Disaster preparedness workshops

December 2008 - Yogyakarta

Disaster Preparedness Training Program for Yogyakarta's Heritage Collections and Museums in conjunction with the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory

The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory will facilitate a training program focused on disaster preparedness management and collections management with central Java's museums in December 2008.  The aim of the program is to increase the awareness, skills and strategies available to Yogyakarta museum staff  responsible for the preservation and protection of central Java's outstanding cultural heritage collections. 

The training program will be delivered to the members of the Yogyakarta Museum Association (PARAHMUS), which has an active membership of thirty government and non-government museums.  It is envisaged that the training will take place at the Sonobudoyo Museum, home to one of the most respected collections of Javanese cultural material. 

The training will include theoretical lectures and ‘learning-by-doing' scenarios, resulting in a hazard assessment of the museum's collection, implementation of preventative storage practices, development of a counter disaster plan and reaction and recovery procedures following a disaster. Furthermore, specific training in preventative collection storage practices will be delivered by examining and improving the storage of the Sonobudoyo ceramics collection.

Students from the Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) will also participate in the training program, so as to build upon the existing work experience program operating between the Sonobudoyo Museum and the UGM.