging young people to join them and become members.
2- Facilitating the emergence and harmonious development of Young Friends sections
The Group also works to support the creation and development of Young Friends sections within associations, offering them advice, resources and guidance. In this way, the young people’s sections enable young people to meet up, exchange ideas and become actively involved in the association to support the museum.
3- Exchanging feedback and encouraging interaction between Young Friends
The Action Jeunes Group promotes exchange and interaction between Young Friends from different associations. The Federation’s annual congress is an opportunity for associations to come together to share their experiences, ideas and actions. The Action Jeunes group has set up a common annual theme for the Young Friends sections to encourage exchanges between young people throughout France. The annual congress concludes the work on the chosen theme, giving young people the opportunity to present and share their thoughts on the subject. This enables young people to share their experiences, ideas and actions. This initiative strengthens cohesion between the Young Friends sections, encouraging mutual learning and collective support.
These objectives can also be illustrated through an annual event, such as European Museum Friends Day, which is held on the second Sunday in October. This project, created by the European Federations of Friends of Museums, is an opportunity for associations to raise their profile by organising an event in their museum.
Young Friends sections are also invited to take part. For the first European Day in 2023, the Young Friends sections in Ile-de-France organised a competition on Instagram, offering the winners free membership of the section of their choice. The Young Friends of the museums in Aix-en-Provence, Poitiers and Vannes were also able to take part in the day, offering a variety of visits and activities.
The aim of the Action Jeunes Group is to foster a new era of community involvement and passion for museums, driven by young people.
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/amis_ffsam/
Website : https://www.ffsam.org/
Twitter : https://twitter.com/FFAmisdemusees
Young Friends delegates on stage in the Musée d’Orsay auditorium, 50 years of the FFSAM, Paris, June 2023 © Michel Astier
Cultural outing to Villers-Cotterêts: a day of cohesion for the French Young Friends network
Friends and Young Friends members of musée de Cluny, with some delegates from the “Action Jeunes” FFSAM group in the courtyard of the Chateau before visiting the museum © Eugénie de Froissart
Young friends from musée de Cluny and delegates from “Action Jeunes” FFSAM group, after visiting the Alexandre Dumas museum © Eugénie de Froissart
Inside the castle (Renaissance style) © Florence Trabaud
Guided tour of the Alexandre Dumas Museum, with the Young Friends members from musée de Cluny and members of the Action Jeunes group © Justine Cardolettin
Members of the “Action Jeunes” group visiting the museum © Florence Trabaud
Test of an immersive experience in which the Young Friends delegates were allocated a book based on our answers to questions © Florence Trabaud
On Saturday 3rd, February 2024, the Friends of the Musée de Cluny association met in Villers-Cotterêts for a cultural outing, under the impetus of the Young Friends, joined by the “Action Jeunes” group of the Fédération Française des Associations d’Amis de Musées. It was a memorable day, with nearly fifty participants, including around twenty Young Friends.
Organised by Alexis Bracquart, coordinator of the Young Friends of the Musée de Cluny, the day’s programme was designed to offer an immersive and enriching experience, encouraging exchanges and encounters within the group.
The day began with an early-morning meeting at Paris Gare du Nord station, where the Friends met to catch the train to Villers Cotterêts. Once at their destination, an introduction to the town was given, followed by a free tour of the Cité de la Langue Française, which had just been inaugurated, allowing visitors to discover the cultural riches of this emblematic site.
At lunchtime, everyone had the choice between enjoying the local restaurants or opting for an open-air picnic. The lunchtime meal was an opportunity for the young people to have an enriching exchange with the Federation’s “Action Jeunes” group, during which several projects were discussed. Discussions focused in particular on the year’s theme “Identity and role of Young Friends” and on preparations for the Federation’s annual congress. This exchange allowed the young people to share their ideas and perspectives, thus promoting cohesion within the group.
The afternoon was devoted to a guided tour of the Alexandre Dumas Museum. The young delegates had the opportunity to learn a little more about the history of this museum and the Dumas family, accompanied by an energetic and experienced guide.
Finally, the young people returned to Paris by train. For some privileged few, the day was extended with a preview of Olivier Py’s “Molière imaginaire” at the Château de Villers-Cotterêts, followed by a quick dinner at La Tulipe restaurant, before catching the train home.
