The colonial history of ethnological museums in Europe and their continuing forms are currently the topic of intensive discussion. The now global debate surrounding the origins of objects in museums shows that new concepts and practices are needed, extending beyond the European notion of a museum. Herefor the project “Re-connecting 'Objects': Epistemic Plurality and Transformative Practices in and beyond Museums,” with TU Berlin as main applicant will receive close to 1.5 million euros over three-and-a-half years. Researchers from UK, Cameroon, Senegal, and South Africa are also involved in the project to develop digital research platforms for intercontinental collaboration:
- Dr. El Hadji Malick Ndiaye, University Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, Institut Fondamental d'Afrique Noire, Théodore Monod Museum of African Art, Dakar, Senegal
- Professor Dan Hicks, University of Oxford, Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford, UK
- Professor Ciraj Rassool, University of the Western Cape, Department of History, Cape Town, South Africa
- Professor Albert Gouaffo, University of Dschang, Faculté des Lettres et Sciences Humaines, Dschang, Cameroon
The international research team will be working in close collaboration with artists, museum professionals, students, and various stakeholders in Europe and Africa. Postdoctoral researchers at the five participating institutions will conduct individual research projects, while also contributing to an overarching common endeavor: the creation of two complementary, site-specific research exhibitions held simultaneously in Oxford and Dakar during the 2024 Dak’art Biennale.
A team of graphic designers and developers will create a digital intercontinental research platform to facilitate sustainable, long-distance collaboration between researchers. The project will also make use of existing networks of academics and cultural workers and further seeks to actively involve students and concerned audiences, thus also incorporating epistemic plurality from beyond academia.
Backround
The colonial history of ethnological museums in Europe and their continuing forms are currently the topic of intensive discussion. The now global debate surrounding the origins of objects in museums shows that new concepts and practices are needed, extending beyond the European notion of a museum. The “Global Challenges – Integrating Different Perspectives on Cultural Heritage and Change” joint call run by the Volkswagen Foundation, the Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo (Italy), and the Riksbankens Jubileumsfond (Sweden) has approved total funding of approximately 11 million euros for eight new projects.
Using an international peer-review process, the successful interdisciplinary research proposals were selected to bring together the perspectives of researchers and stakeholders from a number of different countries. Each project includes at least two partners from countries in the Global South as well as one main applicant from Germany, Italy, or Sweden.
