TheMuseumsLab

We are excited to welcome Anna Yanenko and Mahad Mohamed as Fellows of #TheMuseumsLab 2026! 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗬𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗻𝗸𝗼 is Deputy Head of the Research Department at the National Preserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” (Kyiv, Ukraine) and a non-residential fellow at CEFRES (France). Her research focuses on the visual history of Ukrainian museums, provenance studies, and the appropriation of cultural spaces under totalitarian regimes. 𝗠𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱 is a curator and interdisciplinary artist based in Mogadishu, working at the intersection of architecture, memory, and visual culture. Trained in engineering, his practice spans photography, research, and exhibition-making, with a focus on urban transformation in Somali cities. Anna Yanenko and Mahad Mohamed will spend their one-week Residency at HKW - Haus der Kulturen der Welt in Berlin, Germany. This Residency will be co-hosted with SAVVY Contemporary - The Laboratory of Form-Ideas. @hkw_berlin 🔗 Read more about HKW: /en/institutes/hkw-haus-der-kulturen-der-welt

Community Collaboration and Provenance Research in Tanzania – A video insight into the CollabFund project Tracing Colonialism: Tanzanian Collection in Slovenia by Eliabu Mbonimpa, article by the Slovene Ethnographic Museum. A field journey through Tanzania retraces the routes of Slovenian collector Stanko Grom. Through conversations with local communities, museum professionals, and artists, the project Tracing Colonialism opens new perspectives on the collection and its contemporary relevance. 💬 “A particularly vital aspect of the project will be the comparison between historical and current conditions at the specific Tanzanian locations where the collector worked. This will allow us to identify the potential environmental consequences of colonial resource exploitation and, crucially, to establish connections with the communities currently living in these areas.“ 🔗 Watch the video reflection and read the full article: /stories/research-tanzania 🔗 Get an overview of the project: themuseumslab.org/tracing-colonialism Project team: → Alumni: Dr Tina Palaić · Eliabu Mbonimpa @eliabu_12 → Cooperation Partner: Marko Frelih → Involved Museums: Slovene Ethnographic Museum @slovenski_etnografski_muzej · Iringa Boma Regional Museum and Cultural Center @iringa_boma Tracing Colonialism is one of the selected projects of the initiative by #TheMuseumsLab CollabFund, which is funded by @kulturstiftungdesbundes (German Federal Cultural Foundation). #CollabFund #kulturstiftungdesbundes

We are excited to welcome Chabwera Phiri and Erëmirë Krasniqi as Fellows of #TheMuseumsLab 2026! 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗯𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗮 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗶 is a museum professional specializing in natural history and environmental conservation awareness, with experience in collections management, exhibition development, and translating research into interpretive programming for diverse audiences. 𝐄𝐫ë𝐦𝐢𝐫ë 𝐊𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐢 is an art writer, curator, and researcher based in Pristina, Kosovo. Her writing has appeared in Artforum, frieze, and ArtReview, among others. Most notably, she curated the Pavilion of the Republic of Kosovo at the 60th International Art Exhibition—La Biennale di Venezia, which received a Special Mention for National Participation. @eremirekrasniqi Chabwera Phiri and Erëmirë Krasniqi will spend their one-week Residency at Global Heritage Lab - University of Bonn in Bonn, Germany. @globalheritagelab 🔗 Read more about Global Heritage Lab: themuseumslab.org/institutes/global-heritage-lab

The Fellows came together for the very first time at the Kick-Off of #TheMuseumsLab 2026 last week. During the morning session, they shared what they are looking forward to in the programme, from exchanging ideas on museum practices, restitution and governance to exploring memory work, community co-curation, and new approaches to heritage in African and European contexts. Swipe through the slides to read their responses. A heartfelt thank you to all Fellows for sharing their thoughts and reflections. We look forward to the conversations and exchanges ahead.

Today, we meet the Fellows for the first day of Module 1. Across five days over the coming weeks, this online module establishes the historical, conceptual, methodological, and collaborative foundations for #TheMuseumsLab 2026. It serves as a starting point for the on-site phases in Berlin and Kigali by introducing key initiatives, mapping current debates, and creating space for initial exchange and discussion. Module 1 also offers dedicated time for Fellows to connect with their Co-Fellows through structured peer-group sessions—sharing their work, exchanging perspectives, and learning from one another across disciplines and regions. The module is embedded within this year’s focus, “Building Futures from Memory: Museums and Memorial Sites as Agents,” which understands memory as a dynamic force—one that shapes not only how societies remember, but also how they act in the present and imagine what lies ahead. We look forward to the ideas, questions, and connections that will shape this shared journey over the coming weeks and months. ⓘ “Twubake ejo hazaza tuzirikana amateka: Ingoro z’umurage n’inzibutso bitubere umuyoboro” is the Kinyarwanda translation of this year’s theme, “Building Futures from Memory: Museums and Memorial Sites as Agents of Change,” kindly provided by @intekoyumuco

