Category: Uncategorized

BOARD MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION, SKOKLOSTER CASTLE

BOARD MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION

 

Sweden, Uppsala, Skokloster castle
04.05. – 06.05. 2026

 

MONDAY, MAY 4TH

Guided tour of Uppsala Cathedral and the Treasury

 

TUESDAY, MAY 5TH

Board meeting at Skokloster Castle

 

Agenda.

  • General Assembly, Conference 2026: venue – Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle, Szczecin, Poland
  • Book “Baltic Tides: Castles around the Baltic Sea” – review of the current status of the publication, including progress updates, printing costs, and delivery options
  • Association website: discussion of potential improvements to the association’s online presence, including the proposal submitted by www.reveel.guide
  • Cooperation projects: ongoing and prospective initiatives, including the DABS Project and a proposal from Trakai History Museum
  • Membership and contacts: review of membership matters and the development of institutional contacts
  • Amber Prize: decision on the 2026 presentation and discussion of a potential nominee

 

Guided tour of the old lime-tree avenue in Skokloster

Guided tour of Skokloster Castle

 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6TH

Guided city tour of Uppsala with Bengt Kylsberg

Guided tour of Museum Gustavianum

Guided tour of Uppsala Castle Museum and Uppsala Art Museum

 

 

 

XXXV GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE ASSOCIATION OF CASTLES AND MUSEUMS AROUND THE BALTIC SEA

XXXV GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE ASSOCIATION OF CASTLES AND MUSEUMS AROUND THE BALTIC SEA

Conference AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT
Finland, Olavinlinna Castle, The National Museum of Finland
02.09. – 04.09. 2025.

 

 

 

 

 

The annual General Assembly of the Association of Castles and Museums Around the Baltic Sea and the international conference " Audience Development " took place at Olavinlinna Castle in Finland in collaboration with the Finnish Museums Association. Olavinlinna, the historic castle in Savonlinna in 2025 celebrate its 550th anniversary.

 

Tuesday 02.09.2025

Board Meeting at the Olavinlinna Castle, Priest’s Chamber,

General Assembly, Congress Hall

Guided Tour of the Castle

Guided Tour of the Riihisaari - Savonlinna Museum

 

Wednesday 03.09.2025

Boat tour on the lake Saimaa on a Historic Steamship S/S Saimaa from 1893 in the collections of the National Museum of Finland

Conference “AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT”,  in collaboration with the Finnish Museums Association,  Olavinlinna Castle, Conference Hall,

SESSION I: Good, Bad Money in Audience Engagement

Heidi Aho. EXPERIENCE FIRST – WHAT MUSEUMS CAN LEARN FROM SPORTS AND FESTIVALS
Events are no longer just events – they have evolved into immersive experiences where services, atmosphere, and brands come together to create one cohesive experience built around music. Similarly, in ice hockey, game events have expanded beyond the game itself, offering the audience more than just 60 minutes of action. In this talk, I’ll explore how new business models have been developed with a customer-centric approach, and how experience-driven thinking can fuel growth and differentiation. Case examples include how ice hockey and music festivals are being enhanced with new services and experiences that enrich the core event.

Hanna Forssell. REVENUE MODELS FOR AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF FINLAND
This presentation explores how the National Museum of Finland develops sustainable revenue models that supports meaningful audience engagement. By aligning cultural value with financial viability, the museum seeks to create inclusive, high-quality experiences through innovative programming and cross-sector collaboration.

 

SESSION II: Creativity, courage, and innovation in audience engagement, experiences from castles around the Baltic sea

Meg Nömgård. THE BEST PRESERVED RENAISSANCE CASTLE IN THE NORDICS – A VIBRANT CASTLE
At Kalmar's most timeless attraction, most things are still as they were in 1592. But there is still plenty to discover! Director explains how to bring the castle to life and engage with its visitors and the civil society of Kalmar Sweden.

