After ten online sessions, mid-November saw twenty young museum professionals and researchers from around the world (from Australia, Bonaire, Brazil, Indonesia, India, and Ghana to Suriname, the US, Germany, and South Africa) come together in Amsterdam for an intensive working week, Sharing Stories on Contested Histories.

This international knowledge exchange program was organized by the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands and the Reinwardt Academy, focusing on actionable perspectives and multifaceted approaches to challenging issues such as climate change, social injustice, and especially coloniality.

There were site visits with behind-the-scenes discussions at the Rijksmuseum, Imagine IC, and The Black Archives. Guest lectures by Wayne Modest (Director of the Wereldmuseum) and Peggy Brandon (project leader for the National Slavery Museum) sparked lively discussions. Practice-oriented workshops, such as Emotion Networking led by Hester Dibbits and Marit van Dijk, provided tools for active engagement.

The week highlighted that, while steps are being taken, much work remains to address and counteract the pain and lasting impact of the colonial past. Within and alongside this international and highly diverse group, there was remarkable dynamism and mutual knowledge exchange. Multiperspectivity was abundant—educational and often confrontational, as is fitting for challenging and complex heritage.

Check out the highlight 'Sharing Stories on Contested Histories' on the Reinwardt Instagram.