C T Dorji

The award was extremely useful. I was able to study museums in London and to study the collections of textiles. It was helpful to me when I received it because I was just transferred to the National Museum of Bhutan and it greatly helped me to gain knowledge on different aspects of museology and conservation. Upon my return to Bhutan, the Royal Civil Service Commission of Bhutan, confirmed my posting at the National Museum of Bhutan on permanent basis as second-in-command. I was also given the additional position of Chief Curator and I coordinated the 3rd Colloquium on Bhutanese history and culture and its proceedings have been published. The 6th special exhibition on Bhutanese history and culture covering the period from the 18th to the 19th century was opened on 24 May 2001. The Japan Foundation Asia Center sponsored my visit to museums, galleries, conservation studios and research centres in Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Hiroshima in March 2001. I revised the report on the visit entitled "Management of Textile Museums" for publication as a book. I also published a booklet on "comparative study of traditional methods and scientific methods of conservation", and a brief history of the National Museum of Bhutan. I have been able to enhance the gallery talks and lectures in the National Museum, which attract many Bhutanese students to visit the museum. A museum education programme is being introduced into the Museum.