Manager Maciej Flis. INTERACTION AND IMMERSION, EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY – THE LEITMOTIFS OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE WISŁOUJŚCIE FORTRESS - A BRANCH OF THE GDANSK MUSEUM
Wisloujście Fortress is the oldest coastal fortification on the Polish coast. Its oldest architectural elements date back to the 15th century, but it has only recently been functioning as a museum. In 1974, the fortification became a branch of the Gdansk Museum; difficulties in maintaining the facility meant that it was not opened to the public until 2009. It is now open year-round, with an exhibition on Gdańsk's militaria presented in the renovated barracks building and events conducted from spring to autumn. From the beginning of the fortress' operation as a museum, innovative ways to interest the public have been resorted to. Among others, historical re-enactments, multimedia shows, educational workshops of old culinary traditions have been realized, and in the last eight years an electronic music festival has become increasingly popular.

Mari Vadén. COURT JESTER´S HALL – A PLACE TO CREATE AND EXPERIENCE IN HÄME CASTLE
Museum Educator told about the recently opened Court Jester´s Hall in Häme Castle, Finland, which is a place for children and their adults to experience medieval times of Häme Castle.

Ilona Ozola. ON CONCEPT OF RENAISSANCE AND MEDIEVAL DANCE GROUP "COURT”
Museum Educator from Bauska Castle in Latvia told about concept of Renaissance and Medieval dance group "Court” why it was founded, dance reconstruction, costume concept, repertoire and concert concept. “Live museum” concept in reality and dance group participants as big support in museum work.

 

Thursday 04.09.2025. Excursion Day by bus

Savonlinna – Kerimäki Church – Lappeenranta Fortress – Maritime Center Vellamo in Kotka – Suur-Sarvilahti Manor in Loviisa – Helsinki

 

XXXVI GENERAL ASSEMBLY

XXXVI GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Castle of the Pomeranian Dukes in Szczecin
Szczecin, Poland
September 8–10, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Castle of the Pomeranian Dukes in Szczecin (Poland, West Pomeranian Voivodeship), once the main residence of the Duchy of Pomerania ruled by the Griffin dynasty, has the honor to invite you to the 36th General Assembly and Seminar of the Association of Castles and Museums around the Baltic Sea in Szczecin.

 

The preliminary program of the General Assembly is provided below.

 

The seminar will be held on September 9, 2026 (Wednesday).

The seminar’s theme is: “Castles as Spaces of Cultural Heritage. Conservation, Renovation, Modernization: Challenges and Experiences.”

We kindly invite the Association members to submit papers that address issues related to this topic and facilitate the exchange of current knowledge and experiences.
Submissions (title and abstract) along with the speaker’s name and the name of the institution they represent should be sent by June 21, 2026, to: zamek@zamek.szczecin.pl.
Please include “Baltic Castles. Seminar” in the subject line of the email.

By July 5, 2026, we will announce the selected speakers and the detailed seminar program.
Speakers are exempt from participation fees for the General Assembly and the seminar.

Accreditation for General Assembly participants – by July 10, 2026
at: zamek@zamek.szczecin.pl. Please include “Baltic Castles” in the subject line of your email.

The fee for participation in the off-site General Assembly (100 euro/person) should be paid to the account of the Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle in Szczecin:

SWIFT: GOSKPLPW
IBAN: PL 54 1130 1176 0022 2047 7820 0037

In your request, please provide the following information for invoicing:

  • Institution name
  • Address
  • EU VAT number

The theme of the Conference will be "Audience Development" and it will be done in collaboration with the Finnish Museums Association.
Olavinlinna, the historic castle in Savonlinna, will celebrate its 550th anniversary in 2025.

