Category: Call for papers

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SYMPOSIUM: Museological Framing: An Anthropological And Curatorial Turning Point In Ethnographic And Rural Museums For An Inclusive Future

Symposium 11 of CoCA2026 ‘Museological Framing: An Anthropological And Curatorial Turning Point In Ethnographic And Rural Museums For An Inclusive Future’

Resonating with the values promoted by AVICOM, Symposium 11 of CoCA2026 advocates for ethical museology and explores how digital and audiovisual storytelling, alongside intercultural collaboration, can transform museums into inclusive platforms for shared heritage and cross-cultural dialogue.

At CoCA 2026, Symposium 11 invites museum professionals, anthropologists, and cultural thinkers to rethink ethnographic and rural museums as dynamic, inclusive, and community-powered spaces.

We’re calling for papers that explore:

  • Digital storytelling and shared heritage

  • Decolonisation and restitution

  • Diasporic collaboration and co-curation

Inspired by the same principles upheld by AVICOM, the symposium promotes intercultural dialogue, innovation through digital technologies, and the ethical reinvention of museological practices.

📅 Join us in Barcelona, 28-29-30 January 2026

📝 Submit your abstract in english, spanish, or catalan, by June 30, 2025

🔗 Call for Papers

#CoCA2026 #AVICOM #MuseumsForChange #CulturalJustice #Ethnography #MuseumInnovation

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Vestibule of the entrance hall, University of Barcelona

By Pere López – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3050018

CALL FOR PAPERS

ENGLISH

Call for papers CoCA 2026, International Congress of Anthropology CoCA2026

Symposium 11: Museological framing: an anthropological and curatorial turning point in ethnographic and rural museums for an inclusive future

Currently, the narratives of ethnographic museums are undergoing a major reassessment. Traditionally considered static repositories of tangible culture, these institutions are at the forefront of contemporary discussions on restitution, provenance, and inclusive curation. Current global challenges, colonial legacies, or adapting to constant change, require a transition from rigid interpretations of heritage to dynamic, community-driven frameworks. As hubs of knowledge, these museums can redefine their ethical responsibilities by recognising the hidden histories of collections and promoting multi-vocal representations. This symposium is open to papers that reflect on the evolving responsibilities of ethnographic museums in addressing complexity. It aims to be a space to share alternative approaches that emphasise intellectual collaboration, cultural memory, shared stewardship, and the participation of diasporic communities, and that integrate oral histories, digital technologies, and co-created narratives to evolve as spaces of reconciliation, inclusion, and cultural justice. We seek papers that examine how ethnographic and rural museums address contemporary challenges through innovative practices in the following areas: Decolonisation and cultural restitution; Participatory and collaborative curation; Community narrative and oral history; Use of digital technologies for inclusive interpretation; Shared heritage management; Critical evaluation of collections and exhibition processes. We especially encourage the presentation of case studies, ongoing projects, multidisciplinary research, or collaborative initiatives with local and diaspora groups. Proposals focused on suggestions for museological policies, ethical management practices or frameworks for establishing networks between institutions and social entities are accepted.

https://coca.antropologia.cat/simposi/renquadrament-museologic-un-punt-dinflexio-antropologic-i-curatorial-en-els-museus-etnografics-i-rurals-per-a-un-futur-inclusiu/

Location: Faculty of Geography and History, University of Barcelona

Dates: January 28, 29, and 30, 2026

Submit your abstract in english, spanish, or catalan (300 words) by June 30 2025

https://coca.antropologia.cat/enviament-de-comunicacions-2026/

#Anthropology #Ethnography #CoCABCN2026 #CoCA2026 #ruralmuseums

Español

Convocatoria abierta. CoCA 2026

Simposio 11: Encuadre museológico: un punto de inflexión antropológico y curatorial en los museos etnográficos y rurales para un futuro inclusivo

Actualmente, las narrativas de los museos etnográficos experimentan una importante reevaluación. Tradicionalmente consideradas como repositorios estáticos de cultura tangible, estas instituciones se encuentran en la vanguardia de discusiones contemporáneas sobre restitución, procedencias y curadoría inclusiva. Los desafíos globales actuales, los legados coloniales o la adaptación al cambio constante requieren transitar desde interpretaciones rígidas del patrimonio hacia marcos dinámicos impulsados ​​por la comunidad. Como centros de conocimiento, estos museos pueden redefinir sus responsabilidades éticas reconociendo las historias ocultas de las colecciones y promoviendo representaciones multivocales. Su objetivo es ser un espacio para compartir enfoques alternativos que enfatizen la colaboración intelectual, la memoria cultural, la administración compartida y la participación de las comunidades diaspóricas, y que integren historias orales, tecnologías digitales y narrativas co-creadas para evolucionar como espacios de reconciliación, inclusión y justicia cultural. Buscamos comunicaciones que examinen cómo los museos etnográficos y rurales abordan los desafíos contemporáneos mediante prácticas innovadoras en las siguientes áreas: Descolonización y restitución cultural; Curaduría participativa y colaborativa; Narrativa comunitaria e historia oral; Uso de tecnologías digitales para la interpretación inclusiva; Gestión compartida del patrimonio; Evaluación crítica de colecciones y procesos expositivos. Se recomienda especialmente la presentación de estudios de caso, proyectos en curso, investigaciones multidisciplinares o iniciativas de colaboración con grupos locales y de la diáspora. Se aceptan propuestas centradas en sugerencias de políticas museológicas, prácticas de gestión ética o marcos para el establecimiento de redes entre instituciones y entidades sociales.