Alexis Bracquart, Young Friends of the Musée de Cluny coordinator, comments: “It was an exceptional day, with a rich and varied programme in a place that is right at the heart of current affairs, easily accessible and very affordable. The Cité de la Langue Française, which has just opened, is housed in a Renaissance-style château built in 1530. Despite a limited collection, the museography is highly interactive, with numerous games and screens, offering an immersive experience. As for the Alexandre Dumas museum, although modest in size, it proved to be very interesting, thanks in particular to our guide who was an expert on the subject. All in all, a memorable day out with the Friends and Young Friends, combining discovery, pleasure and cultural enrichment.”
Eugénie de Froissard, in charge of Young Friends development at the Fédération Française des Amis de Musées (French Federation of Friends of Museums)
Event Recap: Introduction to Curatorial Dreaming with Dr. Shelley Ruth Butler
On January 31st 2024, we were thrilled to welcome Dr. Shelley Ruth Butler to present an Introduction to Curatorial Dreaming to the Young Friends of the WFFM!

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Young Friends from Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Canada, Germany, the USA, England, Luxembourg, and Colombia joined to learn about this approach to museum curation.
Dr. Butler led us through this creative and civic-minded approach to exhibit curation. Drawing on examples from the Qaumajuq / Winnipeg Art Gallery, the Agnes Etherington Arts Centre, and the Royal Ontario Museum among many others, Butler highlighted the multiple ways that Curatorial Dreaming can support people to become critical museum visitors. Everything from creating key moments in exhibits to small details like museum labels can be leveraged to prompt critical engagement from visitors.
We learned that Curatorial Dreaming is not limited to museums, galleries, and heritage sites, but can be used with great success to design exhibits in everyday public spaces such as airports and hospitals.
How does an exhibit driven by curatorial dreaming come to life? A key part of the process is bringing together museum professionals from different disciplines for workshops. When artists, scholars, museum curators, and museum educators engage in curatorial dreaming together, that’s when the magic happens.
To find out more about Dr. Butler’s work, visit http://www.curatorialdreaming.ca/
Meeting of the Young Friends Federation from Germany
Twice a year, the young friends club of the German Federation of Friends of museum come together to discuss problems, ideas and anything in between. For the last meeting, they were invited by the friends of the Kunsthalle Mannheim to host our conference on the 17th and 18th November 2023. As per usual the days were filled with workshops on several subjects such as digitalisation, volunteering work or the European day of Friends of Museum.
Another big topic was Social Media and how to best use it for your own initiatives. Two members of the Young Friend’s Federation were asked to present their Instagram- accounts and strategies. Marlene Liebermann from the young friends of the Kunstpalast and NRW-Forum (Düsseldorf) and Hannah Dietze from the young circle of the Sprengel-Museum (Hannover) shared their experiences and talked about what works, what doesn’t and how to deal with the fickle algorithm of Instagram.
This time the Young Friends also held a vote on the speaker of the young friend’s federation. As is tradition, one of the speakers is elected for two years to participate in the organisation of our meetings and in other projects of the young friend’s federation. Thank you, to Sandra Gunzelmann for her help the last two years and welcome to Hannah Dietze, who is their newly elected speaker for the young friend’s federation!
Apart from the workshops they also were guided through the exhibition “Hoover, Hager, Lassnig” at the Kunsthalle, which gives insight into the works of these three female artists. They also used their evenings to discover other Museums, Galleries or Off-Spaces the respective city has to offer. This time they visited the well-established Gallery Sebastian Fath Contemporary who showed the collection of Nan Hoover as a pendant to the exhibition at the Mannheimer Kunsthalle.
Honoring former WFFM President Caroline Serventy, 1930-2023

Caroline Serventy OAM
1930 – 11 December 2023
Conservationist and influential supporter of museums in Australia and internationally, Caroline (Carol) Serventy OAM passed away in December 2023. Carol and her husband, Vincent Serventy, were noted conservationists in the 1960s and 1970, and encouraged Australians to protect their natural environment.
Carol made notable contributions to the world of museums, beginning in 1972 when she chaired the committee that founded the Australian Museum Society (TAMS), with the goal of supporting the Australian Museum in interesting a broad spectrum of the public in the environment and its conservation.
In 1975 Carol was a prime mover in establishing the Australian Federation of Friends of Museums (AFFM), and became the first Australian President of the World Federation of Friends of Museums (WFFM) from 1997 to 1999, hosting a world congress of WFFM, ‘New Century, New Museums, New Friends’ in Sydney in 1999.