 

PRELIMINARY AGENDA FOR THE MEETING IN SZCZECIN:
Tuesday, September 8th, 2026

9:30 AM-1:00 PM Participant registration

10:00 AM-12:00 PM Meeting of the Association’s Board of Directors at the Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle in Szczecin (board members or their alternates)
Location: The Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle in Szczecin

12:00-12:30 PM Informal discussions over coffee.
Location: The Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle in Szczecin

12:30-2:30 PM The General Assembly
Location: The Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle in Szczecin

2:30-3:30 PM Lunch for the General Assembly participants
Location: The Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle in Szczecin

3:30-5:30 PM Guided tour of the Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle in Szczecin (tour language: English)

7:00–8:00 PM Concert by Zuzanna Sejbuk, finalist of the 53rd National F. Chopin Competition in Warsaw.
Location: Bogislaw X Hall, the Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle in Szczecin

After the concert – refreshments in the Conference Hall of the Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle in Szczecin

 

Wednesday, September 9th, 2026

9:45 AM Meeting at the Castle Bell Tower – walking together to the National Museum in Szczecin

10:00 AM-12:00 PM Guided tours for two groups on a rotating basis:
Tour of the exhibition “The Golden Age of Pomerania. Art at the Court of the Pomeranian Dukes in the 16th and 17th Centuries” at the National Museum in Szczecin.
Tour of the National Museum in Szczecin – Center for Dialogue “Przełomy”

12:00-12:30 PM Coffee break

12:30-1:30 PM Official opening of the conference
Presentation of the guidebook to the Castles
Inaugural lecture by Professor Rafał Simiński of the University of Szczecin presenting the history of the House of Griffins, the Duchy of Pomerania, and Szczecin Castle. (lecture in English)

1:30-2:45 PM Lunch
Location: The Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle in Szczecin

2:45-4:45 PM Seminar: “Castles as Spaces of Cultural Heritage. Conservation, Renovation, Modernization: Challenges and Experiences.”
Presentations by speakers.

4:45-5:15 PM Moderated discussion

5:15-6:00 PM Coffee break

8:00 PM Gala dinner

 

Thursday, September 10th, 2026

A tour of Szczecin, its historic sites, and museums, including:

The August Lentz Villa, once the residence of an industrialist, serves as a microcosm of the fate of Szczecin’s historic bourgeois villas. It was restored with extraordinary care in 2018-2019. Today, it functions as a cultural institution.
Wały Chrobrego/ Bolesław I the Brave Embankment/ Haken Terrace - considered one of the most beautiful viewing terraces in Europe, offering a sweeping panorama of the Oder River and the port of Szczecin.
The building of the famous Szczecin Philharmonic – the first Polish structure to receive the European Union Mies van der Rohe Award for contemporary architecture.

Detailed program – coming soon

Days after World War II around Baltic Sea (D.A.B.S.)

Days after World War II around Baltic Sea (D.A.B.S.)

It is clear that the Second World War had a significant impact on the cultural heritage, cultural institutions and museums in the European countries around the Baltic Sea. After this event, we will have both a unifying and a unique experience.

The Post-Teutonic Order Heritage Centre of the Malbork Castle Museum and the Association of Castles and Museums around the Baltic Sea are collaborating on a new project: “Days after World War II around the Baltic Sea (D.A.B.S.)”.

 

The project was launched and implemented with the aim of giving a new impetus to the development of the Association after 32 years of activity. The project also aimed to create new platforms for cooperation and increase the intensity of contacts between members. It also aimed to involve the younger generation of researchers and workers in international cooperation.

The research and cooperation programme will focus on different aspects of the aftermath of the Second World War: wartime consequences, damage and loss, reconstruction, rebuilding and revitalisation of buildings. It will also cover the relationship between tangible and intangible heritage. We want to explore how the Second World War not only affected the protection of tangible heritage and shaped its post-war development, but also how the intangible aspects of cultural heritage can be addressed. In countries where the heritage was not substantially destroyed, the political changes brought about by the end of the war did indeed determine the involvement of the state in the management and ownership of museums.

PROJECT MANAGER

Dr Gregory Leighton

Centre for Post-Teutonic Heritage Research

Malbork Castle Museum

g.leighton@zamek.malbork.pl

Europa Nostra Logo Europa Nostra Logo

The D.A.B.S. project can be seen as an exploration of the history of our association, namely the post-war situation in our countries and how it led to the creation of ACMABS in 1991.

This is not a project about war, but about its effects and how to overcome them.

It is hoped that the project will encourage intensified research into museums and castles in the northern regions of Europe, and that this research will be carried out in collaboration with a range of participants. We are determined to gain new knowledge and establish new connections.  We are committed to facilitating the exchange of knowledge in the fields of history, art history, archaeology, architecture, conservation and economics and management.

