8-10 November 2007 in Copenhagen

Participants:

• Andy Pearce, UK
• Udo Wiesinger, Austria
• Jürgen Bönig, Germany
• José Gameiro, Portugal
• Torsten Nielsson, Sweden
• Kalle Kallio, Finland
• Anette Vasström, Denmark
• Lars K. Christensen, Denmark
• Peter Ludvigsen, Denmark
• Hanne Abildgaard, Denmark
• Jacob Bjerring-Hansen, Denmark
• Birgitte Beck Pristed, Denmark
• Brigitte Johnen, Denmark
• Preben Sørensen, Denmark
• Frank Allan Rasmussen, Denmark
• Søren La Cour, Denmark

Minutes
08 November: The National Museum in Brede, guided tour
Presentation of the new industrial exhibition project 2009
by Annette Vasström and Lars K. Christensen
Feed back from the group.

Photo:
Torsten Nilsson

Presentation of extension of Peoples’ History in Manchester, Planning and problems – and some opportunities!  by Andy Pearche.
Feed back from the group.

Presentation of Workingworld-net, Museum Arbeitswelt in Steyr by Udo Wiesinger.
Feed back from the group.

Presentation of Industrial Life, a new exhibition in Museum of Work in Norrköping by Torsten Nielsson.
Feed back from the group.

General meeeting I, 2007
Last meeting was held in Steyr in 2005.

Economy:
WORKLAB’S only income is the member fee, participant fee and some funding. In 2005 the economy balanced with 10,700 DKK. Only 6,500 DKK was spent. The board has dropped printing the newsletter. Using the web site for informations, shares a lot of money.Netto: 4,200 DKK remains. Accepted by the representatives of board.

Website/newsletter:
Peter Ludvigsen, The Workers’ Museum, Denmark, informed the group that the editor function is managed by him (as chairman) and the webmaster function by Hans Uwe Petersen, also The Workers’ Museum. Text to the www.worklab.dk must be sent to the editor at pl@arbejdermuseet.dkThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Election to the board:
Peter Ludvigsen, chairman
Torsten Nilsson
Jürgen Bönig (Jürgen Ellemeyer has retired)
José Gameiro
Nick Mansfield, Secretary
Anette Vasström, Treasurer
Udo Wiesinger
(will be changed on the web site asap)

TICCIH:
Peter Ludvigsen never heard from TICCIH about the suggested co-operation!

Discussion:
Udo B. Wiesinger: suggest establishment of a special ICOM-committee for similar museums.
Jörgen Bönig: suggest same structure as ICR.
Anette Vasström: mentioned that we might stand stronger as “social history museums” in connection to ICOM – and not as industrial museums.
Torsten Nilsson: prefers WORKLAB as forum, as a more open network for universities, students etc. – who normally doesn’t have access to  ICOM.
Peter Ludvigsen: mentioned the advantance in TICCIH conferences each 4 years.
Kalle Kallio: suggest museum group in IALHI?
Peter Ludvigsen: IALHI is mostly for archives!
José Gamairo: The social history museums idea most interesting.
Peter Ludvigsen and Udo B. Wiesinger: will contact the advisory board of ICOM for conditions and further process.

Web site:
The web site has worked for 2 years. The site is very much used, 400.000 unique visitors, over the 2 years. Peter reminds all members to up-date their information on the site, to add press releases etc. and to use the web site as s means for communication for every single institution. The common WORKLAB site has more hits than any of the members themselves! (Remember to tell this to your information department).

Flexicurity-project – and other projects:
The flexicurity-application failed with the EU/Culture 2007-13 programme – 57 out of 75 points.

It is Udo’s impression that this programme mainly goes for more cultural projects. Only 10 projects succeeded. Udo suggests that we apply to the SOCRATES-programme (social politic and life long learning – adults education). Minimum 3 partners, 3 countries, 2 years – maximum 150.000 Euro p.a. – means 300.000 Euro out of 400.000 costs will be covered). Deadline: End February 2008.
Austria is no longer able to assist as co-ordinator.

Birgitte: mentioned the new EU-rules with pre-qualification – requires a shorter application without partner list and annexes – less work.

Udo: mentioned a local fund (education/politic) that might be interested in an international conference in Austria on the Flexicurity issue.

Totte: “Work for food” didn’t get support from Culture2007. A new project “A taste of Europe” will be started with Norrköping as lead museum. Interested partners are welcome.

Peter: Aalborg University/CARMA, Denmark, is interested in a new variety of the Flexicurity-project.

Udo: Also the National bank in Austria is interested in the Flexicurity-project (the electoral age
to elect to the government is now  only 16 years – this means lack of education for young people/young peoples interest in politic (citizenship!). Possible conference in late winter 2008. Info will follow.

09 November
Presentation of the Finnish Labour Museums, by Kalle Kallio
Feed back from the group.

Presentation of Dream Factories – Industry and Modernism, a co-operation between 7 Nordic and Baltic countries, travelling exhibition launched at The Workers’ Museum, Copenhagen, by
Birgitte Beck Pristed .
Feed back from the group.

Presentation of the new permanent exhibition Industrial Work at
The Workers’ Museum, Copenhagen, by Jacob Bjerring-Hansen.
Feed back from the group.

Presentation of the next meeting place, The fish canning factory, a new museum in Portimão, Portugal, presented by José Gameiro.
Feed back from the group.

10 November 
1. Tour trough the workers’ Copenhagen to the city of Frederiksværk.

2. Presentation of the Frederiksværk Industrial Museum – plans for the future, guided tour in the industrial townscape, the former gun foundry and the gun powder factories.

3. General Meeting II, 2007
at the Workers’ musem.

Plans for the next Worklab Meeting and International Conference :
The meeting will take place in
Portimao 2008,  29. – 31. Oct.

Preliminary programme:  
1.International conference

“Industrial Work and Museums”

Subtitle: Change of societies – change of industry – change of museums

Contents:
new tasks of labour and social history museums in a globalize world
how to present new subjects of labour and industry in museums
how to interpret or mediate this new subjects for special target groups
theoretical and common speeches
(best) practice examples

Participants:
labour museums
museums with main focus on social history
universities
communities (e.g. people responsible for museums / culture in cities or nations)

(2 days conference)

2.Worklab meeting:

Task: Discussions about future of worklab – expansion of membership.
Discussion about an initiative to found an International Committee of  ICOM for “Social History and Labour Museums”.

(1 day meeting)