NOMIN: A MUSEUM IS AN IMPORTANT SPACE OF HERITAGE. We are pursuing a policy to strengthen this
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We talked to the Minister of Culture of Mongolia Ch.Nomin about the museum in connection with the implementation of some provisions of the Law on Museums this year.
-Happy birthday to you. Since the end of the year, the cultural sector has flourished. However, the recovery after the covide will not be easy. Especially when the hall services are down, does the museum seem to be deserted?
-Happy birthday to you too. Not only covide, but also technological advances tend to reduce the use of cultural heritage. This, of course, creates a tendency to reduce the role of cultural heritage and stimulates the process of evolution and assimilation.
In general, the gradual extinction of cultural diversity is a problem not only for Mongolia but for any nation.
Our country also saw this as a real “threat” and established the Ministry of Culture and passed new and revised laws such as the Law on Culture, the Law on Promotion of Cinematography, the Law on Protection of Cultural Heritage, and the Law on Museums. This is the basis for reducing the impact of new cultures, distinguishing Mongolians from others, and identifying and protecting the unique nature of Mongolian culture.
These legal reforms included the museum sector and the adoption of the first independent Museum Law, aimed at regulating modern museum relations and strengthening the role of the museum.
In other words, the purpose of the law is to clarify the most effective way to make museums accessible to everyone and their social role. The Ministry of Culture is paying more attention to museums based on the Law on Museums, as museums are cultural heritage sites and collections are an important place and space for the protection of nature and people's tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
-Finally, the number of people who visited the museum is the result of our work. How many people visit the museum. According to you, what are the ways to increase the role of museums in society?
-According to the statistics of the last 10 years, the museum is visited by more than 920,000 people a year. For example, in 2019, about 670 thousand people visited the museum, and in 2020 it decreased to 336 thousand, which is due to the cavities.
Of these, more than 116,000 children have visited the museum. On the other hand, the Law on Museums includes relevant provisions for the continuous development of the four main functions of the museum: preservation, research, communication and education.
For example, the Museum Law makes children under the age of 16 free to visit museums. Based on this, the policy is to promote the classical methods of teaching natural sciences, history and geography in museums. This means that the museum will work with other educational institutions, especially schools, to provide formal and non-formal education and lifelong learning through educational programs such as the development and dissemination of knowledge. In this way, the policy is aimed at making the role of the museum more clear and realistic.
-I understand that the good tradition of visiting the museum in the classroom will spread again. How else can you be motivated to visit a museum? Want to increase the tendency for families to visit the museum on the weekends?
-Assuming that there are always museum exhibits, it is clear that how to show one exhibit to two people is a matter of museum marketing, management and sensitivity.
Therefore, we are focusing on the museum's collection to have an interesting exhibition. In November of last year, we organized a special exhibition called “Twenty-One Dara Ekh” with marketing and management in a more modern and innovative atmosphere. These days, the exhibition hall is full and the time has been extended again at the request of the audience. We are very happy that many people are interested in visiting the museum if we improve the marketing and services of the museum.
Similarly, it is important to adjust the museum's atmosphere to suit the age group and the quality of the season, and to use the right tools at the right time.
Therefore, at the beginning of the year, we started to pay more attention to cultural heritage and museum renovation, and to pursue a policy aimed at children and youth. Most of the complaints I received from the Ministry of Culture and myself about museums were about museum services. Do not read cards, do not pay electronically, etc. Therefore, efforts are being made to make museum tickets electronic, to keep up-to-date displays, and to issue flexible package packages.
To date, the Choijin Lama Temple Museum, the Bogd Khan Palace Museum, the Mongolian Theater Museum, the Mongolian National Museum, the Museum of Natural History, and the Mongolian Art Gallery have introduced electronic payment services. Inevitable changes are taking place, such as getting tickets online and booking an exhibitor in advance.
Of course, the more people visit the museum, the more they learn about and pass on their national history and culture.
-What is the level of the museum's operations and preservation?
-It is necessary to pay attention to the preservation and protection of the museum. The museum plays an important role in the preservation, protection and transmission of cultural heritage and historical monuments in our country, as they represent not only our country but also the natural and cultural diversity of humankind.
In the past, we have studied the alarm systems and storage of 36 museums and upgraded their security equipment from scratch. In any case, this year's budget includes 2 billion MNT for storage and protection.
In addition, the museum building is being renovated. The Choijin Lama Temple Museum, for example, has had its roof restored to the main temple. This year, we are preparing to start the work by allocating funds for a complete renovation to the state budget. Similarly, museum buildings, exhibits, treasures, renovations, and human resource development are proceeding rapidly.
-I am glad that the museum's investment in this year's budget is relatively high. You have just mentioned the issue of personnel. What is your personnel strengthening policy?
-The revised version of the Law on Culture clarifies the rights and responsibilities of cultural workers. In particular, the law includes provisions to improve the values and social security of cultural workers. As a result, cultural workers have the opportunity to receive additional bonuses and evaluate their professional degrees. For example, depending on the specifics of the area and its remoteness from the center, an employee of a local cultural organization will receive a cash benefit equal to six months' basic salary once every five years. The law also provides for the awarding of professional degrees to cultural workers.
Museum workers are also included in the term cultural workers. In addition, the Museum Law provides for a cash bonus equal to one year's basic salary every eight years for officials who have direct access to museum exhibits. As of today, 351 million MNT has been allocated to the state budget for 36 employees of 35 state and local museums to receive this cash bonus. I think this will help the museum staff to solve their social problems. In general, the policy is to retain an effective workforce by providing all museum staff with opportunities for continuous education and professional development.
