The 16th World Congress of the International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences (IUAES)

An Invitation Letter to All Museum Exhibitors

3rd May 2007

Dear Dear Sir/Madam:

Since the first International Congress of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences (I.C.A.E.S.) was held in London in 1934, there was another 14 sessions successfully accomplished in the past 73 years. And the 16th is also under organization and will be held in Kunming, China, during 15th -23rd July 2008.

The exhibitions have always been among the major events of the IUAES World Congresses. With the theme of “Humanity, Development & Cultural Diversity”，the upcoming exhibitions are designated by the Organizing Committee of the 16th Congress as to: exchange the cutting-edge research results of the anthropological and ethnological sciences; present the indigenous cultures from different places; and highlight the contribution of the studies to the harmonious development of the human beings and the nature, and the peaceful coexistence of the diversified cultures.

Nowadays, Peace, development and cultural diversity have already been the common recognition of all human beings. The World Indigenous Cultures Exhibition, therefore, is organized with a worldwide perspective to display the indigenous cultures from different corners of the globe from different point of views with the treasures of museums and multimedia facilities. By highlighting the diversity of world cultures, it will strive to realize exchanges and dialogues between them. The exhibition will stress on the research, collection and display of indigenous cultures and the contribution the anthropological and ethnological sciences has made to the construction of a world where human society develops in harmony with the nature, and to the peaceful co-existence of the diversified cultures.

The museum has been an intellectual theatre for human civilization. Since the late 19th century, an inseparable relation has been established between the museums and the anthropological and ethnological sciences, and the former has been the important bases for the latter, including anthropological museums, ethnological museums, archaeological and ethnological museums, aboriginal cultural museums, natural history museums, and etc. The museums have made irreplaceable outstanding contribution to the protection of the world’s cultural diversity and the impartation of the anthropological and ethnological research results to the public.

The ultimate aim of us to hold this exhibition is to bring forth the evidences that people lived in some particular places in different regions of the globe to the Congress, to enable direct communication and dialogues between different civilizations, and to provide an opportunity for the public to experience the abundant cultures of the world. We sincerely hope that the museums, which have been concerned with pluralistic cultural development, will as ever value the IUAES World Congress, and will actively participate in this Congress and Exhibition.

If you are interested in it, please complete the Exhibitor Contact Information Form for the World Indigenous Cultures Exhibition online. We shall send you the details plan within a week after we receive your contact information.

We look forward to your participation.

The Exhibition Group of
The Organizing Committee for ICAES