The logo of PIMA was created by Carlos Taloirara of the Solomon Islands,
based on a traditional design of a frigate bird.

The Pacific Islands Museums Association (PIMA) has relocated its Secretariat from its previous base in the Fiji Museum in Suva to the Vanuatu Cultural Centre in Port Vila.

During the first years of PIMA, the Secretariat for the Pacific Community (SPC) hosted and supported the Secretariat in Noumea, New Caledonia. In May 1999, PIMA was incorporated as a non-profit organisation in Fiji where it has been located since.

At recent meetings in Fiji and Australia, the Executive Board made the decision to relocate the Secretariat to Vanuatu. The idea of rotating the Secretariat around the museums of the region every few years will help keep the Association responsive to the needs of its constituents, develop a strong local knowledge of the heritage sector in various countries, and share the benefits of resources such as workshops, regional meetings and international symposia around the museums of the region.

Hosting the PIMA Secretariat will add to the Vanuatu Cultural Centre’s already enviable reputation as one of the most inspirational and progressive cultural organisations leading the region.

Additional information about PIMA:

The Pacific Islands Museum Association (PIMA) is a regional, multilingual, multicultural, non-profit organisation which brings together people to preserve, celebrate and nurture the heritage of the peoples of the Pacific Islands.

PIMA is the only regional organisation established by Directors of Pacific heritage institutions. The Association arose out of a need for museum professionals to come together to provide collective strength and effective gathering and exchange of resources for training, advocacy, and the promotion of excellence in heritage management. Through its training workshops and networking activities, PIMA encourages museums to benefit from the expertise of other museums and constitutes a common voice to advocate the Pacific Museums to International Forums and Organisations.

PIMA has taken a leadership role in the region since its inception. It achievements since 1994 have been substantial. A series of very effective workshops funded by a range of donors and presented in different locations throughout the region have addressed many of the basic needs of museums and museum professions working in the region such as museum management and engaging communities, cultural interpretation of heritage sites, object conservation, audio-visual archiving, disaster preparedness, pest management, and designing travelling exhibitions. Future workshops are planned which address the emerging needs of museums to inventory, document and protect intangible heritage practices, and to raise funds through grant writing activities.

PIMA’s Membership

PIMA represents museums, cultural centres, national trusts, cultural departments and ministries, national parks, historic preservation offices, interpretative centres, cultural associations and arts councils. Members also include international museums with Pacific collections, universities, research centres and individuals within the region and internationally which support the PIMA vision, mission aims and activities.PIMA members include all the countries, states and territories of the Pacific region including American Samoa, Cook Islands, Easter Island (Rapa Nui) Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Western Samoa.

Beneficiaries of PIMA’s work

· PIMA member museums

· Staff working in Pacific Islands Museums and Cultural Centres

· Pacific Islands communities

· International organisations and institutions that deal with Pacific Islands heritage

· Researchers who use the collections, both local and international

· Pacific Islanders living overseas (Diaspora populations)

· Visitors and tourists

· Collections, sites, traditions

Governance and Management

PIMA is governed by its Constitution and an Executive Board consisting of seven elected members, one honorary member, and four Trustees. The Board includes the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and three members. The Executive Board has full powers of management, and appoints a Secretary General to be responsible for the daily performance of the administrative and organisational work for PIMA.

Board Members

Currently, the Executive Board is comprised of the following 8 members:

· Chairperson – Ms Faustina Rehuher (Director, Belau National Museum – Palau)

· Deputy Chairperson – Mr Simon Poraituk (Acting Director, Papua New Guinea National Museum and Art Gallery)

· Secretary – Ms Sina Ah Poe (Assistant Curator, National Museum of Samoa)

· Treasurer – Mr Emmanuel Kasarherou (Director, Tjibaou Cultural Centre – New Caledonia)

· Board Member – Adi Meretui Ratunabuabua (Principal Cultural Development Officer, Department of Culture and Heritage, Fiji)

· Board Member – Mr Ralph Regenvanu (Director, Vanuatu Cultural Centre)

· Board Member – Hon Albert Vaea (Secretary, Tonga Traditions Committee)

· Honorary Board Member, Immediate Past Chairperson - Mr Lawrence Foana’ota (Director, Solomon Islands National Museum)

Secretariat

The Executive Board appoints a Secretary General to head the Secretariat and to be responsible for the daily performance of the administrative and organisational work for PIMA.

