While becoming acquainted with innovative approaches and methods in conversation with distinguished professionals and through workshops and field visits, you will explore and discuss the practical and ethical challenges of museum and heritage work in direct relation to issues of sustainability, inclusivity and digitality.

This module will challenge you to think deeply about the role of heritage in society and the role of museums and heritage practitioners in advocating for sustainability and inclusivity and the impact of digitality. To this end, the module will begin with an overview of key issues in contemporary museum and heritage practice, such as education and governance, and local and international advisory and governing bodies, such as ICOM, ICOMOS and UNESCO. Subsequent weeks will discuss topics like legal and illegal trade, relevant national and international legislation, and the role of activism and communities. You will visit different heritage organisations, ranging from alternative grassroots organisations to well-established institutions, to learn about their methodologies and the ways in which they connect to the world outside. Meetings and discussions with staff members are part of the programme, allowing you to encounter the ideas behind heritage practice and to build your network. Among the experts with a longstanding relationship with the Reinwardt Academy in general and with the master’s programme in particular are Marlous Willemsen and Daniëlle Kuijten from Imagine IC, Wayne Modest and Martijn de Ruijter from the Museum of World Cultures, Sjoerd van der Linde from Studio Louter, Deborah Stolk from the Prins Claus Fund, Arjen Kok and Jinna Smit of the RCE, and Susanna Petterson from the National Museum in Stockholm. Students will additionally become acquainted with other professionals and practices during a week-long international trip that is part of this module. During this intensive study trip abroad, students will explore developments and challenges in the heritage field in another context. A series of visits to museums, heritage sites and organisations will give you complementary experience of various institutions, collections, community initiatives and professional interventions. You will be urged to reflect on and make suggestions for the programme for the excursion in line with your educational needs and professional interests.

For this module, the assessment consists of:

• An Intercultural intervention, this is a presentation concerning an intervention demonstrating intercultural sensitivity (group work)
• A critical portfolio based on continued documentation and reflection on field visits, literature and class work, as well as a final personal reflection; 
• A funding concept note: Students are to develop a funding idea for a heritage intervention based on an existing programme after identify a relevant and feasible call for proposals or foundations open for ideas. For this purpose, the existing programme will be provided along with an outline for a concept note and initial ideas for possible interventions. A draft is submitted for peer review