The project, the result of a collaborative effort, will produce concrete results in the form of workshops, publications and conferences.

Christiansborg Palace

Christiansborg Palace

From 1720 to 1729, Frederik IV undertook extensive renovations aimed at transforming the old asymmetrical castle into a modern Baroque building, and just two years later, in 1731, Frederik IV’s son Christian VI demolished the castle in favour of a new, large residential palace with a riding ground and a palace chapel to be named after The King: Christiansborg Palace – the largest palatial complex in Denmark to date. The Royal Family moved into the palace in 1740.

The castle’s kilometres-long and poorly maintained chimney system was the primary cause of the catastrophic fire that ravaged the castle in 1794. For a long time, the exterior walls of the palace stood as a scorched monument; however, in 1805, construction began on a new Christiansborg Palace at the same location. The completed building, inaugurated in 1828, was a smaller royal palace designed in an orderly neoclassical style, featuring whitewashed walls and lacking a tower. However, after its completion, the royal family did not return. Among other functions, the building housed the Supreme Court of Denmark and Rigsdagen, the first Danish Parliament following the introduction of the Danish Constitution of 1849.

Like its predecessor, the second Christiansborg Palace was never completed and was destroyed by fire in 1884. In 1903, parliamentarians hastily passed an act to rebuild the palace due to the urgency stemming from a desire to present the Reconstruction Act as a gift to Christian IX from the people, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of his accession to the throne that year. Construction on a Neo-Baroque palace designed by architect Thorvald Jørgensen began in 1906. In 1928, Christian X officially inaugurated the palace, intended to unite the monarchy, court, and democratic parliament under one roof. In this context, the structure of the third Christiansborg Palace, which includes the Royal Reception Rooms, Parliament, and the Supreme Court, should be regarded as a work of compromise – much like the functioning of Danish democracy.

Visit Christiansborg Palace website

denkongeligesamling.dk/christiansborg-palace

The current Christiansborg Palace is built on a rich history that is still evident today in various ways, both above and below ground. As the central seat of power for centuries, the palace and surrounding buildings mirror shifts in power structures and forms of government, as well as stylistic trends and diverse methods of image management and representation.

Beneath the current Christiansborg Palace lie the ruins of Bishop Absalon’s 12th-century fortress. In 1369, the Hanseatic League besieged the fortress, leading to its demolition. Copenhagen Castle was constructed on its ruins. Between 1552 and 1558, Christian III undertook extensive renovations to transform the castle into a magnificent royal residence. Christian IV made several significant changes to the castle. He heightened the large tower Blåtårn by adding a tall, distinctive structure topped with three crowns.

Amalienborg

Amalienborg

The palace square is adorned with the equestrian statue of Frederik V by French sculptor J. F. Saly. Frederik V never saw the finished statue, which was not unveiled until 1771, five years after the King’s death.

For approximately 40 years, the palaces housed aristocratic families and government offices. When Christiansborg Palace was destroyed by fire in 1794, the Royal Family relocated to three of the buildings. Christian VII assumed control of Moltke’s Palace, which was renamed Christian VII’s Palace. After Christian VII's death in 1808 and until 1885, the building primarily served as government offices. Since then, it has functioned as both a guest residence and an official royal residence, with a few brief exceptions, notably from 1971 to 1974, when some of the palace's rooms were used to accommodate a royal kindergarten.

The use of Amalienborg as a royal residence was initially intended as a temporary solution until the new Christiansborg Palace was completed. However, when it was finished in 1828, Frederik VI chose to remain in Schack’s Palace (originally Løvenskiold’s Palace), thereby establishing Amalienborg as a permanent royal residence.

The ground level was dedicated to the Amalienborg Museum, which remains in the palace and focuses on the history of the Glücksburg dynasty.

Visit Amalienborg website

denkongeligesamling.dk/amalienborg-museum

With its four nearly identical palaces, the Amalienborg complex is considered one of the finest examples of Rococo architecture in Europe. Its construction history dates back to 1749.

