PROGRAM: Council and General Assembly Meeting of the World Federation of Friends of Museums from 2 to 5 May 2024
We are pleased to present the program of the upcoming meeting including special arrangements for Young Friends of the Museums. Our Friends of the Museums association is associated with the six museums and art centres of the City of Luxembourg. You will be welcomed and guided by their directors, introducing what makes each museum and art centre unique and original. Click here to see interviews of the directors of the museums.
Young Friends of the Museums:
All visits will be accompanied by a guide for the Young Friends of the Museums. For certain meals, tables will be specifically reserved for the Young Friends of the Museums, to encourage dialogue. On Saturday afternoon, time will be dedicated to the Young Friends of the Museums, to discuss programmes that could be developed in the months and years to come.
Thursday 2nd May - Afternoon
The afternoon will start with an academic session in the presence of HRH Princess Stéphanie of Luxembourg and the Minister of Culture, Mr Eric Thill, who will address the participants as well as Florence Reckinger, President of the Friends of Museums of Luxemoburg and Carolyn Forster, President of the WFFM.
Theme: Discovery of the history of the City of Luxembourg
Following the academic session, we will proceed to the Lëtzebuerg City Museum, where we will have a guided tour with Mr Guy Thewes, the museum Director. Telling the story of the city, its territory, and its population, from its origins in the 10th century to the present day, placing it in both a national and transnational context, lies at the heart of this institution's mission, and this presentation will provide an initial insight on these angles.
Dinner will also be held at the restaurant of the Lëtzebuerg City Museum.
Friday 3rd May - Morning
Theme: Discovery of the national treasures of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
During the morning, we will have a guided tour at the Nationalmusée um Fëschmaart (National Museum of History and Art), in the presence of its Director, Mr Michel Polfer. Located at the heart of the city centre, this museum, a space of over 6,000 m2, presents Luxembourg's national archaeological, historical, and artistic collections. Thematic routes (Archaeology, Coins and Medals, Fine Arts, Decorative and Popular Arts) and temporary exhibitions resonate with both the museum's own collections and societal issues, providing an overview of relevant themes in the Grand Duchy as a whole. We will also visit the exhibition of photos by Edward Steichen, a Luxembourgish photographer of international renown.
Friday 3rd May - Early Afternoon
After the visit, lunch and departure for the exhibition of The Family of Man in Clervaux. The Family of Man photo exhibition is a legendary element in the history of photography and globally recognised. Curated by Edward Steichen and first presented in 1955 at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, it is considered a manifesto for peace and equality among peoples, expressed through the humanistic photography of the post-war era. The collection comprises a total of 503 photos by 273 photographers from 68 countries. After touring more than 150 museums worldwide, the complete version of The Family of Man has been permanently exhibited at Clervaux Castle since 1994 and was inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of the World register in 2003.
Friday 3rd May - Late Afternoon
Theme: Discovery of the Contemporary Art Centre
Our day will continue with a visit to Casino Luxembourg – Forum d’art contemporain. Founded in 1996, this venue showcases exhibitions on contemporary art through an international programme, primarily focusing on artists from younger generations. In contrast with many conventional museum programmes, the Casino Luxembourg operates as a laboratory for artistic experimentation and emerging trends. Its Director, Kevin Muhlen, will welcome us and introduce an exclusive artist performance for our group.
Dinner will be held at the Casino, followed by a festive evening.
Saturday 4th May - Morning
We will be welcomed by François Reinert, Director of the Dräi Eechelen Museum (Museum of the Three Acorns), where a round table discussion on the theme of transmission and inclusion will be organised, followed by two workshops. The ancient fortress hosting the museum appropriately contains a distinguished collection of armaments and military artefacts, however it is also intended as a centre for collaboration and research on historical and contemporary themes.
Round Table: Next Generation
Topic: How to pass on the torch to the younger generations of Friends of the Museums
Workshops / Discussions:
1. Best practices in communication
2. Friends of Museums: players in city culture
Lunch on the museum terrace.
Saturday 4th May - Early Afternoon
Theme: Discovery of the fortress's history
After lunch, we will have a guided tour of the Three Acorns Museum with its Director, Mr François Reinert.
Young Friends of the Museums: Meeting of the Young Friends of the Museums to share best practices, discuss young friends’ expectations and challenges. Debriefing of the morning round table. Focal point: Discussions on strengthening collaborations between national federations, among young friends’ groups.
Optional visit of a Corporate Collection: Following the afternoon sessions, you have the choice between free time or visiting the collection of the European Investment Bank, in the presence of its curator, Delphine Munro. Advance registration necessary
Saturday 4th May - Late Afternoon
Theme: Discovery of contemporary art at the Museum of Modern Art
Visit to the Mudam Luxembourg - Musée d’Art moderne Grand-Duc Jean, the Contemporary Art Museum of Luxembourg, with its Director, Bettina Steinbrügge, who will offer us a dedicated program.
The Mudam aims to be a leading museum for modern and contemporary art and an iconic institution in Luxembourg in terms of artistic and cultural excellence. Through its programmes, the Mudam promotes creativity, visionary thinking, openness, and broad participation in culture. Like Luxembourg, the Mudam draws on its situation at the heart of Europe, with a global outlook.
Artsy dinner at the Mudam.
Sunday 5th May - Morning
General Assembly of the World Federation of Friends of Museums at the Mudam.
After the General Assembly, visit to Villa Vauban, where we will be welcomed and guided by its director, Mr Guy Thewes.
Theme: Discovery of the collections, largely donated by art enthusiasts and Luxembourgish collectors.
The exhibitions organized at Villa Vauban draw from the collections of the City of Luxembourg, which consist mainly of Dutch Golden Age works (17th century), on one hand, and French historical and landscape paintings from the 19th century, on the other. Paintings, sculptures, and engravings by European artists from the 17th to the 19th century complete the collection. The City of Luxembourg's collections also include numerous works by Luxembourgish artists, especially from the 19th and 20th centuries.
Lunch in the garden.
Sunday 5th - Afternoon
Optional: Visit to the Mansfeld site.
The Mansfeld site includes the remnants of the castle and gardens, as well as the landscape created by the governor of the Duchy of Luxembourg, Count Pierre-Ernest de Mansfeld (1517-1604). Like the great figures he encountered at the Court of Brussels, Mansfeld used art and architecture to enhance his standing and influence. The result was one of the most important private residences of the Renaissance in the former Netherlands.
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This programme is preliminary and content may change. A finalized programme will be shared with attendees closer to the date of the Annual Meeting.
With the exception of the bus tour, we will walk or use Luxembourg’s public transportation system to visit museums and other attractions. In Luxembourg the public transport is free of charge.