Carol was also instrumental in the formation of the Friends of the National Museum of Australia in March 1989. Her passionate advocacy for the Museum, along with other influential Australians, contributed to the decision by government to establish the National Museum of Australia, which opened in March 2001 on Acton Peninsula, Canberra.
Minutes: 1st Meeting of the International Young Friends Delegates

Naïma Sagna, WFFM Young Friends coordinator, welcomes the 5 participants to the very 1st meeting of the international Young Friends delegates committee on Monday 4 December 2023.
The objective : to develop a space for international Young Friends delegates to exchange experiences and work collectively to promote Young Friends projects in the WFFM network through a small working group that will meet every 7 weeks.
1) 5 participants from 5 countries : a new start for the WFFM Young Friends network
Shanice Page (Hamburg, Germany) has been working for the Young Friends section at the Kunsthalle in Hamburg for 3 years, and is part of the Young Friends Federation’s network, where some thirty delegates meet twice a year in Germany to share their experiences.
Megan Batty (Montreal, Canada) is a member of the board of the Canadian Federation and Young Friends network split between Montreal and Ottawa, which has been organising numerous visits and meetings in French and English since 2019.
Mélanie de Jamblinne (Luxembourg) is the Young Friends delegate for the Friends of Luxembourg Museums association, a board member since 2016 with Joana Weitzel, with whom she has developed the Young Friends section, which currently has 113 members. A special feature is the JAM / Jeunes Ados group (14-17 year-olds).
Eugénie de Froissart (Paris, France): has just joined the FFSAM (French Federation of the Friends of Museums) as Young Friends coordinator for a 2-year work-study programme. She is responsible for boosting the network of 20 Young Friends sections in France.
Heather Stracey (Royal Tunbridge Wells, England) won the Young Museum Professional of the Year award from the British Association of Friends of Museums and has just been appointed Young Friends Ambassador in the UK.
2) A meeting to connect Young Friends together in January 2024
As the WFFM organised an online event a few years ago – “Well being in the arts” – the idea is to offer a Young Friend international delegate the opportunity to curate an online event on a theme of particular interest to Young Friends of museums.
For the 1st event, which will take place at the 31rst of January 2024 to symbolically start the year with a new beginning for the international Young Friends network, Megan Batty has carte blanche to choose the theme and the speaker.
3) Upcoming WFFM Congress in Luxembourg from 2 to 5 May 2024
On the one hand, this meeting provides an opportunity for Young Friends delegates who have taken part in previous congresses to share their experiences. On the other hand, it gives all participants an opportunity to take stock of what can be offered at the congress to be held in Luxembourg in spring 2024: meetings, visits, etc.
There is a real desire to organise workshops and a round-table discussion of interest to all participants, and to make the event as accessible as possible for Young Friends delegates.
Member Report: The Young Friends of the Canadian Federation of Friends of Museums
On an autumn evening, the Young Friends of the Canadian Federation of Friends of Museums (CFFM) gathered under the disco ball the Ottawa Art Gallery to explore the exhibit 83 ‘til infinity: 40 years of Hip-Hop in the Ottawa-Gatineau Region. What followed was a riveting experience rooted in the pillars of Hip Hop: knowledge, graffiti, emceeing, breaking, and DJ-ing, followed by drinks at a local spot – the Clarendon Tavern.
This is one of the many events that the Young Friends Council has hosted since its inception in 2018. Our Young Friends Council creates community through culture by bringing together students and emerging professionals aged 18-35 who are passionate about history and heritage. Our team of volunteers, CFFM Board Members Megan Batty, Ottawa Chapter Lead Robin Treleaven, and Montreal Chapter Lead Audrey Gray, organize events where young people explore museums and galleries together. What’s unique about the CFFM Young Friends is that we’re not affiliated with one museum, but rather, we’ve garnered partnerships with several cultural and heritage institutions.
Over the past year, we’ve launched in-person events held twice a month, welcoming Young Friends in two Canadian cities – Ottawa and Montreal. We host events in both English and French, reflecting the bilingual character of these cities. We’ve also been lucky to join events hosted by the Classic friends of the CFFM.
Walking Tours are a particular favourite, and we have run events with the Haunted Walk of Ottawa, the Museum of Jewish Montreal, and an architectural history tour of the Montreal Square Mile with Professor of Architecture Nancy Dunton.
One of the standout events was a guided tour of the exhibit Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience at the at the McCord-Stewart Museum, followed by an allyship workshop. This thought-provoking event sparked great dialogue and connections amongst Young Friends during our picnic afterwards.
