Global Journal of Human-Social Science, A: Arts and Humanities, Volume 21 Issue 12

contributed very actively to the creation of the International Committee for Museology (ICOFOM). This took place in 1977, with the aim of promoting research and encouraging theoretical reflection on museology. Subsequently, figures such as Vinôs Sofka, who gave extraordinary dynamism to ICOFOM's research, and was its president from 1981 to 1989, or Avram Razgan, Klaus Schreiner, Jiri Neustupny, Joseph Benes, Wejciech Gluzinski and Stránský, himself, all gave great impetus to museological studies.They attracted large numbers of museologists from other European countries to join their activities, especially Georges Henri Rivière and André Desvallées from France. All of them contributed to give museology a scientific character, reflecting on the different museological conceptions existing in the world. In 1993, the ICOFOM Study Series devoted one of its sections to the theme “From Theory to Practice: Museum Training in Europe,” where the different courses and master's degrees that were being taught at that time at the Reinwardt Academy of Amsterdam, the Department of Museums Studies at the University of Leicester, L'École Nationale du Patrimoine of Paris, the University of Basel, the Faculty of Arts of the University of Masaryk in Brno and the European Heritage School in Barcelona were presented. This debate was enriched by contributions from different countries defining the general lines being followed about the academic teaching of museology. On the Spanish side, it was Xavier Ballbé (1993:125-126) who, in dealing with cultural assets and the new museum professional, explained the experience of the European School of Barcelona, which he had created. According to this author, museological training should be integrated into the renovating currents and committed to presenting cultural assets as an important sector of activity. For this reason, the European School put all its efforts into preparing new experts and offering programs for professionals in the sector. This training was based on an integral conception of cultural property. One that covered the different historical, archaeological, ethnographic, and artistic aspects, considered from an interdisciplinary perspective. It was possible to see museography, archiving, monument management and natural parks as interrelated. Based on the analysis and evaluation of the new professions and demands arising in cultural heritage, the European School established a training program adapted to the specific needs of universities, cultural organizations and different public administrations. Furthermore, the School, which did not last for long, collaborated with other European centers that promoted training programs aimed at the management, and dissemination of cultural and environmental assets, specifying the different models and levels of professional qualifications existing in each of the countries. However, we must admit that it was a pity that no mention was made at the symposium of the fact that museology was already arousing great interest within the Spanish university environment. In fact, in 1989, a Master’s in Museology had begun to be taught at the Complutense University of Madrid. Subsequently, a Postgraduate Diploma in Museology was organized at the University of the Basque Country, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Museum Educators at the University of Zaragoza. In 1992, the Antonio Camuñas Foundation offered a Master's in Museography, and Exhibition Techniques and, in 1995, the Faculty of Fine Arts of Madrid started a Master’s in Museography and Exhibitions. From this moment on, numerous universities in the most important cities in Spain, such as Barcelona, Gerona, Granada, Valladolid and Santiago de Compostela, have been offering different postgraduate courses or master’s degrees, either face-to-face or virtual, overlapping with each other and causing some to disappear with new ones appearing (Lorente 2010: 75). Even though many museum curators took part in these courses, it was clear that there was little collaboration between museums and universities. The competent administrations in museums did not allow students to carry out internships in state museums. For all these reasons, many of us think that today we need to have a school and even a chair of museology, as is the case in Brno, Paris or Rio de Janeiro. Although for a long time, the relationship between Spanish museologists and Stranský, through ICOFOM, was quite close, we must acknowledge that in Spain, we do not have well-defined museological currents that would have made it possible to create our schools of research. Rather, we can affirm that the development of Spanish museological research has been based on the Mediterranean and French-speaking sources and, through them, the currents of thought proposed by ICOFOM, Stránský, and the museologists of East European countries have been approached. It should be noted that some specialists in contemporary art museums have had to rely on Anglo- Saxon sources. Authors such as Jesús-Pedro Lorente (2003) and Javier Gómez Martínez (2006) have paid much attention to Anglo-Saxon and North American situations. These countries have opted for art museums as museums of the future. Spanish museologists believe that there is no point in arguing about who initiated the museological renovation, nor in asking for explanations for the contradictions that can occur in practical applications within museums. On the contrary, these authors are convinced that all initiatives that arise should be accepted and that every effort should be made to ensure that museological knowledge reaches the whole of society. Without a doubt, Spanish museology has tried to find its way and intends to face the challenges of the 21 st century. Today, we can see how Spanish researchers and museologists devote their time and effort to promoting museological research, whether it be the Volume XXI Issue XII Version I 30 ( ) Global Journal of Human Social Science - Year 2021 A © 2021 Global Journals Zbyněk Zbyslav Stránský’s Museological Impact on Spain