In recognition of the role that museums as valuable institutions which promote greater cultural diversity and awareness, the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) initiated the Asia-Europe Museum Network (ASEMUS) in 2000. ASEMUS is a cross-cultural network that promotes collaborative programmes and resource-sharing among museums in Asia and Europe.
This year, ASEMUS celebrates a milestone– its 10th Anniversary. With a membership of over 70 museums in Asia and Europe, this decade-old network has directly or indirectly benefited its members as a platform for informal dialogue and joint development of ideas. It has also resulted in a wide range of bilateral and multilateral collaborations.A concrete
illustration of bi-regional cooperation in the framework of ASEMUS is ”A Passage to Asia: 25 centuries of exchange between Asia and Europe”. Organised at the Centre for Fine Arts (BOZAR) in Brussels, the exhibition draws on the treasures of 20 different countries to highlight 2,500 years of exchanges between Asia and Europe. The exhibition is driven by two active contributors to the ASEMUS network: Dr Kenson Kwok (Former Director, Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore) and Dr Jan Van Alphen (Curator and Chairman of the Scientific Committee, BOZAR).
To commemorate its 10th Anniversary, members of the network will gather in Paris on September 2010 for its General Conference. Members of the network gathered in Singapore to plan out the network’s activities for this milestone event.