Deborah L. Mack for AAAM August 2011

Building Frameworks for Strategic Collaborative Engagement: U.S./Africa Museums and Cultural Heritagein a Digital Age

High-impact nature of the project

• Africa has rich and diverse cultural heritage

High-impact nature of the project

• Africa has rich and diverse cultural heritage

• Many of Africa's tangible and intangible cultural heritage resources are at significant risk of deterioration and loss

Preliminary Major Milestones

• Convene major meeting in Africa to address the full range of challenges facing African cultural heritage digitization and access

• Produce and disseminate report on best practices for international partnerships in this field

• Produce pilot digital projects based on best practices, provide online access to cultural heritage collections

Strategic Actions to Date with Partners

1. AAAM and U.S. partners have initiated discussions with AFRICOM to establish mutual interests and opportunities.

Strategic Actions to Date with Partners

1. The U.S. team, that included AAAM representation, initiated discussions with AFRICOM to establish mutual interests and opportunities.

2. The U.S. team and AFRICOM prepared for and implemented a three-day strategic planning session from February 28-March 2, 2011 in Johannesburg, South Africa followed by a meeting April 22, 2011 in Washington, D.C. Both meetings were underwritten by MSU, and the April meeting was hosted by NMAAHC. Organizations invited by MSU and AFRICOM included representatives of major US cultural heritage organizations: the Association of American Museums, the Smithsonian Institution, Association of African American Museums, and the Institute for Museum and Library Services. Also invited to the Johannesburg meeting were five institutions with which the MSU Museum had a history of working: Ifa Lethu Foundation, University of Witwatersrand Anthropology Museum, the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and the Nelson Mandela Museum.

Strategic Actions to Date with Partners

1. The U.S. team initiated discussions with AFRICOM to establish mutual interests and opportunities.

2. The U.S. team and AFRICOM prepared for and implemented a three-day strategic planning session from February 28-March 2, 2011 in Johannesburg, South Africa followed by a meeting April 22, 2011 in Washington, D.C. Organizations invited by MSU and AFRICOM included representatives of major US cultural heritage organizations: the Association of American Museums, the Smithsonian Institution, Association of African American Museums, and the Institute for Museum and Library Services. Also invited to the Johannesburg meeting were five institutions with which the MSU Museum had a history of working: Ifa Lethu Foundation, University of Witwatersrand Anthropology Museum, the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and the Nelson Mandela Museum.

3. As a result of these meetings, a framework for the research initiative was established and is now being expanded by meeting participants into a document to guide next action steps. The “Big Framework of Collaborative Projects” includes the following areas:

Steering Committee MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY• Dean Rehberger, Ph.D., Director of MATRIX digital humanities center, Core Faculty MSU Museum Studies Program• C. Kurt Dewhurst, Ph.D., Director of Arts and Cultural Initiatives, Curator MSU Museum, Core Faculty MSU Museum Studies Program• Marsha MacDowell, Ph.D., Curator MSU Museum, Professor of Art & Art History, Core Faculty MSU Museum Studies Program• James Pritchett, Ph.D., Director,,MSU African Studies Center and Professor of Anthropology

AFRICOM• Rudo Sithole, Ph.D. Executive Director• Nath Mayo Adedrian, Vice-President

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION• Richard Kurin, Ph.D., Undersecretary for History, Art and Culture• Lonnie Bunch, Ph.D., Director, Museum of African-American History and Culture• Christine Kreamer, Ph.D., Deputy Director, Museum of African Art• Mary Jo Arnoldi, Head, Anthropology, Museum of Natural History• Diana N’Diaye, Ph.D., Curator, Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage• Lea Perez, liaison to U.S. Department of State

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF MUSEUMS• Ford Bell, DVM, President

INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES • Marsha Semmel, Ph.D., Director of Strategic Partnerships

ASSOCIATION OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN MUSEUMS• Deborah Mack, Ph.D., Board of Directors

Big Framework of Collaborative Projects (page 1)

1. Digital Collaborations: Exhibitions, research, collections, education, evaluation/reflection on practice, networking international collections. Digital access to manuals. Leveraging social media.

