The Union of Tbilisi Museums is proud to announce its participation in the annual international conference hosted by the City Museums Committee (CAMOC) of the International Council of Museums (ICOM).
On October 16, 2023, the doors opened to the Museum of the City of New York (MCNY) for the annual international conference of the City Museums Committee (CAMOC), themed “Changed Cities, Changed Museums.”
CAMOC, as one of the largest committees under the International Council of Museums (ICOM), plays a crucial role in uniting city museums and municipal museum associations. The Union of Tbilisi Museums became a member of the City Museums Committee in the spring of 2023.
The “Changed Cities, Changed Museums” conference spans three days, and on October 18, during a dedicated session, Nini Sanadiradze, the General Director of the Tbilisi Museums Union, delivered a presentation highlighting the history and significance of the Tbilisi Museums Association to experts and participants in the museum field. Her report, titled “From One Person’s Story to the City’s History,” unveiled the unique journey of the Union.
In her address, Nini Sanadiradze underscored the mission of unifying Tbilisi museums, emphasizing not only the preservation of valuable artifacts and the transmission of cultural heritage across generations but also the critical role of researching the historical context of Georgia’s capital. This research is transformed into educational resources, leading to the creation of a fresh museography that derives inspiration from the rich tapestry of the city’s history.
Dr. Sanadiradze expressed her deep pride in showcasing Georgia and Tbilisi through the unification of Tbilisi museums. She pointed out that one of the primary objectives of this unification is to offer insights into the statehood, era, struggle for freedom, and democracy, with a particular focus on national liberation leader Ilia Chavchavadze. The Ilia Chavchavadze Literary Memorial Museum stands as a testament to this endeavor.
City history museums serve as chroniclers of social, economic, and political changes, and their relevance has never been more pronounced. Today, cities face myriad challenges, including population growth, climate change, global issues, human rights, values, equality, and crises from various fronts. These factors compel cities to reassess their future and identity. Museums, in response, have a unique opportunity to plan pertinent activities and lend support to organizations navigating these challenges.
The City Museums Committee (CAMOC) Annual International Conference, with its theme “Changed Cities, Changed Museums,” encapsulates this profound intersection of history, modernity, and the evolving role of museums in the changing urban landscape.