FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why is the Organization of American States (OAS) involved in MuseAmericas?

This is a natural project for the OAS, because it showcases the art, culture and history of the entire region – North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. All 34 active OAS member countries have a vital stake in this effort, which is designed not only to enrich the region’s culture, but also to enhance access to quality education and even promote economic development. This project also complements one of the major themes that the region’s presidents and prime ministers addressed at the 2001 Summit of the Americas: how to create a true hemispheric community by using the tools of today’s information and communication age.

How does this project fit in with the larger goals of the OAS?

A broader cultural exchange within the region can contribute to strengthening democracy. The art, culture and history of a nation are part of its patrimony, the legacy that unites people of diverse economic and ethnic backgrounds into a cohesive society. Recognition of the unique heritage of each country fosters pride in citizenship and encourages participation in the democratic process. And, of course, being able to exchange ideas on the Internet keeps citizens informed about the day-to-day challenges that confront democracy everywhere. As people from different countries in the region increase contacts with each other, they can reinforce the sense of a hemispheric community.

What will this project cost? How much will have to come from the OAS and its member countries?

The Virtual Museum of the Americas is expected to cost up to $15 million, which will be raised entirely from private sources. Corporate sponsors are providing funding as well as invaluable technical help. The OAS is providing staff support by managing key aspects of the project, but any additional needs in terms of staffing or equipment will be provided by donors.

What makes MuseAmericas different from the many museum Websites available?

The scope of MuseAmericas is much larger. It’s really a huge cluster of sites—an "information plaza" connecting more than 1,000 museums from all 34 OAS countries. Thanks to technical support from our corporate sponsors, MuseAmericas has more advanced technology than most museums. The scope of the collections is far larger as well. And many of the hundreds of thousands of objects on display are unfamiliar even to dedicated museum-goers because the institutions that own them are in locations off the beaten tourist paths, or they lack the space to display their entire collections. Another distinctive mark is cultural cohesion. MuseAmericas is able to offer a broad perspective that looks at the common heritage of the Americas, from ancient Native American civilizations to today’s contemporary artists. Finally, MuseAmericas is accessible in the four official OAS languages, vastly expanding its interest and potential throughout the hemisphere.

How can we be sure that MuseAmericas is working and will continue to work?

Several giant companies in the communications industry are contributing technical expertise, hardware and software to the MuseAmericas site. Telmex, Microsoft, Cisco Systems, Lucent Technology, Avaya Communication, and Hewlett Packard are just some of the technology leaders lending support. Global Crossing has made one of the most exciting donations—free access to its submarine fiber optic cable, which literally encircles the Americas from the North Atlantic, through the Caribbean, around Cape Horn, to the North Pacific. This cable enables computer users in all the Americas to get audio and video in real time. This is a huge step forward in bridging the digital divide.

What do these corporations get for their participation? What is MuseAmericas receiving from them?

From our corporate sponsors’ point of view, their cultural and philanthropic contributions help them increase their standing in the worldwide on-line community and encourage brand-name recognition. For MuseAmericas, our relationships with sponsors go well beyond monetary contributions. These companies are providing us with hardware, software and almost priceless intangibles such as access to state-of the art technology and technical training. They are contributing the labor and expertise of some of their most highly skilled workers, which is expanding technological opportunities for all countries involved.

How is MuseAmericas contributing to economic development?

One direct economic benefit is through the MuseAmericas e-commerce feature, which allows access to international markets for cultural institutions such as museums and for local industries such as those producing quality handcrafts. However, the potential for indirect, long-term benefits is even greater. MuseAmericas, is encouraging greater computer literacy, inspiring people to use computers for economic expansion, creating opportunities in education -- even in remote areas -- and decreasing the digital divide between developed and underdeveloped economies.

Won’t an emphasis on computers detract from lower-scale development?

Not necessarily. The experience of the United States has shown that personal computers have greatly expanded the potential of tiny businesses as well as large ones. On the Internet, potters, weavers and other artisans can directly contact the niche markets for their work. Home sewing, small-scale publishing and printing, catering, tutoring and local taxi and delivery services are just a few of the home industries that are now much more profitable because of computers.

How does MuseAmericas benefit education in regions where many schools don’t have access to computers?

One of the most exciting aspects of the MuseAmericas project is the technical support that eventually will set up computers in classrooms around the hemisphere. Corporate sponsors from the communications industry are leading this effort. Hewlett Packard, for example, has offered to contribute thousands of computers to Latin American and Caribbean classrooms, plus the technical support to set them up and train people to use them. Our corporate sponsors’ efforts focus on remote and low-income areas that would not otherwise have computer access.

Where does MuseAmericas get the educational materials that it makes available on line?

Like all the resources at the MuseAmericas site, the educational components come primarily from the participating cultural institutions, universities and distance education experts. Many museums, especially the larger ones, already have educational programs in place that can be adapted for on-line use. In other cases, museums are being inspired to develop their own materials after seeing materials that have been produced in other countries. In addition, our corporate sponsors are contributing materials developed and distributed elsewhere. A team of curriculum specialists and writers is constantly editing and adapting materials for the on-line format.

What is the relationship between MuseAmericas and the Museum of the Americas planned for the OAS headquarters?

These two independent, though complementary, projects both are being spearheaded by the Museum of the Americas Foundation. The Virtual Museum of the Americas, or MuseAmericas, was created in a much shorter time frame and has the advantage of being accessible everywhere in the region, in four languages. The Museum of the Americas building – an initiative begun by the OAS and the Inter-American Development Bank – is a longer-term project that aims to create a major showcase of the culture of the Americas in the heart of the U.S. capital.