Page 13 - ARUBA TODAY

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Monday 27 May 2019

Fundacion Museo Arubano: custodian of local culture

ORANJESTAD — With the adaptation and revision of Fundacion Museo Arubano
(FMA) in 2015 an important new chapter was initiated in the history of this institution. ment on the island is the idea of value, where we can
This revision and expansion allowed for an additional impetus to this organization observe a distinct difference when we speak of eco-
that up to this point had directed the Historical Museum located in Fort Zoutman nomic value and cultural value. With economic value we
(Oranjestad). For FMA it has always been an honor and great responsibility to follow automatically think in monetary terms and exchange of
in the footsteps of those that had this mission at heart and contributed for decades goods. However, when speaking of cultural value, we are
to the preservation of these monuments and acquisition of collections in order to in- addressing certain qualities that possess a much deeper
form and inspire the Aruban public through exhibits and displays within these struc- meaning. Values, that cannot be translated into mon-
tures. etary transactions, but are nonetheless important and
beneficial to the general well-being and sense of value
Today we can proudly announce that our foundation consists of three museums: of a whole community. Our museums want to play a key
namely, Historical Museum, Industry Museum (San Nicolas), Community Museum role in order to accentuate this cultural value and help
(San Nicolas), and an exhibit space Carnival Euphoria which will eventually be- connect the general public with it. There are important
come the Carnival Museum (San Nicolas) . Furthermore, we have set as our goal, to aspects that become essential in this mission; for example
expand the structure of FMA in order to accommodate even more museums within aspects such as the diffusion of knowledge, academic
this structure, thus facilitating our mission in relation to cultural and natural heritage research, conservation of material and immaterial cul-
of the island. ture, as well as achieving a balance between focus on
One aspect that has played an important role in recent years of rapid develop- objects and focus on audience.

The rapid pace of development and the effects of glo-
balization have positioned museums once more in a posi-
tion where local cultural awareness, authenticity, and the
attraction of audiences become crucial. Museums can
no longer be passive and are obligated to re-examine
their position and role amongst the community they rep-
resent, thus becoming true catalyst for social and cultural
change. Furthermore, our museums will play an essential
role in this new scenario where the role of museum di-
rectors and curators has shifted from the usual focus on
collect, preserve, and interpret to a focus on enlighten,
inspire and attract (audience).

Fundacion Museo Arubano has embarked on a reinvigo-
rated mission that positions our cultural heritage at a cen-
tral position within the Aruba experience. By achieving
this, it can become a model within the region, activating
cultural heritage in a participatory and audience based
manner. By forging strategic local as well as international
partnerships, FMA aims to position the island of Aruba as
a significant player when it comes to cultural heritage
and in this way become a true cultural destination. A
long overdue homage to the many blessings our ances-
tors have entrusted us with.q