Over the past year alone, we’ve had the pleasure of exploring the following museums and galleries:
The Bytown Museum
The McCord-Stewart Museum
The Museum of Jewish Montreal
The Ottawa Art Gallery
The National Gallery of Canada
The Louis-Joseph Forget House
Rideau Hall
Galerie 1700 La Poste
The Ottawa Haunted Walk.
Our motto speaks to the heart of what we cultivate: community through culture, and we continue to be inspired by our members, and by Young Friends groups across the globe.
Interested in learning more about the Young Friends of the Canadian Federation of Friends of Museums? Head to our website, Facebook page, or Instagram to learn more about upcoming events.
Les jeunes amis de la Fédération canadienne des amis de musées
Une soirée automnale, les jeunes amis de la Fédération canadienne des amis de musées (la FCAM) se sont réunis sous la boule disco de la Galerie d’art d’Ottawa pour explorer l’exposition « Demain c’est loin : 40 ans de Hip-Hop dans la région d’Ottawa-Gatineau » . Ce qui a suivi été une expérience captivante enracinée dans les valeurs de hip-hop : le savoir, les DJing, le graffiti, le emceeing, le breakdance, et le DJ – suivie d’un verre dans le bar du coin le Clarendon Tavern.
Il s’agit de l’un des nombreux événements organisés par le Conseil des jeunes amis de la FCAM depuis sa création en 2018. Chez le conseil des jeunes amis, c’est la culture qui rassemble, en réunissant des étudiants et des jeunes professionnels âgés de 18 à 35 ans passionnés par l’histoire et le patrimoine. Notre équipe de bénévoles, composée de Megan Batty (membre du conseil d’administration de la FCAM), de Robin Treleaven (cheffe de la section à Ottawa) et d’Audrey Gray (cheffe de la section à Montréal), organise des événements où les jeunes explorent des musées et des galeries. Ce qui est unique chez la FCAM c’est que nous ne sommes pas affiliés à un seul musée, mais plutôt que nous avons développé des partenariats avec plusieurs institutions culturelles et patrimoniales.
Depuis l’année dernière, nous avons lancé un programme d’événements en-personnes organisés deux fois par mois, accueillant les jeunes amis dans deux villes canadiennes : Ottawa et Montréal. On organise des événements en anglais et en français pour bien refléter le caractère bilingue de ces villes. Nous avons également eu la chance de participer à des événements organisés par les amis classiques de la FCAM.
Les visites à pied sont particulièrement appréciées, et nous avons organisé des événements avec la Haunted Walk of Ottawa, le Musée du Montréal juif, et une visite de l’histoire de l’architecture du Square Mile de Montréal avec le professeur d’architecture Nancy Dunton.
L’un des événements les plus marquants a été la visite guidée de l’exposition « Voix autochtones d’aujourd’hui : savoir, trauma, résilience » au Musée McCord-Stewart, suivie d’un atelier sur les gestes alliés. Cet événement, qui a suscité la réflexion, a été l’occasion d’un grand dialogue et de liens entre les jeunes amis lors du pique-nique qui a suivi.
Au cours de l’année écoulée, nous avons eu le plaisir de découvrir les musées et galeries suivants :
Le Musée Bytown
Le Musée McCord-Stewart
Musée du Montréal juif
La Galerie d’art d’Ottawa
Le Musée des beaux-arts du Canada
Maison Louis-Joseph-Forget
Rideau Hall
Galerie 1700 La Poste
La Ottawa Haunted Walk
Notre devise est au cœur de ce que nous cultivons : la culture qui rassemble, et nous continuons à être inspirés par nos membres et par les groupes de Jeunes Amis à travers le monde.
Vous souhaitez en savoir plus sur les Jeunes Amis de la Fédération canadienne des Amis de Musées ? Rendez-vous sur notre site web, notre page Facebook ou sur Instagram pour en savoir plus sur les événements à venir.
Young Friends Luxembourg Report: November 23, 2023
As we mentioned earlier, it was during a short 2-day stay in Luxembourg that our Young Friends coordinator Naïma Sagna was able to make some initial preparations for our forthcoming Congress in May 2024 and meet some of the Friends of the Museums of Luxembourg team.
After a first day where Naïma made contact with Florence Reckinger-Taddeï (President), Bärbel Aubert (Secretary) and Young Friends delegates Mélanie de Jamblinne and Joana Weitzel, the second and final day confirmed the promising beginnings of this collaboration.
