Abstract

In his presenation Tommy Buga will share his experiences from current practices of managing, using and researching objects in the collections he works with at the Papua New Guinea National Museum and Art Gallery. The various types of collections need care and safe guarding, as well as actions ensuring preservation. We will learn about the work behind the scenes and how Tommy is committed to the value and importance of cultural materials.

Profile

Tommy Yaulin Buga works at the National Museum and Art Gallery in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea as the Senior Technical Officer in the Anthropology Department. In this position he helps to manage the manifold objects of the ethnographic collections.
After graduating in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Tommy Yaulin Buga moved to Perth, Australia, and worked as a Refurbishment Officer at the Australian Regional Council. In 2014 he returned to PNG and began his career in the Papua New Guinea National Museum and Art Gallery. Since then he has been caring for objects and became Senior Technical Officer in the Anthropology Department. In this position he manages the manifold objects of the ethnographic collections by for example cataloging, doing inventory and organizing storage.
Tommy regularly participates in fieldtrips assigned by the management to enforce the National Cultural Property Act to the Sepik regions, which are home to him. There he works with communities helping to raise awareness for the importance of collections and also collecting objects for the museum.
Within the PNG-Aus Partnership at the National Museum he also contributed to research and the installation of exhibits connecting objects with as he says “the stories embedded in the rich culture of my people”.