Join us today as we Kick-Off TheMuseumsLab 2026. 📅 6 May | 5 PM CEST 🔗 YouTube Livestream: /Kick-Off26 (Link in bio) What is a 21st century museum and how can it be relevant as a platform to produce and share knowledge and history? How can museums be safe places empowering the communities they serve? How can museum leaders inspire their staff and the audience at large? Can we allow ourselves the right to fail, while considering that a museum is a place to experiment, listen and learn? A keynote conversation will reflect on how museums and memorials shape collective memory and future possibilities, while engaging with contested histories and more inclusive practices. Holding the Past – Shaping the Future – A conversation with: → Assumpta Mugiraneza Director & Co-founder of IRIBA Center for Multimedia Heritage & Member of #TheMuseumsLab International Academic Committee @centre_iriba → N'Goné Fall Independent Curator @panafricandkr Moderation: → Christopher Ssebuyungo Conservator at Uganda National Museum & TheMuseumsLab Alumnus @chrisbuyungo @ugandamuseums We’re excited to begin this new edition together and look forward to welcoming you online.

Pangolins and Participation: Turning Museum Visitors into Exhibit Creators – An insight into the CollabFund project Co-MammalHub by Dr Annie Antonites and Dr Nicola Grobler  💬 “People want to contribute their professional expertise and lived experiences, and Co-MammalHub provides a space for recognising these contributions. The true value of the co-create process lies in the intangible: the dialogues between participants, as well as the process of creating together. The session outputs and exhibition designs reflect the enthusiasm and collaborative efforts of the participants.” Dr Annie Antonites and Dr Nicola Grobler share insights into the project kick-off in Pretoria. 🔗 Read the full article: /stories/pangolins-and-participation 🔗 Get an overview of the project: themuseumslab.org/co-mammal-hub Project team: → Alumni: Dr Annie Antonites  ·  Anita Hermannstädter  ·  Lydia Nafula → Cooperation Partners: Brandon Kilbourne  @brandon_kilbourne_poetry ·  Dr Nicola Grobler @nicola_grobler_artist   ·  Wycliffe Oloo Omondi → Involved Museums: Ditsong National Museum of Natural History @ditsongmuseumssa   ·  Nairobi National Museum @nairobinationalmuseum   ·   Museum für Naturkunde Berlin @mfnberlin   ·  University of Pretoria @upmuseums Co-MammalHub is one of the selected projects of the initiative by #TheMuseumsLab CollabFund, which is funded by @kulturstiftungdesbundes (German Federal Cultural Foundation). #CollabFund #kulturstiftungdesbundes #CoMammalHub

We are excited to welcome Kinga Langowska and Yemisi Deborah Odojaime as Fellows of #TheMuseumsLab 2026! 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗼𝘄𝘀𝗸𝗮 is a PhD candidate in Modern History at Charles University in Prague, working at the intersection of museum studies, memory studies, migration studies, and digital humanities. Her work explores how museums, archives, and memorial sites engage with histories of migration, displacement, borderlands, and contested memory. @kalangowska 𝗬𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗶 𝗗𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗵 𝗢𝗱𝗼𝗷𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲 is a Curator at the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Lagos, with expertise in collections documentation, exhibition development, and cultural heritage preservation. She has contributed to the digitization of “8,000 Years of Art in Nigeria.” Her work focuses on community engagement & inclusive museum practice. @oluwayeemisi @ncmmhq Kinga Langowska and Yemisi Deborah Odojaime will spend their one-week Residency at Ghana Museums and Monuments Board in Accra, Ghana. @ghana_museums 🔗 Read more about GMMB: themuseumslab.org/institutes/ghana-museums-and-monuments-board

