LRS-Masterclass Cultureel Erfgoed
By Lianne Leonora: University of Curaçao, Curaçao · Library & Research Services
On Saturday, February 18, the Library and Research Services department had the pleasure of hosting its first guest speakers for 2017, who gave a masterclass on the theme “Cultural Heritage Research,” attended by a record 23 participants.
Dr. Rose Mary Allen opened the morning with a brief presentation of the NWO-funded research program “Traveling Caribbean Heritage.” This is one of nine Dutch Caribbean research projects recently honored by the Dutch Organization for Scientific Research (NWO). No fewer than five of these were submitted by the University of Curaçao. The research project “Traveling Caribbean Heritage” examines (post)colonial migrations and processes of creolization in Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. The research team includes the University of Curaçao, the University of Aruba, UNESCO Bonaire, the KITLV in Leiden, and Erasmus University in Rotterdam. For more information: http://www.kitlv.nl/travelingcaribbean-heritage. For more details about all the research projects funded by NWO, visit the NWO website (www.nwo.nl).
Next, Dyonna Benett, an alumna of the Reinwardt Academy, presented the research she conducted for her graduation project in 2015-2016 in Curaçao. Her findings are detailed in her thesis “The Mirror of a Nation: A Study on the Representation of Identity in the Museums of Curaçao,” which was nominated for the ‘ICOM Thesis Award 2016’. Benett researched the influences and factors related to nation-building and identity that play a role in museum curation and exhibition design. She examined how artifacts are presented and whether ethnic diversity in the community is taken into account. By studying eight types of museums in Curaçao as case studies, she aimed to shed light on the representation in exhibitions and its influence on national identity.
During the masterclass, Dyonna Benett inspired a lively exchange on “black-centered” (inspired by the African diaspora) versus “white-centered” (Eurocentric-inspired) museums, and offered recommendations for “globally centered museums” (multi-ethnically inspired). The importance of “globally centered museums,” according to Benett’s research, is that they can play a significant role in cultural integration and social inclusion. Through her research and follow-up projects, Benett hopes to contribute to an “age of awareness,” in which the consequences of past decisions are viewed in a recent light, ensuring that the perspectives of multiple population groups are shared, told, and exhibited.
The masterclass concluded with the recording of recommendations and topics for cultural heritage research. The series of masterclasses will continue in 2017 under a new name, Tèrtulia: a platform for intellectual exchange on new research, research methods, and research proposals, new books, articles, and working papers. Faculties will be approached for their input and/or contributions to a planned meeting, but they are also welcome to propose ideas themselves
