Yale IPCH Builds International Linkages in the United Arab Emirates

Friday, November 22, 2024
A group of individuals stand on a patterned red carpet.

In November 2024, Yale’s Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (IPCH) expanded its international programs in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through on-going collaboration and knowledge exchange with Alserkal, a leading cultural institution in Dubai. Charlotte Ashamu, Yale IPCH’s Director of International Programs, curated a public program as part of the Majlis Talks, an annual event held during Alserkal’s Art Week which includes exhibitions, public art, and engaging discussions. 

The 2024 edition of the Majlis Talks, Acts of Presence: Stories of Africa’s Creative Leaders, presented a dynamic group of cultural leaders from across the African continent who are pioneering new approaches in museums, heritage sites, and cultural initiatives- challenging conventional models of where and how art can be created, presented and preserved. 

A woman wearing a black dress and grey hat presents to an audience.

Meskerem Assegued presenting at the Majlis Talks. Photo courtesy of Alserkal Avenue.

Featured speakers included two fellows of the Yale Directors Forum Fellowship, Kwame Akoto-Bamfo, a multidisciplinary artist and founder of the Nkyinkyim Museum in Ghana and Meskerem Assegued, the Director of the Zoma Museum in Ethiopia which she co-founded with acclaimed artist Elias Sime. In addition, multidisciplinary artist, Thania Petersen, reflected on her latest project in South Africa, where she has transformed minibus taxis into mobile art spaces, making art accessible to local communities. Textile designer, Johanna Bramble, who lives and works in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal, explored weaving as a means of preserving ancestral traditions.

A group sits in an outdoor seating area facing a stage with a presenter.
An audience listens attentively while facing the same direction.

Participants listening to the Majlis Talks at Alserkal. Photo courtesy of Alserkal Avenue. 

Earlier in February 2024, IPCH also collaborated with Alserkal to organize a seminar on cultural institutions in the United Arab Emirates at IPCH’s global symposium which took place in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Executive Director of Alserkal, Vilma Jurkute, was a guest speaker alongside Manal Ataya, the Museums Advisor for the Sharjah Museums Authority. IPCH aims to continue expanding its engagement in Africa, the Middle East and other regions, supporting the growth of leaders in the global cultural sector through collaborative networks, professional development and educational programs.