AIM Project Significance Videos

AIM Project Significance Video Series 1: Introduction to Significance

Museum Dewantara Kirti Griya Tamansiswa in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, tells the story of the first Indonesian education system that was developed as part of the struggle for independence from the Dutch. The museum was developed in the 1970s and the displays remained unchanged for over 30 years. Many objects did not have labels and there was no themes or clear narrative in the museum. The potential of the museum was not being realized. Using the Significance approach the museum staff (with volunteers support) were able to assess over 20 objects from the collection and then revitalize the whole museum. This video will show the potential of Significance and inspire (hopefully!) people to try it in their own museums.

AIM Project Significance Video Series 2: Completing Provenance Research

In the Dewantara Kirti Griya Tamansiswa Museum, there were two flags (panji) believed to date back to 1922 when the school was founded. The flag was an important emblem for the school and was displayed prominently at official events and meetings. However, prior to the significance assessment was not clear which flag was the original or if one was a copy of which one was older. In order to solve this mystery, the museum staff completed provenance research on the flags leading to some unexpected results. This video will show how the provenance research was done on the flags through the school’s archive and library.

AIM Project Significance Video Series 3: Consultation and oral histories

This video will focus on the consultations/oral history about the Tamansiswa flag (panji). The archival provenance research revealed that the late Nyi Kustihadi Hadisoekatno, a teacher at the Tamansiswa, made the flag. Her children, Priyo Dwiarso and Wintang Esti Mumpuni , who grew up around the school, remember when the flag was made, the cloth it was made from, the event the flag was created for, and even kept photographs in their own collection. This video will show how oral history interviews can reveal information about objects as part of the significance assessment.

AIM Project Significance Video Series 4: Exploring the context of the object

The original display of the museum dated back from 1972 and was arranged as a house museum, highlight the objects owned by the founder of the school, the first Indonesian Minister of Education (known as the ‘father of Indonesian education’). However, the significance assessment of the key objects in the museum revealed that there were many other historic, artistic, and social themes in the collection that could be shared with the public. This video will highlight some of these themes.

AIM Project Significance Video Series 5: Analysing Object

The original display of the museum dated back from 1972 and was arranged as a house museum, highlight the objects owned by the founder of the school, the first Indonesian Minister of Education (known as the ‘father of Indonesian education’). However, the significance assessment of the key objects in the museum revealed that there were many other historic, artistic, and social themes in the collection that could be shared with the public. This video will highlight some of these themes.

AIM Project Significance Video Series 6: Applying the Significance Criteria

The following video provides an example of the Significance process and development of a statement of significance. The focus of the case study is the prison uniform worn by Ki Hadjar Dewantara, held at the Tamansiswa Museum.

AIM Project Significance Video Series 7: Applications of Significance

Following the significance assessment new object labels and a display were created using the data found in the significance assessment. This video will outline how this was done.

Australia-Indonesia Museums (AIM) Project Launch and Orientation (27 May 2021)

The AIM Project Launch and Orientation held through Zoom on Thursday, 27 May 2021 from 09.00-11.00, is the first meeting under the AIM Project, and provides an opportunity to share the aims and objects of the program, introduce the participants, outline the activities and key dates for the program, and begin to discuss ideas for the development of the exhibition.