Alumni Contribution | Pauline Chiripanhura

TheMuseumsLab 2024 was enlightening, refreshing and motivating. It provided me with an opportunity for practical engagement and cross cultural exchange. It is one thing reading about certain issues in publications and a totally different scenario altogether interacting with museum professionals that are dealing with such issues and visiting the place in real time.

TheMuseumsLab provided the Fellows with a platform to engage deeply with issues of decolonization, restitution and repatriation. Although emotional, the discussions were worthy. To me, TheMuseumsLab was a free and safe space where I was able to express my views and thoughts without any fear. My most memorable moment was the visit to the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Ghana. Touring the space kind of gave me the feeling of the birth of Africa; an understanding of the African struggle for independence and an appreciation of Africa’s liberation movements.

St Fagans Park in Wales where I did my residency really inspired me. It is simply a breath of fresh air. I was very impressed by the idea of rebuilding Wales’s historic buildings at one place thus allowing sustainable development. In addition, to issues of sustainable development, the Park saves the visitor the hustle of travelling all over Wales and the story of Wales is easily understood. There is some sort of chronology. In that Park, I got to understand both the development of architecture in Wales and Welsh history. How I wish my country would borrow that idea especially considering that we are faced with continuous destruction of our historic buildings.

Overall, most of TheMuseumsLab discussions really improved my knowledge base. As a lecturer teaching modules related to issues of illicit trafficking; restitution and repatriation of cultural property, I gained a lot. I am now fully aware of topical issues and current debates surrounding these processes. Shouldered with the burden of training future heritage professionals, I have no doubt that I will impact relevant information to them.

To the future participants, I assure you that your voices and concerns matters; that TheMuseumLab team listens and is dedicated to improve the programme for the better. As 2024 Fellows, we had reservations with how Module 2 was programmed. We aired our views during one of the reflections sessions and those views were considered in formulating Module 3 programme.