Mentees announced in the Reimagining Heritage, Archives, and Museums: Today/Tomorrow Program, Featuring an International Convening in Cape Town, Professional Meetings in Gauteng, and Parallel Mentorship Programme

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Six young heritage and cultural practitioners from across southern Africa have been selected as mentees in the Reimagining Heritage, Archives and Museums: Today/Tomorrow mentorship programme. Reimagining Heritage, Archives and Museums: Today/Tomorrow is a new project that consists of three components, namely an international convening being held in Cape Town from 13 – 15 February 2024, a series of professional meetings in Gauteng following the convening, and a parallel mentorship programme. The convening aims to provide a platform to explore ways to facilitate the preservation and promotion of heritage (material and immaterial), archives and museums through new ideas and concrete tools and programmes. It aims to address the complex challenges of today, driven by new technologies and vocal civil movements.

This multi-stakeholder project, initiated by the French Institute of South Africa and the Embassy of France, is co-constructed with South African partners and in wider consultation with African institutions.

Scout Fynn
Lethabolako Gumede
Chisomo Chakuda

The mentees include Chisomo Chakuda, an archaeology student from Zomba, Malawi; Curtis Jeaven, a heritage studies graduate from Kimberley, South Africa; Lethabolaka Gumede, a cultural practitioner and master’s student in contemporary curatorial practice based in Johannesburg, South Africa; Nothando Shabalala, an anthropologist from Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Phomolo Makoele, a library and information sciences graduate from Maseru, Lesotho; and Scout Fynn, a writer, curator and theatre maker based in Durban, South Africa.

Phomolo Makoele
Nothando Shabalala
Curtis Jeaven

In addition to attending the convening and the professional meetings thereafter, the mentees will participate in a tailor-made skills development programme. This will include a workshop by leading conference organisers and arts communication practitioners; a session on best practices for conference and event management led by a Professional Conference Organiser and a workshop on curatorial approaches to conferences, guided by the convening’s curatorial committee. 

They will also attend networking events, and have the opportunity to engage with speakers and delegates from across the globe.

The six mentees will document and write about their experiences for publication on IQOQO.org, and will be mentored in this process by the IQOQO editorial team.

This project is sponsored by Absa, Memorist and Groot Constantia. The Homecoming Centre of the District Six Museum, Iziko Museums of South Africa and Zeitz MOCAA are venue partners. This initiative is in partnership with the Department of Sports, Art and Culture (DSAC), the International Council of Museums South Africa (ICOM), the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), Innovation Foundation for Democracy, the South African Cultural Observatory (SACO), the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), the South African Museums Association (SAMA), Investec Cape Town Art Fair, and the Hasso Plattner d-skool Afrika*.

For more information on the event and to stay up to date with the latest developments: 

Visit: https://todaytomorrow.iqoqo.org 

Contact: projectmanager.museums@frenchinstitute.org.za 

For media enquiries, please contact:

Sarah Jenkins: sarah.jenkins@frenchinstitute.org.za or

Zaza Hlalethwa: zaza.hlalethwa@frenchinstitute.org.za 

Follow the French Institute of South Africa on social media: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/franceinsouthafrica

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ifasculture 

Twitter/ X: https://twitter.com/IF_SouthAfrica 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/franceinsouthafrica/ 

Follow IQOQO, a partner project to Reimagining Heritage, Archives and Museums: Today/Tomorrow, on social media for the latest news:

Instagram: @iqoqo_za

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iqoqoza

Twitter/X: @iqoqo_za

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/iqoqo-za/

Visit frenchinstitute.org.za for more information on the French Institute of South Africa. 

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