Panel 1: 9:00–10:30 a.m.
Panel 2: 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Within museums, restoration sometimes refers to the processes of conserving, repairing, and reconstructing artworks and artifacts to preserve their original state. This virtual symposium goes beyond the physical and aesthetic engagement of material culture. It proposes a community-centered approach to re-storation that embraces participation, revitalization, and healing. Speakers engaged with the re-storation of African heritage and culture will convene in two sessions, one conducted in English and the second in French, to discuss the establishment of inclusive, equitable, and critical museum practices today. This program is the inaugural event of the second edition of the Arts and (re)Creation from Africas to the World seminar series. Arts and (re)Creation from Africas to the World is a monthly interdisciplinary seminar series that runs from September 2024 to May 2025. This event is cosponsored by the Princeton University Art Museum, the Center for Digital Humanities at Princeton, and the Africa World Initiative.
Panel 1: Re-storation and the Digital Humanities
Our first panel explores approaches and projects from the digital humanities that enhance community-centered knowledge production systems within European cultural institutions and seek to reconstruct, restore, rectify, and promote African identity, memory, and worldviews.
Introduced by Perrin Lathrop, assistant curator of African art, Princeton University Art Museum
Moderated in English by Anisa Tavangar, PhD student, Princeton University
Chao Tayianna, co-founder, Open Restitution, and founder, African Digital Heritage
Felicity Bodenstein, project lead, Digital Benin
Anthony Kalume-Dip, associate curator, Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft
Panel 2: Re-storation and Community
The second panel considers the impact of community contributions and collaboration on the development of inclusive and ethical museum practices and as a cornerstone to artistic production.
Introduced by Tiako Djomatchoua Murielle Sandra, PhD candidate, Department of French & Italian, Princeton University
Moderated in French by Rodrigue Nzelokuli, University of Kinshasa
Hugues Tchana Heumen, director, National Museum of Cameroon
Keita Daouda, director, National Museum of Mali
Herve Youmbi, international artist
