Deakin University joined with ICOM Australia to conduct the inaugural International Museums Day (IMD) student essay competition.
Students undertaking the subject Museums, Heritage and Society contributed essays on the 2107 International Museums Day theme of Museums and contested histories: Saying the unspeakable in museums.
The winner was chosen from amongst a short list assessed by Deakin University and then forwarded to an ICOM sub-committee, who were charged with selecting the winner. This committee was made up of a representative from each of the National Museum of Australia, Museums Victoria and the Western Australian Museum.
The winner is Justin Croft. The committee commented that: ‘We felt he had a good writing style, argued well, included his own observations and chose a suitable topic for a paper of this length.’
Of the other six shortlisted essays, the chair of the committee wrote:
‘Broadly we felt that all the students had selected very strong topics, and that each essay reflected an impressive effort, particularly in terms of extensive secondary sources. It would be great to see each develop their ideas further. We noted that most would have benefited from the incorporation of more of their own voices and opinions (the sort of courage that comes from experience); more recent references would have been helpful in some cases. Please pass on our thanks and congratulations to the short-listed students. I think all show considerable promise!’
Congratulations to Justin Croft and to all the short-listed students; and thanks to Dr Jonathan Sweet for organising everything for Deakin’s participation.
Justin’s essay is now available to read on the ICOM Australia website:
ICOM essay competition winner
