ITALIAN RESTITUTION: LANGUAGE, HISTORY AND OBJECTS

A collaboration between the Embassy of Italy and the Classics Museum at the Australian National University

Restitution of ancient objects from museums is a topic of great interest to teachers, students and scholars alike. This event is part of a larger research collaboration between the Embassy of Italy and the Australian National University, extending from recent Italian restitution cases in the ANU Classics Museum.

Hosted at the Official Residence of the Embassy of Italy in Canberra, teachers will be presented with a range of resources related to the history, language and objects of restitution, and provide feedback on the design and development of these resources. The event is relevant to teachers of history, Italian language, art, and any other related fields. Presenters will engage teachers actively in a series of short presentations, including hands-on object-based activities, discussion of language and restitution policy and cultural diplomacy, and the ways in which technology has been used in restitution cases.

The ANU Centre for Classical Studies is accredited with the ACT Teacher Quality Institute. Teachers can claim this two-hour session towards their teacher-identified hours.

The Australian National University thanks His Excellency Mr Paolo Crudele, Ambassador of Italy to Australia, and Embassy staff, for supporting the event.

This event will be conducted in English.

Event Details:

Time and Date: Tuesday 25 June 2024, 4-6pm. NB: attendees will need to arrive 15 minutes early to move through security.

Venue: Residence of the Ambassador of the Republic of Italy, 78 National Circuit, Deakin ACT 2600. Street parking available – please enter via the gates on National Circuit.

Cost: FREE – afternoon tea provided.

Registration: This event is for teachers only. Please register by completing the Humanitix registration form by Monday 24 June. Numbers strictly limited.

Presenters:

Valentina Biguzzi, Director of the Educational and Cultural Office, Embassy of Italy in Australia

Laurea D Foreign Languages and Literatures (University of Bologna), M School Management and Leadership (University of Bologna)

Valentina is an Italian school leader who has worked in Italian schools for more than 30 years as teacher, teacher trainer and principal with expertise in foreign language didactics and children's literature. Valentina, as cultural attaché, is currently in charge of promoting Italian language and culture in Australia.

Angel Leelasorn, MoAD PlayUP Facilitator, ANU MakerSpace Mentor

B Arts (Chulalongkorn University), M General & Applied Linguistics (Adv) (ANU), M Translation (ANU), M Digital Humanities & Public Culture (Adv) candidate (ANU)

Angel is a postgraduate student in digital humanities, with a focus on enhancing museum visitor experiences. As part of her master’s thesis, Angel combines her research interests and her engagement with the Italian restitution cases to explore how digital fabrication technologies (e.g. 3D printing and laser cutting/engraving) can help enhance museum visitors’ connection and interpretation of ancient artefacts, especially those with visual impairment.

Maggie Otto, Senior Collections Advisor (Acting), Australian National University.

B Arts/Fine Arts (Hons) (UNSW), Master of Museum and Heritage Studies (ANU)

Maggie is a collections specialist, whose expertise in collections management, activation and restitution is applied across a broad range of collections spanning anthropology, archaeology, classical studies, geo-sciences and zoology. Maggie engages with the Italian restitution cases from the collections management perspective, with expertise in policy, documentation and provenance research.

Dr Georgia Pike-Rowney, Friends’ Lecturer and Curator, ANU Classics Museum

B Arts (ANU), Dip Ed (Secondary) (Monash), PhD (ANU)

Georgia is a transdisciplinary practitioner and researcher with expertise in historical and contemporary education and outreach in the contexts of the arts, health and wellbeing, and in museums. Georgia has developed the object-based learning, schools outreach, and teacher training programs in the ANU Classics Museum. She manages the Italian restitution cases through community education, diplomatic liaison, media engagement, policy change, school outreach, teacher training and research.