-Thank you for talking.
We talked to the Minister of Culture of Mongolia Ch.Nomin about the museum in connection with the implementation of some provisions of the Law on Museums this year.
-Happy birthday to you. Since the end of the year, the cultural sector has flourished. However, the recovery after the covide will not be easy. Especially when the hall services are down, does the museum seem to be deserted?
-Happy birthday to you too. Not only covide, but also technological advances tend to reduce the use of cultural heritage. This, of course, creates a tendency to reduce the role of cultural heritage and stimulates the process of evolution and assimilation.
In general, the gradual extinction of cultural diversity is a problem not only for Mongolia but for any nation.
Our country also saw this as a real “threat” and established the Ministry of Culture and passed new and revised laws such as the Law on Culture, the Law on Promotion of Cinematography, the Law on Protection of Cultural Heritage, and the Law on Museums. This is the basis for reducing the impact of new cultures, distinguishing Mongolians from others, and identifying and protecting the unique nature of Mongolian culture.
These legal reforms included the museum sector and the adoption of the first independent Museum Law, aimed at regulating modern museum relations and strengthening the role of the museum.
In other words, the purpose of the law is to clarify the most effective way to make museums accessible to everyone and their social role. The Ministry of Culture is paying more attention to museums based on the Law on Museums, as museums are cultural heritage sites and collections are an important place and space for the protection of nature and people's tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
-Finally, the number of people who visited the museum is the result of our work. How many people visit the museum. According to you, what are the ways to increase the role of museums in society?
-According to the statistics of the last 10 years, the museum is visited by more than 920,000 people a year. For example, in 2019, about 670 thousand people visited the museum, and in 2020 it decreased to 336 thousand, which is due to the cavities.
Of these, more than 116,000 children have visited the museum. On the other hand, the Law on Museums includes relevant provisions for the continuous development of the four main functions of the museum: preservation, research, communication and education.
For example, the Museum Law makes children under the age of 16 free to visit museums. Based on this, the policy is to promote the classical methods of teaching natural sciences, history and geography in museums. This means that the museum will work with other educational institutions, especially schools, to provide formal and non-formal education and lifelong learning through educational programs such as the development and dissemination of knowledge. In this way, the policy is aimed at making the role of the museum more clear and realistic.
-I understand that the good tradition of visiting the museum in the classroom will spread again. How else can you be motivated to visit a museum? Want to increase the tendency for families to visit the museum on the weekends?
-Assuming that there are always museum exhibits, it is clear that how to show one exhibit to two people is a matter of museum marketing, management and sensitivity.
Therefore, we are focusing on the museum's collection to have an interesting exhibition. In November of last year, we organized a special exhibition called “Twenty-One Dara Ekh” with marketing and management in a more modern and innovative atmosphere. These days, the exhibition hall is full and the time has been extended again at the request of the audience. We are very happy that many people are interested in visiting the museum if we improve the marketing and services of the museum.
Similarly, it is important to adjust the museum's atmosphere to suit the age group and the quality of the season, and to use the right tools at the right time.
Therefore, at the beginning of the year, we started to pay more attention to cultural heritage and museum renovation, and to pursue a policy aimed at children and youth. Most of the complaints I received from the Ministry of Culture and myself about museums were about museum services. Do not read cards, do not pay electronically, etc. Therefore, efforts are being made to make museum tickets electronic, to keep up-to-date displays, and to issue flexible package packages.
To date, the Choijin Lama Temple Museum, the Bogd Khan Palace Museum, the Mongolian Theater Museum, the Mongolian National Museum, the Museum of Natural History, and the Mongolian Art Gallery have introduced electronic payment services. Inevitable changes are taking place, such as getting tickets online and booking an exhibitor in advance.
Of course, the more people visit the museum, the more they learn about and pass on their national history and culture.
-What is the level of the museum's operations and preservation?
-It is necessary to pay attention to the preservation and protection of the museum. The museum plays an important role in the preservation, protection and transmission of cultural heritage and historical monuments in our country, as they represent not only our country but also the natural and cultural diversity of humankind.
In the past, we have studied the alarm systems and storage of 36 museums and upgraded their security equipment from scratch. In any case, this year's budget includes 2 billion MNT for storage and protection.
In addition, the museum building is being renovated. The Choijin Lama Temple Museum, for example, has had its roof restored to the main temple. This year, we are preparing to start the work by allocating funds for a complete renovation to the state budget. Similarly, museum buildings, exhibits, treasures, renovations, and human resource development are proceeding rapidly.
-I am glad that the museum's investment in this year's budget is relatively high. You have just mentioned the issue of personnel. What is your personnel strengthening policy?
-The revised version of the Law on Culture clarifies the rights and responsibilities of cultural workers. In particular, the law includes provisions to improve the values and social security of cultural workers. As a result, cultural workers have the opportunity to receive additional bonuses and evaluate their professional degrees. For example, depending on the specifics of the area and its remoteness from the center, an employee of a local cultural organization will receive a cash benefit equal to six months' basic salary once every five years. The law also provides for the awarding of professional degrees to cultural workers.
Museum workers are also included in the term cultural workers. In addition, the Museum Law provides for a cash bonus equal to one year's basic salary every eight years for officials who have direct access to museum exhibits. As of today, 351 million MNT has been allocated to the state budget for 36 employees of 35 state and local museums to receive this cash bonus. I think this will help the museum staff to solve their social problems. In general, the policy is to retain an effective workforce by providing all museum staff with opportunities for continuous education and professional development.
-Thank you for talking.