Pacific Islands Museums Association PIMA develops community participation in heritage management and brings together 42 Museums and cultural centers in the Pacific Islands to develop their capacity to identify research, manage, interpret and nurture cultural and natural heritage.

PIMA’s Executive Board Chairperson Adi Meretui Ratunabuabua Principal Cultural Development Officer, Fiji Secretary Ms. Sina Ah Poe (Assistant Curator, Museum Treasurer Mr. Emmaneul Kasaherou of Samoa) Director Tjibaou Cultural center, New. Caledonia Board Members Mr. Ralph Regenvanu (Director, Vanuatu National Cultural Centre). Honorary Board Members – Mrs. Faustina Rehuher (immediate past chair) Director Belau National Museum, Palau) Mr Lawrence Foana’ota (Director Solomons Islands National Museum) Secretary-General Dr. Kim Selling (Australian volunteer) Vanuatu

Short-term Work with donors and Education and Culture Departments to increase numbers of scholarships made available for cultural and arts management studies and cultural economics. Medium to long term Develop Cultural and arts management studies in the region, including by distance education, and advocate for a Cultural Economics stream in existing regional economics programs.

Pacific Heritage Network Culture and Education should form closer links Website www. culturepacific. org

PIMA Represents museums, cultural centres, national trusts, cultural departments and ministries, national parks, historic preservation offices, Interpretative centres, cultural associations and arts councils. Members also include international museums with Pacific collections Universities, research centres and individuals within the region and Internationally which support the PIMA vision, mission aims and Activities.

Professional Development There a range of areas in the cultural sector where professional development is required in order to boost cultural/creative industries in the region: cultural and arts management; heritage management including management of Traditional Knowledge; artists development, cultural economics, and doctoral level trained personnel in cultural/Pacific/Indigenous studies.

Working together, preserving, celebrating, and nurturing the heritage of the peoples of the Pacific Islands. PIMA We share a dream that our Pacific Islands heritage is protected and enriched for future generations. Pacific World Heritage Vision.

PIMA members include all the countries, states, and territories of the Pacific region including American Samoa, Cook Islands, Easter Island Rapa Nui, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Western Samoa.

GAPS Cultural and arts management training and education are required to strengthen the management of governmental and nongovernmental arts and cultural institutions such as national Arts Councils, artist collectives, and regional artist networks. At present the number of qualified arts and culture managers in the region is low. Existing managers are overworked and unable to take initiative or advantage of existing opportunities. There are currently no Cultural Economists in the Pacific region in spite of the potential of cultural industries to develop.