Presentation at the 2011 Inclusive Museum Conference University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

C. Kurt Dewhurst, Ph.D., Marsha MacDowell, Ph.D., Dean Rehberger, Ph.D., and James Pritchett, Ph.D., Michigan State University

July 1, 2011

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

Presentation summary

An examination of a university museum’s engagement in developing critical frameworks for co-creation of international collaborative cultural heritage projects that address critical needs in a digital age

The U.S./African Cultural Heritage Strategic Partnership

In an age of increasing digital growth, more complex and globally inter-related heritage and widespread economic challenges, Michigan State University has helped launch a high impact project to foster more connectivity and strategic planning between its university cultural heritage faculty, students, and resources and with other U.S. and African museums and cultural institutions.

Why Michigan State University?

• Michigan State University is a world-grant university that is home to a university museum, a digital humanities center, and an African Studies center that are recognized for their collaborative scholarly-engaged work.

Who at Michigan State University?

• A team of heritage professionals from those three units at MSU are building partnerships and using new technologies and best practices to document, safeguard, preserve, interpret/reinterpret, present, and make accessible the tangible and intangible heritage of Africa's many cultures.

African partnersMSU cultural heritage projects

Centre for Popular Memory, University of Cape Town (South Africa)

Culture, Communication and Media Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa)

Gandhi-Luthuli Documentation Centre, University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa)

Campbell Collections, University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa)

Ifa Lethu Foundation (South Africa)

Ahmed Kathrada Center for Non-Racialism (South Africa)

Nelson Mandela Museum (South Africa)

National Library of South Africa

South African History Online

South African History Archive

Community Video Education Trust (South Africa)

Western Cape Provincial Library (South Africa)

African National Congress Archives (South Africa)

Durban University of Technology (South Africa)

Luthuli Museum (South Africa)

District 6 Museum, Cape Town (South Africa)

Robben Island Museum

Mayibuye Centre, University of Western Cape/Robben Island Museum

Iziko Museums of Cape Town (South Africa)

Origins Centre, University of Witwatersrand (South Africa)

Freedom Park (South Africa)

Apartheid Museum (South Africa)

Nelson Mandela Foundation (South Africa)

Red Location Museum (South Africa)

Lwandle Migrant Labour Museum (South Africa)

Phanzi Museum (South Africa)

KwaMuhle Museum (South Africa)

National Heritage Cultural Studies Centre, University of Fort Hare (South Africa)

Ethnographic Museum, University of Witwatersrand

Africa Media On-Line (South Africa)

African partners (p. 2)MSU cultural heritage projectsOryx Media, South Africa

International Council of African Museums (AFRICOM)

International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property

South African Museum Association

South African National Archives

Contemporary African Music & Arts Archive, University of Cape Town (South Africa)

University of Malawi, Department of History

Addis Ababa University, Department of History (Ethiopia)

Kasobane (collective of fabric artists) (Mali)

National Museum of Tanzania

University of Ghana at Legon, Institute of African Studies

Institut Fondamental d'Afrique Noire (Senegal)

Université Cheikh Anta DIOP de Dakar (Senegal)

Boubacar Barry, Independent Scholar (Senegal)

Charles Becker, Independent Scholar (Senegal)

West African Research Center (Senegal)

W.E.B. DuBois Memorial Center for PanAfricanCulture (Ghana)

Institut Africain pour la Démocratie (Senegal)

National Public Records & Archives Administration Department (PRAAD) (Ghana)

Université de Bamako

Université du Mali

University of Botswana

University of Khartoum

Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) Dakar, Senegal

African Council for Communication Education (ACCE), Nairobi, Kenya

University of Dar es Salaam

University of Ibadan (Nigeria)

University of Zimbabwe

All-Africa Libraries Assistance

African Women’s Organizations in Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Mali, Zambia, South Africa

Impact on MSU’s research portfolioStrengthen and expand MSU Strategic Partnerships in Africa dealing with cultural heritage

Countries of focus for MSU Strategic PartnershipsSouth AfricaMalawiMaliSenegalNigeriaEthiopiaTanzania

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

Impact on MSU’s research portfolioResearch, publication, dissemination, and pilot testing of best practices for international partnerships workingwith African cultural heritage

Impact on MSU’s research portfolioPreserve and provide access to African cultural heritage materials making them available to scholarsin Africa and the world

Impact on MSU’s research portfolioExpand small presence on the Web of authentic materials in African languages

Five Original Major Milestones

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

Five Original 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

Five Original 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

Five Original Major Milestones

• Convene major meetings in Africa and the United States 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