2. Digital Cultural Heritage Field School/Digital Humanities Field School: documentation, preservation, skills development, career pathways

3. Exchanges & internships - new models for shared positions, shared academic appointments, joint degrees, international university/museum partnerships, visiting professionals. Greater use of Fulbright. Mellon Scholars. Bellagio or Salzburg Seminar Series.

4. Linking training to existing/planned professional meetings: AFRICOM, Association of African-American Museums, American Association of Museums, Smithsonian Institution, and U.S. the integrated federal agency group efforts. Webcasting skills development.

5. New models in the areas of youth engagement in museums/heritage organizations and expansion of entrepreneurship (underserved communities, multi-disciplinary strategies, and, business approaches) that focus on art, culture, natural resources, science, and math linked to cultural heritage. Possible focus on youth, families, intergenerational engagement. Using museum store as sites for innovative approaches

Big Framework of Collaborative Projects (page 2)

6. New approaches to add value to collections: interactive, protection, info on illicit/appropriate marketing - partnerships with communities, generating new skills, and building investigative capacity models

7. Focus on current issues - post-conflict/trauma situations, emergency preparedness, SWAT team approaches to cultural preservations and stewardship

8. Identification of best practices, model projects, existing resources, development of new manuals, explication of what works/what doesn't. Highlighting and honoring innovation awards system

9. Domesticating cultural policy – work with NEPAD, European Union, African Union, etc. including workshops and establishing regulatory frameworks

10. Traveling exhibitions – new digital/physical new models

Next Steps in Process• Development of an African track at the 2012 Association of American Museums annual meeting to be held in Minneapolis;

• Development of sessions on US/African museum collaborations at the 2012 annual meeting of the African American Museums Association;

• Identification of potential funding sources for US/Africa cultural heritage projects and programs;

• Testing of a model for Digital Cultural Heritage Field School/Digital Humanities Field School

AND…

Next Steps in Process

• Opportunities like today to engage others in the discussion and identification of other strategic partnerships

Implications for AAAM…

• Situates AAAM in the center of proactive, progressive and collaborative research and development activities with a strategic range of partners

• Utilizes the organization’s resources (membership, expertise, networks, programs and visibility) to advance knowledge and serve local, lay and academic, national and worldwide audiences/users

• Strengthens and expands AAAM’s ability to meet both national and global needs

• Provides opportunities for exchanges of professionals who have vested interest in cultural heritage work

• Ensures connectivity with best practices, current issues, and new directions of cultural heritage work

Strategic ActionsPlanning and implementation of the project is on target

As a result of our planning meetings in Johannesburg, South Africa and Washington, DC, a framework for the collaborative initiative was established and is now being expanded by meeting participants into a document that is being used to guide next action steps.

Year 1: Strategic PartnersInternational Council of African Museums: AFRICOM

AFRICOM is an international organization dedicated to promoting the development of museums and museum professions in Africa and the protection of Africa’s cultural heritage. It grew out of an International Council of Museums (ICOM) program to address the needs of Africa’s museums and professionals and is now fully coordinated within Africa. Its headquarters are in Nairobi, Kenya.

http://www.africom.museum/

Year 1: Strategic PartnersAssociation of African American Museums

The Association of African American Museums (AAAM) is a non-profit member organization that supports African and African American focus museums nationally and internationally, as well as the professionals who protect, preserve and interpret African and African American art, history and culture. The Association seeks to strengthen and advocate for the interests of institutions and individuals committed to the preservation of African-derived cultures.

http://www.blackmuseums.org/

Year 1: Strategic PartnersInstitute of Museum and Library Services

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development.

http://www.imls.gov

Year 1: Strategic PartnersSmithsonian Institution

Founded in 1846, the Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum and research complex. It consists of 19 museums and galleries, the National Zoological Park and nine research facilities in the United States and Panama. Additionally the Smithsonian is affiliated with 166 museums and other educational institutions across the country. Its mission is the increase and diffusion of knowledge.

http://www.si.edu/

Year 1: Strategic PartnersAmerican Association of Museums

The American Association of Museums (AAM) is dedicated to strengthening museums through collaboration of museum professionals, advocacy for museums, and the development of best practices for the museum field. Its membership is open to all people who work with museums, from directors and curators to volunteers. Every type of museum is represented including art, history, science, military and maritime, and youth museums, as well as aquariums, zoos, botanical gardens, arboretums, historic sites, and science and technology centers.

http://www.aam-us.org/