https://coca.antropologia.cat/simposi/renquadrament-museologic-un-punt-dinflexio-antropologic-i-curatorial-en-els-museus-etnografics-i-rurals-per-a-un-futur-inclusiu/

Lugar: Facultad de Geografía e Historia, Universidad de Barcelona

Fechas: 28, 29 y30 de enero de 2026

Envía tu resumen en inglés, español o catalán (300 palabras) antes del 30 dejunio

https://coca.antropologia.cat/enviament-de-comunicacions-2026/

#CoCABCN26 #Antropología #Etnografía #museusrurals

CATALÀ

Convocatòria oberta! CoCA 2026 – Congrés Català d’Antropologia CoCA2026

Simposi 11:

Renquadrament museològic: un punt d’inflexio antropologic I curatorial en els museus etnografics i rurals per a un futur inclusiu

Actualment, les narratives dels museus etnogràfics experimenten una important reavaluació. Tradicionalment considerats com repositoris estàtics de cultura tangible, aquestes institucions es troben a l’avantguarda de discussions contemporànies sobre restitució, procedències i curadoria inclusiva. Els desafiaments globals actuals, els llegats colonials o l’adaptació al canvi constant, requereixen transitar des d’interpretacions rígides del patrimoni cap a marcs dinàmics impulsats per la comunitat. Com centres de coneixement, aquests museus poden redefinir les seves responsabilitats ètiques reconeixent les històries ocultes de les col·leccions i promovent representacions multi-vocals. Aquest simposi s’obre a comunicacions que reflexionin sobre l’evolució de les responsabilitats dels museus etnogràfics en abordar la complexitat Vol ser un espai on compartir enfocaments alternatius que emfatitzin la col·laboració intellectual, la memòria cultural, l’administració compartida i la participació de les comunitats diaspòriques i que integrin històries orals, tecnologies digitals i narracions co-creades per evolucionar com a espais de reconciliació, inclusió i justícia cultural. Busquem comunicacions que examinin com els museus etnogràfics i rurals aborden els desafiaments contemporanis mitjançant pràctiques innovadores en les següents àrees: Descolonització i restitució cultural; Curaduría participativa i col·laborativa; Narrativa comunitària i història oral; Ús de tecnologies digitals per a la interpretació inclusiva; Gestió compartida del patrimoni; Avaluació crítica de col·leccions i processos expositius. Recomanem especialment la presentació d’estudis de cas, projectes en curs, recerques multidisciplinars o iniciatives de col·laboració amb grups locals i de la diàspora. S’accepten propostes centrades en suggeriments de polítiques museològiques, pràctiques de gestió ètica o marcs per a l’establiment de xarxes entre institucions i entitats socials.

https://coca.antropologia.cat/simposi/renquadrament-museologic-un-punt-dinflexio-antropologic-i-curatorial-en-els-museus-etnografics-i-rurals-per-a-un-futur-inclusiu/

Lloc del congrés: Facultat de Geografia i Història, Universitat de Barcelona

Dates: 28, 29 i 30 de gener 2026

Envia el teu resum en anglès, castellà o català (300 paraules) abans del 30 de juny 2025:

https://coca.antropologia.cat/enviament-de-comunicacions-2026/

#CoCABCN26 #Antropologia #Etnografia #CoCA2026 #museusrurals

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Call for papers: Heritage, museums, collections. Professionals’ sharing of skills between Africa and Europe

Heritage, museums, collections. Professionals’ sharing of skills between
Africa and Europe.

Conference, Rome, 24-25 September 2025. Call for papers.
(ICOM Europe-ICOM Africa, ICOM Arab, Italian Ministry of Culture DIVA, ICOM Italy, ICOFOM, SUSTAIN, MPR, AVICOM, INTERCOM, ICOM WGD)

Debates involving museums and decolonization practices are ongoing and evolving, taking
into account the global consequences of colonialism in contemporary societies, including
social and economic inequalities, the marginalization of certain populations, ongoing
threats to indigenous peoples and their traditional lands, institutional racism, and sexism
in all their forms.

