Canberra links with Smithsonian

Today I was delighted to launch the National Capital Exchange Program (NCEP), a new initiative to foster the exchange of ideas, expertise and learning between the ACT and the Washington DC-based Smithsonian – the world's largest museum and research complex.

The first stage of NCEP will involve the education managers of many of the ACT’s cultural institutions and national attractions travelling to the USA this May. The visit to the USA will:

• Allow ACT-based staff to learn from the extensive expertise of their Smithsonian colleagues in providing public education and cultural programs;
• Develop long-term partnerships between Canberra’s attractions and institutions and the Smithsonian’s many museums and galleries, and;
• Foster increased collaboration among the ACT’s cultural institutions and attractions.

During my trade mission to the USA last November I met with Smithsonian staff, and explored ways in which the ACT’s national and cultural institutions could learn from and collaborate with their counterparts in the US capital. I am pleased that Canberra-based staff will now benefit from active collaboration with the Smithsonian.

Last November I also discussed how the Smithsonian could collaborate with the ACT Government and the ANU about developing a space science museum to be based at Mount Stromlo. The NCEP will build on the existing relationship between the Smithsonian and the ANU, and the two organisations recently agreed to work together on the museum.

The synergy between Canberra and Washington DC is considerable. Both are the heart of democracy and governance in their respective country, while the Smithsonian and the ACT’s national attractions and cultural institutions have analogous roles as promoters of educational and cultural outreach.

Being able to learn and collaborate with the Smithsonian will be a great boost for the ACT’s institutions and attractions and a tremendous opportunity for Canberra-based staff to add to their existing expertise and program delivery skills. It is proposed that Smithsonian staff will travel to Canberra for a return visit during the centenary celebrations next year.

The NCEP is an initiative of the National Capital Educational Tourism Project, which aims to increase and sustain the number of school students visiting the ACT and develop the education experience at the ACT’s national capital attractions. Canberra currently hosts more than 160,000 students a year as part of school-based education programs and this is expected to soar with our centenary celebrations in 2013.

The ACT Government is pleased to be working collaboratively with the National Capital Attractions Association, the ANU, the National Capital Exchange Tourism Collaborative and Qantas in strongly supporting this exciting program.