The master plan was the work of court architect Nicolai Eigtved, with the octagonal Amalienborg Palace Square as its designated centre. The plots surrounding the square were allocated to four of the king’s highly trusted subjects: Adam Gottlob Moltke, Christian Frederik von Levetzau, Severin Leopoldus Løvenskiold, and Joachim Brockdorff. The four noblemen were tasked with building four identical mansions, each flanked by smaller, two-storey pavilions connected by low gatehouses. In Moltke’s Palace, now named Christian VII’s Palace, the entrance was restored in 1996 and fitted with oak-yellow doors in line with the original colour scheme.

BOARD MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION ELBLAG

BOARD MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION
Poland, Elbląg, Museum of Archaeology and History in Elbląg
18.02. – 19.02. 2025

Program

18 February
9.30 – 10.00 Welcome coffee, meeting in Elbląg History Museum (MAH)
10.00 – 10.15 Opening of the meeting by Director of MAH Mirosław Siedler
10.15 – 10.30 Opening of the meeting by President Ina Line
10.30 – 12.30 Board Meeting
12.30 – 13.30 Lunch
13.30 – 15.00 Tour around the Museum/City
18.00 – Dinner

19 February
8.30 – Departure for the excursion to the Museum of Gdańsk
10.00 – 12. 00 – visit to the Wisłoujście Fortress
12.30 – 13.00 – Lunch
13.00 – 15.00 – visit to the Amber Museum
16.30 – return to Elbląg

 

XXXV GENERAL ASSEMBLY

XXXV GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Conference AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT
Finland, Olavinlinna Castle, The National Museum of Finland, 02.09. – 04.09. 2025.

 

Dear Members of the Association of Castles and Museums Around the Baltic Sea!

We are delighted to invite you to participate in the 35th annual General Assembly of the Association and the Conference at Olavinlinna Castle in Finland, September 2nd -4th 2025.

 

 

The theme of the Conference will be "Audience Development" and it will be done in collaboration with the Finnish Museums Association.

Olavinlinna, the historic castle in Savonlinna, will celebrate its 550th anniversary in 2025.

REGISTRATION LINK
Tuesday 02.09.2025

10.00–12.00 Board Meeting at the Olavinlinna Castle (primarily for board members or their deputies)
Venue: Priest’s Chamber, Olavinlinna Caste

11.30- Registration
Venue: Ticket desk / Museum Shop, Olavinlinna Castle

12.00-13.00 Lunch for all the participants
Venue: Museum Restaurant Linnantupa, Olavinlinna Castle

13.00-15.00 General Assembly
Venue: Congress Hall, Olavinlinna Castle

15.00-15.30 Coffee break
Venue: Museum Restaurant Linnantupa, Olavinlinna Castle

15.30-16.30 Guided Tour of the Castle

16.30-17.00 Short 5 min walk to our neighbour museum: Riihisaari - Savonlinna Museum

17.00-18.00 Guided Tour of the Riihisaari - Savonlinna Museum

18.00-20.00 Buffet Dinner at Riihisaari - Savonlinna Museum

Wednesday 03.09.2025

09.00-10.00 Boat tour on the lake Saimaa on a Historic Steamship S/S Saimaa from 1893 in the collections of the National Museum of Finland

10.00-12.00 Free time to visit Riihisaari - Savonlinna Museum, Olavinlinna Castle or town of Savonlinna

12.00-13.15 Lunch
Venue: Thick Bastion’s ground floor

Seminar on Audience Development

In collaboration with the Finnish Museums Association
Note: Seminar program and presentations in English. No translation available.

Afternoon session I: Good, Bad Money in Audience Engagement
Venue: Conference Hall, Olavinlinna Castle

13.15-13.30 Welcome, Keeper Jouni Marjamäki, Olavinlinna Castle and Training Manager Sirpa Ärilä, Finnish Museums Association

13.30-14.00 Experience First – What Museums Can Learn from Sports and Festivals, Heidi Aho
• Events are no longer just events – they have evolved into immersive experiences where services, atmosphere, and brands come together to create one cohesive experience built around music. Similarly, in ice hockey, game events have expanded beyond the game itself, offering the audience more than just 60 minutes of action. In this talk, I’ll explore how new business models have been developed with a customer-centric approach, and how experience-driven thinking can fuel growth and differentiation. Case examples include how ice hockey and music festivals are being enhanced with new services and experiences that enrich the core event.