Open Call: Queer Digital Archive – Mankishi and Non-Binary Ancestry Mankishi are spiritually charged wooden figures linked to healing practices among the Songye and Luba peoples. In times of colonial upheaval, they served important personal and collective functions. In museum collections today, some Mankishi resist binary classifications of “male” and “female.” At the MARKK Museum in Hamburg, two figures display multiple physical gender markers within a single body. This may point to cosmologies in which gender is plural, relational, and entangled with spiritual forces. At the same time, meanings remain fragmented due to colonial violence and the loss of knowledge. We ask how such collections might be “re-matriated”: through restoring relationships, circulating knowledge, and enabling community-led interpretations by present-day queer knowledge holders. What does it mean that queer* and trans* traces of African histories are held in European museums while LGBTQI* people in many parts of West and Central Africa face ongoing threats? How might possible queer or non-binary ancestral knowledge resonate with present-day struggles—particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo—while respecting the limits of what can and should be shared? We invite speculative, artistic, and research-based contributions that engage with Mankishi as part of queer and trans ancestry. We understand speculation as a careful, dialogical practice—opening questions rather than making fixed claims. #TheMuseumsLab #CollabFund @themuseumslab #kulturstiftungdesbundes “Digital Queer Archive in Africa and the Diaspora” is one of the selected projects of the initiative by @themuseumslab CollabFund, which is funded by @kulturstiftungdesbundes (German Federal Cultural Foundation).

Tracing Aquatic Ecologies in the Okavango Delta – An insight into the CollabFund project Digital Archive Footprints by Atang L.S. Arnold  💬 “Water remains the central thread throughout my research. In the context of the Okavango Delta, water is not only a resource but the lifeline of the entire ecosystem—shaping biodiversity, sustaining plant and animal life, and determining patterns of survival and adaptation. It is a continuous conversation within my work, informing both the ecological and cultural dimensions of the study.” Atang L.S. Arnold takes us into the early stages of her research, focusing on water systems, aquatic plants, and ecosystem change in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. 💬 “So far, I have had the opportunity to review collections shared by our collaborators. Through this process, I observed that Botswana has limited archival material within German institutions. However, the few records I have accessed have been valuable in helping me narrow and define the scope of my research.” 🔗 Read the full article: themuseumslab.org/stories/tracing-aquatic-ecologies 🔗 Get an overview of the project: themuseumslab.org/digital-archive Project team: → Alumni: Melissa Kurkut @meliibees   ·  Billy Fowo @billyfowo ·  Atang L.S. Arnold @sharon_atang → Cooperation Partner: Dr Karolin Heinle → Involved Museums: SAVVY Contemporary / SAVVY Kwata  @savvycontemporary ·  Milele Museum @milelemuseum · The Space Botswana @thespacebotswana   ·  Museum für Naturkunde Berlin @mfnberlin Digital Archive Footprints is one of the selected projects of the initiative by #TheMuseumsLab CollabFund, which is funded by @kulturstiftungdesbundes (German Federal Cultural Foundation). #CollabFund #kulturstiftungdesbundes

We are excited to welcome Isabel Beirigo and Sally Mostafa as Fellows of #TheMuseumsLab 2026! 𝗜𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹 𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗼 is positive and cheerful, structured, people-focused and skilled in connecting people. She creates environments where people can collaborate, learn, and thrive. Her work builds strong links between communities, their history, and their future. Isabel believes that cultural heritage is a powerful driving force for social transformation. @ibeirigo 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗮 is a senior museum curator and heritage interpreter with over 20 years of museum experience. Her main concern is introducing new approaches for sensory aware interpretation to audiences with autism spectrum disorder in museums, to be safe platforms and help them to reduce their suffering from the social isolation. @grandegyptianmuseum Isabel Beirigo and Sally Mostafa will spend their one-week Residency at Futurium in Berlin, Germany. @futuriumd 🔗 Read more about Futurium: themuseumslab.org/institutes/futurium

We are excited to welcome Ifeoma Nnamani and Yevheniia Moliar as Fellows of #TheMuseumsLab 2026! 𝗜𝗳𝗲𝗼𝗺𝗮 𝗡𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶 is a Nigerian cultural practitioner, working across museums, education, and community engagement. At the Centre for Memories, she designs exhibitions and public programmes that create space for people, especially young people, to reconnect with history. Her work is increasingly focused on how museums handle contested heritage. @ify_nnamani @centreformemories 𝗬𝗲𝘃𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗶𝗮 𝗠𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗿 is a PhD candidate at the Technical University of Berlin and an independent curator. Her work focuses on contested heritage, Soviet-era art, and museum practices in times of war, with a particular interest in how institutions engage with difficult histories. @hidden_moral @tu_berlin Ifeoma Nnamani and Yevheniia Moliar will spend their one-week Residency at Freedom Park, Heritage Site & Museum in Pretoria, South Africa. @freedomparksa 🔗 Read more about Freedom Park: themuseumslab.org/institutes/freedom-park-heritage-site-and-museum