Uni, museum lock in agreement

A PARTNERSHIP between La Trobe University and the Golden Dragon Museum was formalised last week with the signing of a memorandum of understanding.

The MOU was inked by La Trobe vice-chancellor Professor John Dewan and Golden Dragon chair Doug Lougoon and will form the base work between the institutions that enables shared activities.

Mr Lougoon said the partnership made sense and was past due.

“The Golden Dragon Museum is a great local cultural institution, but it is also a learning institution and art institution,” he said.

“I think there is where the great synergies lie with La Trobe University.

“La Trobe has been a part of Bendigo’s tertiary educational fabric for so many decades, which makes me think that maybe it’s overdue, but I am so happy to be here today to be able to sign this OMU.”

Professor Dewan said the relationship with the Dragon Museum was a logical next step in formal connections with Bendigo and he was excited about the future.

“We have the collaboration with the Bendigo Art Gallery, but this completes the threesome as it were and it’s a very nice thing to be able to celebrate,” he said.

“We are looking forward to being able to have students do work-integrated learning or work placements at the museum.

“As well as opportunities for the wider community to engage with Chinese culture and gain access to incredible works of art.”

The partnership is already paying off with plans for a joint exhibition at the Golden Dragon Museum.

“As part of our wider university collection we have Chinese political posters from the 1960s, 70s and 80s,” he said. “We think that’s a collection of great significance and great interest.

“We would look forward to finding ways to share that with the Bendigo community.”