• Expand use of KORA digital repository software and test its use by cultural heritage institutions in Africa

Five Original 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

• Expand use of KORA digital repository software and test its use by cultural heritage institutions in Africa

• Establish MSU's African Online Digital Library (AODL) as a major web portal for disseminating collaborative African cultural heritage projects

Strategic Actions to Date at MSUDeveloped MSU's KORA open-source digital repository softwareto be more accessible to African institutions and scholars

Strategic Actions to Date with Partners

1. MSU initiated discussions with AFRICOM to establish mutual interests and opportunities.

Strategic Actions to Date with Partners

1. MSU initiated discussions with AFRICOM to establish mutual interests and opportunities.

2. MSU 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.

Strategic Actions to Date with Partners

1. MSU initiated discussions with AFRICOM to establish mutual interests and opportunities.

2. MSU 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

MSU's strong history ofpromoting ethical partnerships

Ethical Principles

Strategic actions that are imbued with:MutualityRespectTransparencyEquityCommunication

Next Steps in Process

• Incubating pilot projects with seven museums and cultural heritage organizations in South Africa;• 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 a university museum…

• Situates the museum in the center of proactive, progressive and collaborative research and development activities at a university

• Utilizes the museum’s resources (collections, expertise, networks, programs, and facilities) to advance knowledge and serve local, academic, and worldwide audiences/users

• Strengthens and expands the MSU Museum Studies Program to meet both local and global needs

• Provides opportunities for exchanges of student, faculty, and staff who have vested interest in cultural heritage work

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

CollaboratingMSU Units

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 research initiative was established and is now being expanded by meeting participants into a document that is being used to guide next action steps. The “Big Framework of Collaborative Projects” includes the following areas:

Year 1: Strategic Partners/Pilot Nelson Mandela Museum, Mthatha

Ten years to the day after Nelson Mandela was released from prison the Nelson Mandela Museum opened. In accordance Mr. Mandela’s wishes, the museum is not a static collection and tribute to him but a living memorial to his values and vision. The Museum is the steward of heritage resources connected to Mr. Mandela and aims to impact the development of people through education, culture, and tourism. It operates two main sites: the Nelson Mandela Youth and Heritage Centre in Qunu, and the Bhunga Building in Mthatha.

http://www.nelsonmandelamuseum.org.za/

Year 1: Strategic Partners/PilotIziko Museums of Cape Town

Iziko Museums of Cape Town is a South African national heritage institution established under the Cultural Institutions Act. It is governed by a Council appointed by the Minister of Arts and Culture. The institution’s mission is to manage and promote Iziko’s unique combination of South Africa’s heritage collections, sites and services for the benefit of present and future generations. It oversees thirteen museums dedicated to natural history, art, and social history.

http://www.iziko.org.za/

Year 1: Strategic Partners/PilotAhmed Kathrada Centre for Non-Racialism and Democracy, Lenasia

The Ahmed Kathrada Centre for Non-Racialism and Democracy is the main project of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation. Ahmed Kathrada was a well-known anti-Apartheid activist. His foundation honors Kathrada’s role in South Africa’s liberation struggeal and its relation to the role of other individuals, groups and movements both nationally and internationally and aims create programs and undertake research to create a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa. The Centre will house the foundation and carry out all of its activities and programs. Building of the Centre began in August 2010.

http://www.kathradafoundation.org/index.html

Year 1: Strategic Partners/PilotIfa Lethu Foundation, Pretoria

Ifa Lethu, a nonprofit foundation based in Tshwane, South Africa is devoted to the development and economic growth of the creative sectors in the country. The Ifa Lethu Foundation promotes partnerships and initiatives that focus on repatriation and preservation of South Africa’s heritage. It promotes skills and entrepreneurship amongst artists and communities and applies the creative arts to the fashion industry in order to aid in the development of South Africa.

http://www.ifalethu.org.za/

Year 1: Strategic Partners/Pilot

Museum of Anthropology, University of Witwatersrand

The Museum of Anthropology is a part of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Witwatersrand. Historically the museum has concentrated on the exhibit of indigenous rural artifacts of the Khoi-San and Bantu-speaking people of South Africa. While such cultural artifacts are still an important feature of the collection, in recent years exhibits have been added illustrating the field research by staff and students, and more contemporary aspects of South African urban life.

http://web.wits.ac.za/Academic/Humanities/SocialSciences/Anthropology/Museum.htm

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 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 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/

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/