Open Call: Up to six fellows will be selected to participate in the program for six months in the period between October 2023 and October 2024.
Museums are spaces for presentation of the life and history of societies. They are spaces for discussion, contestation, construction and reconstruction of a society’s past, present and future. The “Connecting the Dots” project (2023-2025) aims at facilitating community engagement with public museums in Nigeria through the establishment of a museum fellowship program, a museum conversations series and a youth education program. The Goethe-Institut Nigeria together with the Ford Foundation and Nigerian museum partners invites artists/art researchers, archaeologists, architects, social researchers, writers, journalists, historians, cultural producers to apply for its museum fellowship program.
ABOUT “CONNECTING THE DOTS”
The project facilitates engagement, education and enjoyment of historical and contemporary art at various museum spaces across Nigeria. It focuses on a critical engagement with Nigerian museum content and the creation of research results that engage contemporary topics and takes a critical review of current collections, curation, language, and the links with contemporary issues. The project also seeks to create opportunities for young artists and researchers to present their research and works and to increase the knowledge and interest of young people in their heritage, museum and their collections.
ABOUT THE GOETHE-INSTITUT NIGERIA
The Goethe-Institut is the cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany with a global reach. We promote knowledge of the German language abroad and foster international cultural cooperation. We convey a comprehensive picture of Germany by providing information on Germany’s cultural, social and political life.
THE MUSEUM FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
The fellowship program aims to bring six young scholars/researchers from within Nigeria and abroad to study at selected museums and produce knowledge that addresses critical aspects of the museum’s content. In addition to a broad focus on the curatorial process and historical relevance of displays, the program seeks to address contemporary challenges facing Nigeria and contribute to advancing the role of museums in addressing key national development challenges.
PARTICIPATING MUSEUMS
1. Slave History Museum, Calabar
Located on the site of a fifteenth-century slave-trading warehouse in Marina Beach, the Slave History Museum derived its name from the activities that took place in Calabar, the embarkation point for a significant percentage of enslaved people who left African shores during the transatlantic slave trade. The museum tells the stories of the transatlantic slave trade and as well stores historical relics and its evidences.
Research invitation: SHM Calabar invites a fellow to carry out research on the Slave Routes in Cross River State as well as looking into “the Economic Gains” of the transatlantic slave trade (evident in the ancient prefabricated buildings scattered around Cross River State).
2. National Museum, Kaduna
The Kaduna Museum in Nigeria located in Ungawan Sarki, Kaduna is one of Nigeria’s architectural marvels. The Kaduna Museum contains a substantial collection of archaeological, ethnographic and crafts exhibits and has a live crafts centre in which traditional craftsmen and women can be observed making crafts.
Research invitation: NM Kaduna invites a fellow who will conduct a comparative study on its vast collection of archaeological and ethnographic items.
3. Benin City National Museum
Located in the city centre at the Oba Ovonramwen Square, Ring Road, the Benin museum holds a significant collection of artifacts from the Benin Empire including terracotta, bronze figures and cast iron pieces.
Research invitation: Benin Museum invites a fellow who will conduct research into the history, culture, religion, politics and socio-economic life of the Bini people.
4. CRIMMD Photo History Museum
CRIMMD is located on Lagos mainland and is a Nigerian History Museum, documenting all historical and archival materials on Nigeria history. CRIMMD’s collection includes photo documentaries on the transatlantic slave trade, the colonial era in Nigeria, the Nigerian Civil War, Festac 77, Nigerian music records, Nollywood and newspapers publications dating back to 1920.
Research invitation: CRIMMD invites a fellow who would take advantage of its vast historical archive in creating research work related to Nigeria’s history.
5. Colonial History Museum, Aba
The National Museums of Colonial History is housed in a wooden consulate building and was established on 8th March 1985. The Museum is a specialized one majorly on the political development and the history of the people of Nigeria with pictorial exhibitions from activities in the context of the slave trade, missionary activities, commerce, colonization and the achievement since independence in 1960.
Research invitation: the Colonial History Museum invites fellows to consider research on:
I. the amalgamation of Nigeria (through the amalgation treaty and table present in the museum)
II. the wooden consulate building housing the museum
III. early explorers to Nigeria, slave trade and early missionaries activities
6. Natural History Museum, OAU, Ile-Ife
NHM-OAU conducts research, serve as a repository, and promote awareness about Nigeria’s natural and cultural resources. Occupying a unique position within Nigeria (and, indeed, the West African region), NHM-OAU functions as an interface encompassing preservation of diverse aspects of natural history (in which humans and their culture are an integral aspect).
Research invitation: NHM-OAU invites researchers to consider research into any of these distinct but interrelated topics;
I. Archaeology-based appreciation of Yoruba culture within south-western Nigeria
II. Conservation of animals within south-western Nigeria through the curation of natural history specimens
Responsiblities of Fellows
• Participate in the fellowship at a Nigerian museum for a period of six months between October 2023 and October 2024
• Work with a Nigerian museum and Goethe-Institut in creating new research, knowledge and engagements that speaks to the museums research interest and its community
• Participate in the monthly fellows mentorship program facilitated by Goethe-Institut and a Nigerian museum
• Participate in museum conversation with experts at the museum and other relevant programs organised by Goethe-Institut during your fellowship
• Participation in monthly virtual meetings with the project coordinator during the fellowship period
• Presentation and or publication of your reseach/work at the end of your fellowship
Provisions of the Fellowship
• A work space provided by the museum
• Provision of a monthly fellowship stipend
• Travel allowance from the fellows domiciled address within Nigeria to the museum
• Accommodation allowance for the fellow in the museums location through the 6 months of the program
• Mentorship of the fellow facilitated by Goethe-Institut, the museum and industry experts
Method of Selection & Supplemental Information
Please send your:
- Portfolio and CV
- Motivation letter as a pdf document to nadine.siegert@goethe.de with the subject line “Connecting the Dots_Fellow” by 20 August 2023
The letter should indicate:
- In what ways does your practice permeate the contemporary themes/issues in Nigeria today? (500 words)
- Propose a project you would like to create with/in a Nigerian Museum over a 6 month period
Concept (250 words)
Research/Production Methodology (250 words)
Publication/Presentation/Exhibtion/Community Engagement (250 words)
- Please indicate which of the participating museum and their research interest you believe can host your project. Please prioritise three museums:
1st preferred museum
2nd preferred museum
3rd preferred museum
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