The Secretary General, under the Treasurers direction, is responsible for the financial operations of PIMA, the paying of accounts, the keeping of appropriate records and the keeping of appropriate financial statements.

The Secretary General is also responsible for facilitating the work of all committees set up by PIMA (the Training and Professional Development Committee, Fundraising Committee and Policy Committee), the preparation, editing and publishing of a quarterly newsletter, the provision of a regular E-Bulletin as well as regular updating of the PIMA web site.

The Secretary General is required to research and secure funding for projects, administer, co-ordinate and manage the key strategies identified by the PIMA Board as well as organise and follow up on workshops, annual meetings and international conferences relevant to PIMA. Additional roles include the expansion of PIMA membership and raising the profile of PIMA through press releases and media statements.

Meredith Blake is the current Secretary General. Meredith began work in Fiji at the Secretariat in October 2005 as an Australian Youth Ambassador for Development (AYAD) and after extending her volunteering contract, comes to Vanuatu as a Volunteer for International Development from Australia (VIDA). Previously, she worked as the Assistant Curator at the City of Port Phillip in Melbourne, Australia. She has also worked in the Victorian Office of Museums Australia, the professional association for Australian museums. Meredith has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Anthropology and History from the University of Melbourne, and a Graduate Diploma in Museum Studies from Deakin University.

PIMA’s Strategic Plan

Vision

“Working together, preserving, celebrating and nurturing the heritage of the peoples of the Pacific Islands”

Mission

PIMA is a regional, multilingual, non-profit organisation that:

· Assists Pacific museums, cultural centres and peoples to preserve Pacific Island heritage,

· Develops community participation in heritage management,

· Brings together museums and cultural centres in Pacific Islands to develop their capacity to identify, research, manage, interpret and nurture cultural and natural heritage,

· Advocates the development of regional cultural resource management policies and practices, facilitates training, and provides a forum for the exchange of ideas and skills,

· Provides and encourages regional and global linkages which support Pacific islands heritage preservation.

Objectives

· To represent the interests and concerns of museums and cultural centres in the region,

· To develop communication links which bring together professionals and institutions in support of Pacific Islands Heritage Management,

· To promote community involvement in the vision of PIMA through consultation, education and access activities,

· To enhance human resources through education and training.

· To develop and promote ethics and standards,

· To advice and work with governments and other agencies in matters of heritage management and policy,

· To facilitate the protection and restitution of tangible and intangible cultural property,

· To market PIMA.

Past Funding Sources – From 1999 to Present

· AusAID - AYAD Program Oct 2005-June 2006. VIDA Program from June 2006.

· Australian Department of the Environment and Heritage - Asia Pacific Focal Point (Jan-Feb 2006)

· Australian National University (Jan-Feb 2006)

· Bank of Hawaii (1999)

- The Canada Fund (2006)

· CUSO – Canada’s Volunteer Organisation (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003)

· Department of the Environment & Heritage, Australia (2001)

· Embassy of France in Suva, Fiji. (Sept 2005)

· Fiji Museum (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006)

· Guam Museum (2001)

· International Centre for the Study of Conservation and the Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) (2000, 2001)

· International Council of Museums (ICOM) - Australian National Committee (2005, 2006)

· NZAID - Overseas Development Aid Regional Funding (2000)

· Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Cultural Affairs Programme (1999)

· UNESCO Pacific Regional Office (1999)

· World Heritage Centre (1999, 2000)