Vietnamese women's museum

EDUCATION FOR ALL – THE FACT AND CHALLENGES

FOR VIETNAMESE WOMEN’S MUSEUM 

Le Thi Thuy HoanThe Vietnamese Women’s Museum

1. Question

Attracting visitors is one of the most common concerns of Vietnamese museums, especially when museums face the challenges of a budget and the competition from the variety of other choices for people to visit. Education for all is the slogan for all museums in Vietnam and the Vietnamese Women’s Museum in particular.

2. Brief introduction about Vietnamese Women’s Museum

Located in the center of Hanoi, only 5 minutes walking from Hoan Kiem lake

Established in 1987 as a part of The Vietnamese Women’s Union

Officially opened to public in 1995

Closed to renovate in 2006

Reopened in 2010

The museum presents the cultural diversity of Vietnam and the significant contribution of Vietnamese women to the country.

Image of the museum

Exhibition cornersA part of the theme “Women in family”

A part of the theme “Women in history”

Exhibition cornersA part of the theme “Women in family”

A part of the theme “Women’s fashion”

3. Education in the Museum

The Vietnamese Women’s Museum considers education as an important function in museum’s activities. We have made considerable efforts to improve education in different ways as follows:

3.1. Renovate the permanent exhibition

After 11 years being opened to public, annual visitor’s numbers showed that the Museum failed to meet different needs of visitors. It was closed in 4 years from 2006 to 2010 for the renovation with the budget from Vietnam Government and the sponsorship from FORD Foundation.

It was reopened in October 2010 in order to offer better services to visitors.

Museum’s images after renovations

1995 2006

Image of the Museum now

2012 2012

3.2. Renovate special exhibitions

Special exhibitions are good chances to develop the relationship with the community

Renovate special exhibitions in different ways such as:

-Approach social contemporary issues;

-Encourage the participation of the community in museum’s activities;

-Cooperate with NGO or other institutions to create special exhibitions;

Approach contemporary issues

Willing to approach sensitive and hot issues that attract the attention of general public.

Some examples:

- Street vendors – 2009-2010 (the exhibition was opened at the same time Hanoi government approved Decree 76 that bans small business on pavements and street vendors)

- Single mothers – 2011 (provides a sight into lives of single mothers who were looked upon by most people in Vietnam society)

- Shining night - 2012 (presents the lives of immigrants from rural areas to the capital to earn their living)

The participation of the communityBase on different purposes to link with special

groups of community. One of the main targets is marginalized women groups (single mothers; immigrants women who suffer social violence and discrimination…)

Set up groups of supporters

All consultancy and ideas from related people are welcome in the museum (ritual masters; students, street vendors…).

The community takes part in museum’s activities: survey, research, consultation, field work, fabrication, installation, exhibition and education (voice of insiders are appreciated)

The special Exhibition “Worshipping Mother Goddess Pure heart – Beauty – Joy” - 2012

A part of the exhibition “Worshipping Mother Goddess – Pure heart – Beauty - Joy”

Brief information about this exhibitionPresents a folk pure Viet belief

It was considered as a social critical exhibition to the Decree number 75/2010 approved by the President that bans practicing belief.

Funded by FORD foundation

A big community took part in the exhibition from survey, research, practice to installation

The temporary exhibition “Portraits of love and courage” – July 2012

Brief information about the exhibition“Portraits of love and courage”

All portraits were painted by an old female artist who is former soldier and journalist;

She made her own journey from the South to the North (35.600km, 63 different provinces and cities) on her small scooter;

She met around 1000 heroic mothers of Vietnam, talked with them then painted their portraits;

She refused all sponsorships and donated paintings to the museum

The artistThe artist on the way of

the journeyThe artist and a Heroic

Mother of Vietnam

3.3. Focusing on communicative materials

Some materials

Logo

Webpage

Educational materials relevant to the subjects: work sheets, information leaflets, brochures…

The logo of the Museum

3.4. Educational activities Guided tours

Events for school children at the museum (New year, mid autumn, National Day, Children Day…): meet and talk with historic figures, celebrate festivals, practice traditional games…

Discovery corner

Teaching history in the museum

In the discovery corner

Discovery corner

Interactive corner

3.5. Cooperation for better educationTake advantages of all advertising channels like

magazines and web Pages for free of charge advertisement; VOV for education on radio

Cooperate with NGO or institutions, schools to organize educational activities

Cooperate with the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism to welcome foreign visitors to museum combining with traditional performances

3.6. Out reach programs Museum to school

Educational activities outside the museum

Mobile exhibitions

Participatory exhibits for children…

4. Challenges

4.1. Challenges in legal framework

Legally museums are not considered as an educational institution in Vietnam

Some parts in the exhibitions are out of date, politically exhibited, lack of interactive activities.

4.2. Other challengesThe Museums hasn’t met the needs of the public due

to: lack of finance and advanced knowledge; administrative regulations are too complicated and restrictive .

People’s habit: visiting museums is not a regular activity for the general public; they are reluctant to accept the fee.

Gender’s discrimination: men or even young boys consider the museum is a place for women and girls only.

5. Solutions

Professional development of staff

Building partnerships

Policy & strategy

From the current condition of the museum, strongly focus on:

- Organize more temporary exhibitions to make the museum more interactive and closely relate to daily life.

- Attract the participations from the public to different activities of museum.

- Allow the museum to be more friendly orientated and interactive

Thank you for your attention!