CAMOC, the International Committee for the Collections and Activities of Museums of Cities of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), in collaboration with the Museum of Vancouver, invites papers for City Museums: Collisions | Connections, a conference on city museums and their engagement in city life to be held at the Museum of Vancouver, October 24-26, 2012. CAMOC is pleased to have international consultant Larry Beasley, one of the worlds best urban planners, as a keynote speaker. The former Director of Planning for the City of Vancouver, he led the revitalization of neighborhoods, a strong heritage preservation program, and the citys urban design studio. We are soliciting panels, presentations (15 minutes in length), virtual exhibitions/apps, films, and other presentations about city museums.

The conference will bring people together to talk about how city museums are reconsidering their role in civic life due to the enormous pressure cities face in terms of aging infrastructure, the need for urban regeneration, economic and environmental crises, and social issues such demographic shifts, global diasporas, increasing immigrant and urban Aboriginal populations. The conference will look at city museums under development, urban/suburban city museums, and city museums in large and small cities.

For further information or to submit a proposal (300500 words accompanied by a 200-word biography by April 15, 2012), contact CatherineC.Cole@telus.net ; 1-780-424-2229