Mongolia’s National History Museum: The National Museum of Mongolia Reinvents Itself

By Sally Watterson.

Published by The International Journal of the Inclusive Museum

Format	Price
Article: Print	$US10.00
Article: Electronic	$US5.00

Since 1991, the National Museum of Mongolia has striven for sustainability in an economically competitive post-communist environment. The National Museum has invented and reinvented itself through its exhibitions, collections and programmes.

A relevant national narrative is a traditional function of a national museum and an important contributor to shaping national identity. Mongolia’s story is particularly long, at times spectacular, and always intriguing.

The narrative is also a core attractor to audiences and collaborators and thus a path to Museum sustainability. The paper explores and how the impetus for survival has significantly shaped decision making for Museum managers in the past 17 years and directly influenced the way Mongolia presents its proud past nationally and internationally. Ultimately the paper demonstrates how ever-increasing demands for self sustainability significantly impact on what and who are included and excluded from the Museum.

Keywords:	Inclusion, Mongolia, Interpretation, Sustainability, Post-Communism

International Journal of the Inclusive Museum, Volume 2, Issue 2, pp.51-56. Article: Print (Spiral Bound). Article: Electronic (PDF File; 1.119MB).

Sally Watterson

Senior Curator, Tweed River Regional Museum, Australia

Sally Watterson has worked variously in the Museum sector in Australia, Turkey and Mongolia as curator, manager, education officer and public programs. She is currently the Senior Curator of Tweed River Regional Museum, Australia managing a project to develop a significant new museum for northern New South Wales. From 2000 – 2003 Sally worked with staff at the National Museum of Mongolian History in Ulaan Baatar to implement capacity- building education projects. The result was establishment of Mongolia’s first curriculum based in- museum education services and a national outreach program and travelling exhibition. Sally holds a Bachelor of Arts (Fine Arts) from the University of Sydney and a Graduate Diploma (Heritage Conservation) from the University of New England. She has a commitment to museum development and to utilising collections for education and cultural exploration. She is currently undertaking a Doctor of Philosophy at Deakin University, Melbourne that explores the role and activities of the National Museum of Mongolian History in a post-communist environment.

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