New challenges and renewed paths for curatorial practices with Latin American collections and local communities

Description

An event by the Multi-Dimensional Dialogues of the Americas research network.

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Speaker

• Danny Zborover (SDCELAR/British Museum)
• Louise de Mello (SDCELAR/British Museum)

Abstract

The Santo Domingo Centre of Excellence for Latin American Research was created in 2019 at the British Museum with the mission of developing collection-based research in collaboration with local communities in Latin America and the Caribbean. Since then, SDCELAR has supported more than 30 projects, partnering with over 20 institutions across 15 countries in the region. Most of these projects have sought not only to broaden the understanding of the Museum’s collections, but especially to promote the value, conservation, and self-representation of traditional knowledges and material practices through their shared access and study. In this lecture, Danny Zborover and Louise de Mello will discuss their experiences with transdisciplinary community-based research, the lessons learned and how to tackle emerging challenges through some of SDCELAR’s new projects. In so doing, this talk further proposes a reflection on the social role of museum objects and the part large institutions such as the British Museum may play in this decolonial era.

 

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Lent term theme

The second proposed theme of our series tackles endangered traditional knowledge across the Americas. We reflect on how fewer indigenous languages and crafts are now being spoken and fabricated in the context of dominant manufacturing industries and languages, which are perceived to be socially and economically more valuable than minority languages and traditional ways of living. In this theme, we also discuss and offer recent cases of studies where digital media tools provide a new pathway for transmitting and conserving oral cultures and protecting everyday objects, traditional technological systems and other material cultures that are threatened by extinction. 

For enquiries please contact the Research Networks Programme Manager.