The reunion with Bärbel on Thursday 23/11 along the ramparts of the Upper Town, one of Luxembourg’s most iconic sites, provided an opportunity to discuss working methods, especially as Naïma was staying as part of a skills sponsorship arrangement with the Friends of the Musée de Grenoble team, who fully support her mission within the WFFM.
It was at the Nationalmusée um Fëschmaart (Musée national d’archéologie, d’histoire et d’art) that Bärbel and Naïma enjoyed a visit to the various collection rooms: pre- to modern history, art deco, design, modern art… spread over several floors, the works offer an immense panorama of Luxembourg’s history.
Next, a visit to the Friends of the Museums office: a charming house overlooking the valley that houses their association as well as the offices of other associative projects such as Lët’z Arles, which is also chaired by Florence Reckinger-Taddeï,. Catherine de Jamblinne, Vice-Chair of the Friends of the Museums of Luxembourg, offered our Young Friends coordinator an autographed copy of the catalogue “Friends of the Museums of Luxembourg. Histoires d’une passion” – an editorial project to which she made a major contribution on the association’s 40th anniversary.
Mélanie de Jamblinne had introduced our Young Friends coordinator to Anastasia Chaguidouline, who is the Artistic Director of the Cercle Cité the previous day. So the afternoon was an opportunity for Naïma to discover this cultural venue which is currently presenting in the Ratskeller space an exhibition entitled Hors-d’œuvre (until 21/01/2024), including topical themes (consumption, migration, identity, meaning, etc.) and a selection of artists from the Benelux countries and neighbouring countries. But above all there is a real synergy with the exhibition currently on show at the Lëtzebuerg City Museum: “All we can eat“. A meeting with contemporary art that heralded what was to come next.
For the next meeting, Young Friends delegates Mélanie and Joana, took Naïma to the Casino Luxembourg – Forum d’art contemporain, the main contemporary art center in Luxembourg. Welcomed on arrival by Administrative Director Ruta Franke, they spent some time talking in the library and soaking up the energy of the venue. A veritable platform for experimentation, it is complemented by a 2nd ancillary venue, the Casino Display (artist residencies and research programmes) and hosts an average of 6 exhibitions a year. Two of these are currently on show, and our Young Friends delegates were able to discover them together:
How to map the infinite by Tessa Perutz – curated by Stilbé Schroeder. Visitors are greeted by a huge carpet of lavender flowers installed in the two rooms of the exhibition. The young American artist presents landscapes inspired by her stay in Europe (lakes, plants, sun, moon, fields, forests, seashores), real landscapes, symbolic motifs and sensory elements. On the wall is a large mural depicting a view of Marseille from the roof of Le Corbusier’s Cité Radieuse closes an energising journey of vivid, almost psychedelic, tropical colours.
Joyeuse Apocalypse! by Jérôme Zonder – curated by Kevin Muhlen. Here, the French artist presents one of his iconic characters, Pierre-François, whose birth he dates to 2000 (generation Z). The exhibition takes the form of a collection of images: first, 11 large-format silhouettes in cut-out wood, like three-dimensional drawings, imbued with signs of popular culture (music, cinema, etc.), as if we could approach him from every angle. Since text is as important to the artist as images, he also experiments with the comic strip format. A huge game of goose drawn on the floor brought the exhibition to a close, depicting different stages in the life of the character.
Then it’s on to the event of the young Romantico Romantico Studio jewellery brand created by Fanny Bervard. It was an opportunity to discover a fine example of independent design from Luxembourg (her jewellery is on sale in the MUDAM boutique), before heading off for dinner to discuss the respective and joint projects of the Young Friends delegates.
And so ended the second day, laying the foundations for what looks to be very promising future collaborations for the WFFM Young Friends network with the Luxembourg Friends of the Museums association, not least for the forthcoming WFFM Congress in 2024.
Young Friends Luxembourg Report: November 22, 2023
International, multilingual, cultural: it’s no coincidence that Luxembourg was titled European Capital of Culture in 1995 and 2007, and that it’s THE destination for the next WFFM Congress to be held from 2 to 5 May 2024.
It is with this in mind that Naïma Sagna, Young Friends coordinator of the WFFM, has just spent 2 days in the city, scouting the city in anticipation for the upcoming event and meeting some of the extremely dynamic, professional and welcoming team of the Friends of the Museums of Luxembourg. The association, chaired by Florence Reckinger-Taddeï, makes one donation a year to one of the 6 museums, and has more than 1,800 members. Its Young Friends section – spearheaded by childhood friends Mélanie de Jamblinne and Joana Weitzel – is expanding rapidly, with 113 members (including Young Friends and JAM – Jeunes Ados des Musées) to date.
