With the desire to empower and enjoin itself to the community of friends and supporters in Papua New Guinea, the National Museum and Art Gallery has launched the ‘Friends of the Museum’.
The ‘Friends of the Museum’ is an initiative intended to support and complement the roles and efforts of the Museum to do its work more effectively through community support and engagement.
The initiative was launched by patron Lynda Babao-O’Neill last night at the Museum in Port Moresby with over 20 people who witnessed the event.
Babao said the National Museum has gone through a remarkable transformation over the past few years.
She said this is where many of our people can truly appreciate not only our diversity but our similarities and how we connect in our great nation PNG.
“I believe that to have a unified country, you need a strong foundation to build on celebrating our culture and history.
“Although we have made many improvements there’s so much more to be done and more to conserve.
“With the APEC Summit to be held here in 2018, we cannot wait to finally showcase our country, our culture and our people.
“I hope that with your generous assistance we can produce an unforgettable display of our country PNG here at the national museum and art gallery,” she said.
The ‘Friends’ see their role as that of raising public awareness of the Museum, generating interest in its collections and educational programs and activities such as exhibitions.
They support the educational programs of the Museum through organising public lectures, seminars and workshops based around the kind of scientific and curatorial work of the Museum staff and scientists.
The ‘Friends’ co-ordinate volunteers and provide support for museum purchases, publications and collections.
They help raise funds to support or fund some of the museum’s development initiatives including the need for additional storerooms, galleries and office spaces.
Some of the privileges the ‘Friends’ have include discounts in some of the museum publications including books and catalogues and access to see collections with curatorial assistance.