14.00-14.30 Revenue Models for Audience Engagement at the National Museum of Finland, Head of Exhibitions and Events Hanna Forssell
• This presentation explores how the National Museum of Finland develops sustainable revenue models that supports meaningful audience engagement. By aligning cultural value with financial viability, the museum seeks to create inclusive, high-quality experiences through innovative programming and cross-sector collaboration.

14.30-15.00 Coffee break
Venue: Museum Restaurant Linnantupa and Congress Hall

Afternoon session II: Creativity, Courage, and Innovation in Audience Engagement, Experiences from castles around the Baltic Sea
Venue: Conference Hall

15.00-15.15 [On audience development of Narva Castle], Head of Public Programs Jana Ivanova from Narva Castle, Estonia.

15.15-15.30 The Best Preserved Renaissance Castle in the Nordics – A Vibrant Castle
• At Kalmar's most timeless attraction, most things are still as they were in 1592. But there is still plenty to discover! Director Meg Nömgård explains how to bring the castle to life and engage with its visitors and the civil society of Kalmar Sweden.

15.30-15.45 Interaction and Immersion, Exploration and Discovery – The leitmotifs of the activities of the Wisłoujście Fortress - a branch of the Gdansk Museum.
• Presented by Manager Maciej Flis, Wisłoujście Fortress, Poland.
Wisloujście Fortress is the oldest coastal fortification on the Polish coast. Its oldest architectural elements date back to the 15th century, but it has only recently been functioning as a museum. In 1974, the fortification became a branch of the Gdansk Museum; difficulties in maintaining the facility meant that it was not opened to the public until 2009. It is now open year-round, with an exhibition on Gdańsk's militaria presented in the renovated barracks building and events conducted from spring to autumn. From the beginning of the fortress' operation as a museum, innovative ways to interest the public have been resorted to. Among others, historical re-enactments,
multimedia shows, educational workshops of old culinary traditions have been realized, and in the last eight years an electronic music festival has become increasingly popular.

15.45-16.00 Court Jester´s Hall – A place to create and experience in Häme Castle
• Museum Educator Mari Vadén will tell us about the recently opened Court Jester´s Hall in Häme Castle, Finland, which is a place for children and their adults to experience medieval times of Häme Castle.

16.00-16.15 [On Concept of Renaissance and Medieval dance group "Court”] Court Jester´s Hall
• Museum Educator Ilona Ozola from Bauska Castle in Latvia will tell us about Concept of Renaissance and Medieval dance group "Court”

16.15-17.00 Moderated discussion about today´s topics, moderator Curator of Education Sanna Valoranta, National Museum of Finland

Free time to stay in the Castle or return to your hotel for some time

18.30-21.00 Dinner with program Venue: King’s Hall at the Olavinlinna Castle

Thursday 04.09.2025

Excursion Day by bus
09.00–20.00
Savonlinna – Kerimäki - Lappeenranta – Kotka – Loviisa – Porvoo – Helsinki Center

BOARD MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION

BOARD MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION
Poland, Elbląg, Museum of Archaeology and History in Elbląg
18.02. – 19.02. 2025

 

Dear colleagues, members of the Association's Board,
You are cordially invited to the current board meeting in Elbląg, Poland.

We have planned to
hold discussions and debates on 18 February, but on 19 February, we would like to offer you
the opportunity to acquaint yourself with the latest exhibitions and displays of our colleagues'
museums.