A Special thanks go to Bärbel Aubert. Secretary of the Friends of the Museums of Luxembourg. Bärbel orchestrated the programme of visits spread over two days with real expertise and a great sense of hospitality to ensure that our Young Friends coordinator’s stay was as enjoyable and informative as possible.
The meeting really got underway on Wednesday 22/11 at the Villa Vauban, the City of Luxembourg’s art museum. This fine arts museum, where a sculpture by Nikki de Saint Phalle greets visitors in the park, presents collections from the XVIIth to the XIXth centuries bequeathed by the industrialist Jean-Pierre Pescatore.
Then it was on to the Lëtzebuerg City Museum, where Bärbel and Naïma were welcomed by Boris Fuge, head of communications. Inaugurated in 1996, this Lëtzebuerg City Museum has preserved the ancient structures of walls dating back to the Middle Ages, which can be discovered little by little thanks to a huge transparent hydraulic lift. The permanent collections are complemented by two temporary exhibitions a year. A quick diversion to the Mansfeld who? exhibition provided an opportunity to get up close to the Portrait of Charles de Mansfeld – son of Pierre-Ernst de Mansfeld, and Governor of the Province of Luxembourg (XVIth to XVIIth centuries) under Spanish Dominion – donated this year by the Friends of the Museum. It was also an opportunity to learn a little about Luxembourg’s past. Historically a fortress town, it made its mark during the Industrial Revolutions in the porcelain, glove-making, beer brewing, steelworks and cigarette-making industries.
Accompanied by Joana Weitzel, Young Friends delegate for the Friends of the Museums of Luxembourg, our Young Friends coordinator headed for the Kirchberg district, where she was welcomed to the MUDAM by Carine Lilliu, Head of Patronage and Partnerships. If the architecture of the Musée d’Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean seems immediately familiar, it’s because its architect is none other than Ieoh Ming Pei, who is responsible for the famous Pyramid of the Louvre in Paris. After a quick tour of the temporary exhibition ‘After laughter comes tears’ (on show until 7/01/2024), they were able to discover some of the permanent collections. The MUDAM takes the original approach of presenting its 700 works to the public in the form of temporary exhibitions organised in turn by different curators (currently ‘Deep Deep down’ curated by Shirina Shahbazi and Tirdad Zolghadr).
Literally a stone’s throw from MUDAM, there was a change of scenery at the Draï Eechelen Museum on the historic site of Fort Thüngen. Welcomed by director François Reinert, Young Friends delegates Joana and Naïma enjoyed a guided tour retracing the history of Luxembourg and this exceptional site, which includes an underground gallery of ten bunkers, including a workshop for children, and a collection of objects linked to the fortress, the city and the country. The museum also features a multimedia area with period maps available in high definition and a 140-seats auditorium.
The evening was then marked by a very special event. If Mélanie de Jamblinne is the Young Friends delegate, she is also in charge of VIP relations and the programme for Luxembourg Art Week, which ended just a few days ago. Mélanie took care to invite our Young Friends coordinator Naïma to accompany her and her director Caroline von Reden to the professional evening of the De Mains de Maîtres (The Fine Contemporary Craft Biennale). The event was held at 19 avenue de la Liberté, known in Luxembourg as ’19 Liberté’, at the former headquarters of ARBED (now merged with ArcelorMittal), becoming the home of Spuerkeess bank (Banque et caisse d’épargne de l’État) in 2016, following major renovation work.
The De Mains de Maîtres Biennale was created on the initiative of Their Royal Highnesses the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess of Luxembourg and showcases a selection of works in a dozen museums, cultural centres and galleries. Traditionally, only one country is represented among the more than 70 craftsmen and women from Luxembourg: this year, the spotlight is on Portugal, given its historical roots and the strong presence of its community in Luxembourg. Promoting Portuguese craftsmanship and strengthening the friendship between Luxembourg and Portugal: these are just two of the ambitions of the Biennale in 2023. The speeches were punctuated by contributions from Françoise Thoma (President and Chief Executive Officer of the Spuerkeess), the Hereditary Grand Duchess (patron of the Friends of the Luxembourg Museums), Xavier Bettel (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs) and Jean-Marc Dimanche (General Commissioner of the Bienniale), among others.
So many interesting meetings and museums explored on this very first day!