ICS Seminar Series - Rose Hiscock

Date: Thursday 24 September 2015
Time: 11.30am - 1pm
Venue: EE.G.02, Western Sydney University, Parramatta South campus

Rose Hiscock

Director, Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences

Museum in Transition: Exploring the Arts, Science and Romance of Change

Abstract

Museums are much like universities. To survive, thrive and pursue excellence, museums must constantly reimagine their role, their relationships with communities and audiences and their international position.

Compelling content is our common goal. For a museum, content comes from collections, exhibitions and expertise, and for universities, content is derived from knowledge and intellectual rigour. Our future success will be driven by our ability to cross fertilise this content beyond traditional boundaries.

The future is front of mind for the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS). In February 2015 the NSW Government announced its intention relocate the Powerhouse to Parramatta, presenting the Museum with an opportunity to reinvent itself – to imagine a museum for the future. Hybridity is central to a museum with an Arts / Sciences remit. And for MAAS, Australia's only Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, hybrid thinking is core to future planning.

The opportunity to imagine a new kind of Museum is not unprecedented. MAAS was established in 1890 as a result of the World Exhibition movement; the Great International Exhibitions held throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries to demonstrate the marvels, curios and wonders of a society in an industrial age.

Fast forward to a modern era and the parallels are clear. Societal change is moving rapidly and on multiple fronts across: digital, environmental, data, communication, economics, and population change. It's revolution on all platforms. In this sophisticated world, we must think in new ways. Somewhat surprisingly, a framework for new thinking may come from the past rather than the future.

Biography

Rose Hiscock is Director of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (opens in a new window), encompassing the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney Observatory and Discovery Centre at Castle Hill. Rose's career has focused on building audiences and experiences within the cultural sector.

Prior to joining the Powerhouse Rose was Executive Director, Arts Development at the Australia Council, the Australian Government's arts funding and advisory body. In this role she was responsible for building Australian arts, nationally and internationally. She was integrally involved in the development of the new Australian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.

Rose's career includes significant experience at Museum Victoria where she was responsible for commercial and audience growth across Museum Victoria's highly successful venues. Rose's interest in museums started as a child growing up in Ballarat where her father was the Director of Sovereign Hill.

Rose is committed to building a vibrant and accessible arts sector. She is a Board member of Back to Back Theatre, Australia's highly successful company with a full-time ensemble of actors considered to have an intellectual disability, and Chunky Move, one of Australia's premier dance companies.