project group handling objects

Alumni Project | TheMuseumsLab Alumni Network Conceptual Lab

TheMuseumsLab Alumni Network was formed during the Team Projects Phase of the 2022 edition of TheMuseumsLab. As dialogues and relationships developed during Module 2 hosted in Berlin, the need for a team project focused on supporting alumni activities was apparent.

Team

Annie Antonites | Curator Archaeozoology & Large Mammal Collection, South Africa
Anthony Kalume | Image Curator, United Kingdom
Christopher Ssebuyungo | Museum and Heritage Professional, Conservator and Curator, Uganda
Mahmoud Malik Saako | Principal Curator and Archaeologist, Ghana


About the Project

The idea of an alumni-led network was conceptualised by Fellows of TheMuseumsLab 2022. A few month later, the network hosted three Alumni in Pretoria, to set out a short and long-term strategy for its further development. The outcomes of the workshop were drafted and circulated to TheMuseumsLab alumni for comments. They also hosted a virtual feedback session.

During this time, the alumni group also visited local heritage institutions and hosted a hybrid public symposium at the University of Pretoria, entitled 'Nature, Music, Science and Technology: Embracing African Knowledge Systems in the Museums and Heritage Sector.' Anthony, Malik and Christopher presented Kenyan, Ghanian and Ugandan perspectives on the theme. Around 30 students and colleagues from the University of South Africa, University of Pretoria and Ditsong Museums of South Africa (DMSA), attended the event. Amongst the attendees was a group of DMSA interns, who were completing degrees in Indigenous Knowledge Systems from the University of Venda. The hybrid event was well attended by students and staff from academic and museum institutions in Pretoria.

This project was funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the Goethe-Institut.