Dear Colleagues, MUSEUM NETWORK CONFERENCE OSLO 2012 We are happy to invite you to our upcoming conference of the European Museum Network, which will be held in Oslo, Norway, from 17 20 October 2012. Vitra Design Museum is very pleased to join with the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, the Norwegian Centre for Design and Architecture DogA and the Foundation for Design and Architecture in Norway (Norsk Form) in announcing this year s European MUSCON. We thank you for all the positive responses and registrations we received thus far for this year s conference. As a platform for museums with a focus on design, architecture and contemporary art, the Vitra Design Museum initiated the European Museum Network Conference MUSCON in 1996 followed by American MUSCON in 2007 and Asian MUSCON in 2008. More than 150 institutions have come together and remained in contact over the years. From among the participants, a different host steps forward each year to put on the event, taking the opportunity to present their institution as well as the local context. In times of rapid and turbulent changes, it is important to promote pragmatic transcontinental networking opportunities and build up long-term cooperative relationships. MUSCON helps preserve the quality of museum programming by inviting you to discuss mutual concerns and share solutions with other museum professionals. Each participant is welcome to make a 10-minute presentation about his or her institution and programme. Besides, we promise you an interesting programme with special presentations, interesting exhibitions tours and discussions, as well as a tour through Oslo and its most beautiful places. Please reserve these dates so you can participate in the conference, meet colleagues from all over the world and join in the discussions on all manner of interesting topics. Please let us also know if you wish to receive further information the American MUSCON in Miami Beach (3-5 December 2012). And as always, we are pleased to remind you that there are no fees or registration charges. You can find updated information at the following website: http://muscon.org Please make your registration online at http://www.amiando.com/muscon_oslo
If you need any assistance or for any further questions please contact MUSCON Organiser Ms Laura Wietfeld: Email: muscon@design-museum.de Phone: +49 7621 702 35 74 Fax: +49 7621 702 45 74 We look forward to welcoming you in Oslo. With best regards, Dr. Nina Berre The National Museum Architecture Dr. Widar Halén The Museum of Decorative Arts and Design Andreas Vaa Berman Norsk Form Anna Thorud Hammer DogA Marc Zehntner Vitra Design Museum Mateo Kries Vitra Design Museum
The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design The Museum of Decorative Arts and Design Founded in 1876, the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design was one of the first of its kind in Europe. In addition to temporary exhibitions, attractions include the permanent exhibitions Design and Crafts 1905 2005, STYLE 1100 1905, The Costume Galleries and The Study Collections of Glass and Ceramics. Ranging from antique Greek vases and East Asian art objects up to recent European design, the museum s collection contains some 35,000 artefacts illustrating the history of costume, fashion design, textiles, furniture, silver, glass, ceramics, product design and crafts. Highlights include the twelfth-century Baldishole Tapestry, the royal costume collection, Nøstetangen glass and Herrebøe faience. The National Museum Architecture The National Museum Architecture opened in 2008. The main building, designed by the well-known Norwegian architect Christian Heinrich Grosch (1801 1865), was completed in 1830 as a division office for Norges Bank (The Norwegian National Bank). It was subsequently adapted and extended by Sverre Fehn (1924 2009), who was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1997. The building is a juxtaposition of classicism and modernist architecture an encounter between Grosch and Fehn, Norway s most important architects of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries respectively. The museum shows architecture in an historical context, together with modern innovative architecture projects. The architecture collection includes drawings and photographic material, along with models and other objects. The Foundation for Design and Architecture in Norway (Norsk Form) The Foundation for Design and Architecture in Norway, Norsk Form, is working actively to improve people's quality of life and everyday situation through the use of design and architecture. This is attained by initiating and participating in chosen projects and through education, events, competitions and exhibitions. Working with a broad social perspective, the foundation Norsk Form endeavours to raise the general understanding of the importance of architecture and design. The foundation strives to achieve quality and innovation in the development of environmental and product design. Norsk Form has no administrative responsibility for public activities, but is involved on a broad front and in focused projects in cooperation with both the public sector and private interests. DogA - the Norwegian Centre for Design and Architecture DogA - the Norwegian Centre for Design and Architecture was established by Norsk Form and the Norwegian Design Council in 2005 as a meeting place for design, architecture and related subject areas. The old transformer station in Hausmanns gate 16 is home to the two organisations. The centre also provides an arena for large and small architecture and design exhibitions, conferences and meetings, as well as a shop, café & restaurant. Hausmanns gate 16 is included on the Cultural Heritage Management Office s yellow list of buildings worth preserving. Vitra Design Museum The Vitra Design Museum numbers among the world s most prominent museums of design. It is dedicated to the research and presentation of design, past and present, and examines its relationship to architecture, art and everyday culture. Housed in a building by Frank Gehry, the museum annually mounts two major temporary exhibitions. Smaller parallel shows are presented in the Vitra Design Museum Gallery. The work of the Vitra Design Museum is based on its collection, which encompasses not only key objects of design history, but also the estates of several important figures (including Charles & Ray Eames and George Nelson). The museum s exhibitions are conceived for touring, and shown at venues around the world. On the Vitra Campus, they are complemented by a diverse programme of events, guided tours and workshops.
