Dialogue between Chinese and western museums: display a regionally complex traditional boat collection in a global context

Sponsored by Confucius Centre, PhD candidate from archaeology department Yingying Yan has seized upon the topic of how to display a regionally complex traditional boat collection in a global context. 13-14 December 2021, a two dayworkshop was held with carefully designed sessions and heated discussions. As a result, dialogue between Chinese and western museum communities is enhanced.

24 February 2022, the first CI lunch time webinar of the year was held.

Yingying presented the workshop project in the webinar, introduced the focus of the workshop: a non-conventional assembly of traditional boats from different countries most recently known as EISCA (International Sailing Craft Association, Eyemouth) collection that originated from UK, and currently mostly resides in China. 

Her workshop gathered together professionals from China, UK, France and Australia. The workshop had heated discussion regarding challenges and value of such boat collection; the background of the EISCA collection and its continuing exciting stories; similar collections in the UK and France; display and communication, contemporary theory and practice in museums; Chinese museum world, the Chinese context of heritage meaning and practice and the public.