 

 

 

 

 

Program

18 February
9.30 – 10.00 Welcome coffee, meeting in Elbląg History Museum (MAH)
10.00 – 10.15 Opening of the meeting by Director of MAH Mirosław Siedler
10.15 – 10.30 Opening of the meeting by President Ina Line
10.30 – 12.30 Board Meeting
12.30 – 13.30 Lunch
13.30 – 15.00 Tour around the Museum/City
18.00 – Dinner

19 February
8.30 – Departure for the excursion to the Museum of Gdańsk (meeting point: front of the
Museum)
10.00 – 12. 00 – visit to the Wisłoujście Fortress
12.30 – 13.00 – Lunch
13.00 – 15.00 – visit to the Amber Museum
16.30 – return to Elbląg

If there is anything that needs to be clarified, please do not hesitate to get in touch with
Grzegorz Stasiełowicz, curator at the Elbląg History Museum.

XXXIV GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE ASSOCIATION OF CASTLES AND MUSEUMS AROUND THE BALTIC SEA

XXXIV GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE ASSOCIATION OF CASTLES AND MUSEUMS AROUND THE BALTIC SEA

The annual General Assembly of the Association of Castles and Museums Around the Baltic Sea and the international conference "Our Secret Objects" took place at Rakvere Castle in Estonia.

WEDNESDAY, 11th September

The event commenced with a board meeting, subsequently followed by the General Assembly. During the GA, the annual report is approved, a report on the achievements of the previous year is submitted, new members are admitted, and a new council and president are elected. The day ended with a tour and dinner in Rakvere Castle.

 

THURSDAY, 12th September

CONFERENCE “Our Secret Objects”

The collections of the museum are replete with artefacts. The manner in which we conduct research, interpret the findings, and present them to the public, along with the significance and information they convey, is of paramount importance. The objective of the conference is to explore the various methods by which the objects can be made to "speak" and to convey their histories through a variety of displays, contexts and novel representations. Conversely, objects require preservation, handling and consistent maintenance. The perpetual shifts in the political and security landscapes pose a grave threat to the integrity and accessibility of our collections and archives.

The official working language of the conference was English.

Grzegorz Stasiełowicz, MSc (The Archaeological and Historical Museum, Elbląg, Poland), Elbląg – reinterpretation. Traps and Victories. (Rakvere_Elblag _Stasielovicz.pdf)

Dzintra Spradzenko, MA (Rundāle Palace Museum, Latvia), Small Findings Make Big Story. (Rakvere_Rundale_Spradzenko.pdf)

Hilkka Hiiop, PhD (Estonian Academy of Arts), Newly discovered ceiling painting in the House of Estlands’ nobility: the story of its de-/remounting, conservation, dating and context. (Rakvere_Hilkka_Hiiop.pdf)

Bengt Kylsberg (Former Curator at Skokloster Castle, Sweden), Does the size matter? (Rakvere_Kylsberg.pdf)

Gunta Zakite, MA, Justīne Timermane, MA (Turaida Museum Reserve, Latvia), Inspired by the signs on the bricks or David od Turaida Castle. (Rakvere_Turaida_Zakite.pdf)

Ināra Bula, MA (Head of the Cēsis Museum, president of ICOMOS Latvija), Object and historical truth in the imagination of interpretation. (Rakvere_Cesis_Bula.pdf)

Ina Līne, MA (Tukums museum, Latvia) Stoves and Stove tiles of Bauska Castle. Some questions and answerers.  (Rakvere_Bauska_Line.pdf)

Gregory Leighton, Phd (The Malbork Castle Museum, Poland), Days After World War 2 around the Baltic Sea (D.A.B.S). Proposal for cooperation and Project Outline. (Rakvere_DABS_Leighton.pdf)

Following the conference, a second meeting was held in Rakvere Castle to attend the evening gala. The culinary offerings of the castle kitchen were inspired by historical references, and the accompanying programme ensured an unforgettable experience.

FRIDAY, 13th September

A guided tour was organised for the participants of the General Assembly, during which they had the opportunity to visit various castles and manor houses from different historical periods. In Tooles, a scenic outdoor picnic was set out by the sea.

Kolga manor – Palmse manor – Purtse Castle –Toolse Castle

Participation feeof event: EUR 80.-

Information on practical issues: Viljar Vissel, viljar@svm.ee