Hotel Information for the European MUSCON 2012 in Oslo, 17-20 October Holberg Rica Hotel, Oslo We have provisionally reserved a block of rooms at the Holberg Rica Hotel, Oslo where you should mention the attention reservation number 12638118 when making your reservation before September, 12 th. The hotel will accept reservations after this date but cannot guarantee any vacancies. Contact: Holberg Rica Hotel Holberg Plass 1 0166 Oslo Phone +47 23 15 72 00 Mail resepsjon.holberg@rica.no Rica Holberg Hotel is a really lovely hotel, located in the centre of Oslo, with modern, tastefully furnished rooms. The hotel has a friendly atmosphere and is very central, not far from Oslo's main thoroughfare, the National Museum and next to the Royal Palace Park and the Radisson SAS Hotel, where the airport bus is stopping. The hotel's rooms have modern, tasteful furnishings. They all come with TV, mini-bar, trouser press and hair-dryer, along with wireless internet access. For further information please check in the website https://www.rica-hotels.com/hotels/norway/eastern-norway/oslo/rica-holberg-hotel/. Breakfast included the price for the rooms are as followed: Single Room: NOK 1010 ( 135 ) Singe Room Superior: NOK 1250 ( 170 ) Double Room: NOK 1250 ( 170 ) PS Hotell (Volkan-hotellet), Oslo Mid-range and quite central; Close to DogA and tram/busses. Please refer to Norsk Form when making your booking. Contact: Ps Hotell Maridalsveien 13C 0185 Oslo Phone +47 23 15 65 00 Mail post@pshotell.no Situated in the expanding Vulkan area of central Oslo, the eco-friendly PS:hotell offers free Wi-Fi and airconditioned rooms with a private bathroom with shower. A buffet breakfast is served each morning in PS:hotell s dining room. Guests can enjoy international dishes and drinks at the on-site restaurant and bar. Free tea and coffee is available at all times. The hotel focuses on the value of people, and is a project for bringing more people back to work. It offers a convenient 24-hour reception. For further information please check in the website http://www.pshotell.no/#!/booking Single Room: 119 Double Room: 132
Preliminary Conference C Schedule chedule,, Oslo 17 th 20 th October Wednesday, October 17th Location: Museum of Decorative Arts and Design (MDAD) Host Dr. Widar Halén, Director 17:30 Individual Arrival of Participants 18:00 Official Welcome by Dr.Widar Halén, Director (MDAD) Dr.Nina Berre, Director National Museum Architecture (NMA) Anna Thorud Hammer, Norwegian Design and Architecture Centre (DogA) Andres Vaa Berman, Director Foundation for Design and Architecture Norway Norsk Form (NF) Marc Zehnter or Mateo Kries, Director Vitra Design Museum (VDM) 18.30-20.00 Short guided tour of the MDAD and the exhibition Norwegian Craft 2012 20.00 Welcome dinner at Kafe Sollilokken (in MDAD) Thursday, October 18th Location: The National Museum Architecture (NMA) Host Nina Berre, Director 08:30 Welcome for Day 1 by Dr. Nina Berre 09:00 Participant Presentations Short fruit and coffee break Special Presentation Museum für Gestaltung Zürich by Christian Brändle, Director: "Collections digital: Online and Archive Challenges" Participant Presentations 13:00 Lunch at Café Grosch (in the NMA) Short guided tour of the NMA and the exhibition Views-Norway seen from the road 1733-2020 Participant Presentations Special Presentation Designmuseum Danmark by Anne-Louise Sommer, Director and Christian Holmsted Olsen, Head of Exhibitions and Collections Short fruit and coffee break 16:00 17:00 Discussion The Architect as Designer (chaired by Dr. Widar Halén)
18:00 Guided tour of the Opera House (Guide: Architect Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, founder & partner of Snøhetta) 20:00 Dinner at Ekebergrestauranten (architect Lars Backer, 1927-29) Friday, October 19th Location: DogA The Norwegian Design- and Architecture Centre Hosts Benedicte Sunde, Curator DogA and Matti Lucie Arentz, Curator Norsk Form 08:45 09:00 Welcome remarks for Day 2 by Benedicte Sunde and Matti Lucie Arentz 09:00 10:30 Participant Presentations 10:30 11:00 Short fruit and coffee break 11:00 13:00 Participant Presentations 13:00 13.45 Lunch at Kafé Transformator (in DogA) 13.45 14.00 Short guided tour of DogA 14:00 14:20 Introduction of the Discussion Topic Design without Borders by Leif Verdu Isachsen (Head of Design, Norsk Form) 14:20 14:45 Presentation about Design without Borders by Mateo Kries ( Vitra Design Museum) 14:45 15:25 Introductory Talk in the exhibition Design without Borders by Truls Ramberg (Curator, Norsk Form) 15:25 16:00 Discussion (Topic: Design without Borders ) with Mateo Kries, Truls Ramberg and participants; chaired by Leif Verdu Isachsen 16:00 16:30 Participant Presentations 16:30 16:45 Short fruit and coffee break 16:45 18:30 Participant Presentations 18:30 19:15 Mini-guided tour of the new cultural institutions and hubs along DogAs neigbouring river Akerselva and small appetizer at Vulkan Food market 19:30 Dinner (in walking distance)
Saturday, October 20 th Field trip day Meeting point: TBD In rented bus 10:00 The Viking Ship Museum at Bygdoy 11:00 Guided tour at the new Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art building (Architect: Renzo Piano) 12:15 Stop at Norway s most famous Modernist villa Villa Stenersen by Arne Korsmo 13:15 The Holmenkollen skijump 14:00 Lunch at The Frognerseteren Restaurant in Viking revival style (spectacular view over Oslo)