Decolonization, in its many uses by museums and curators, is a practice and an effort that
sits within a continuum – which in turn looks different in different parts of the world –
addressing various difficult histories related to political relations and processes of the
Empire formation, and resulting in various experimental solutions. But one general thing
we must recognize from the current debate is the fact that “decolonization” is about
probing into the systems used, the destruction wrought and remedying, by telling the
difficult truth of its ruthlessness. Restitution involves not only a material (and legal)
transfer of colonial objects, but also a spiritual return of identity knowledge that had been
taken off. More significantly, for people claiming their right to memory, restitution means
a reconnection with history: a reconnection that requires their collaboration with the
institutions that narrate the colonial past, by engaging in collaborative practices to
reconnect with the material traces of their past that are currently held by European
museums in order to use and/or rediscover traditional knowledge, and engaging in
collaborative practices, African and Afro-descendant curators, artists, activists, and
scholars. European museums are rewriting narratives, changing practices, and sharing
their imagery and knowledge as a mean to ‘decolonize’.

Sharing must lead to the recognition of cultural diversity and consequently to thinking of
the museum not as an absolute entity with similar characteristics – which are also ‘colonial’
in the exportation of the Western historical model -, but as realities linked to processes of
memory formation, processes which, for historical, anthropological and sociological
reasons, cannot respond to absolute models but respond to territorial realities that develop
their own models. The presence, in terms of quality and quantity, of tangible and intangible works of African
provenance in European museums, dedicated institutions, religious, missionary,
ethnological and scientific institutions, mainly universities, is enormous and partially
unknown.

For all collections not subject to restitution, a long task awaits the depository museums,
their reconnaissance and cataloguing with the verification of provenance and the definition
of the exhibition criteria and the museological projects for their enhancement (mediation
apparatus, conservation, restauration and educational projects).

The difficulties of interpretation, more generally, concern all art that does not belong to
long-standing cultural systems. By referring to studies focused on cultures other than our
own, we are able to recover visions and attitudes that allow us to understand our own
heritage much better and recover the intelligence of our past.

It is precisely for this reason that the European musealization of objects from outside
Europe cannot take place without dialogue on the pivotal concepts for such collections, the
concept of heritage and museum.

The conference in the present document wants to exchange views about new ways of
considering African museum heritage in European museums by comparing concepts of
museum and heritage in European and African thought and practice.

It will include two in-depth conceptual sessions with four keynote speakers, two from
Europe and two from Africa, followed by two panel discussions. This session will be
followed by three panels of comparative experiences between European and African
museologists and museum professionals, summarised in a final discussion of reports and
posters.

Papers and posters should refer to the conceptual choice of the conference and, in
particular, to three areas (panels):

– Heritage and museum. Musealisation, conservation, digital, restoration, research, study
and cataloguing.

– Museum displays. New readings and new interpretations.

– Heritage. Museums. Collections. The communities’ role.

The scientific committee will particularly appreciate the account and highlighting of
challenges (political, social, technological, managerial, organisational, personnel and
personnel training) faced by African and European museum professionals as they work
toward a more anticolonial relationship.

Speakers are invited to submit their proposals in English or French with a short
explanatory text (max. 300 words), the title and the chosen area (panel), indicating
whether the presentation is to be a lecture or a poster.
Speakers chosen by the scientific committee will have to present their paper in person; online papers are not foreseen. The invitation includes the coverage of the expenses for travels and accommodations at the conference venue.

Posters may be sent, also by e-mail, to the conference organisation, printed and displayed
at the expense of the conference. No reimbursements for travels and accommodations
expenses are provided for the writers of the posters.

All proposals must be received by 25 May 2025 by the writer (chair.icomeurope@gmail.com). Proposals received after this date cannot be evaluated and considered. Admissions will be notified by June 10, 2025.

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Welcome to Turin!

Hpnx9420, Turin monte cappuccini, CC BY 3.0

AVICOM Annual Conference 2024 “News from the Digital Museum World”

From October 17 to 19, 2024, AVICOM will host its annual conference in a hybrid format, combined with the annual General Assembly, in Turin. This time, the theme is deliberately chosen to be broader to cover diverse focal points that are all directly related:

  1. Sustainability, Climate Change and Climate Protection, Equality and Inclusion: How are these aspects or demands considered in digital museum presentations? Which museums dedicate (digital) exhibitions and activities to the topic of climate change and climate protection?

  2. Innovative Examples / Best Practice Examples of Resource-Conserving Digital Presentations and Exhibition Installations

  3. Artificial Intelligence: How can museums use it, and what ethical and legal aspects need to be considered?

  4. Digitally Created or Digitized Artworks: What legal aspects need to be considered?

  5. Virtual Museums and Exhibitions: Definition, Requirements, Advantages and Disadvantages, Legal Aspects…

  6. Digital Educational Formats: Examples of Cooperation between University and Museum

You are all – students, young professionals, and experienced colleagues from the museum and media world – cordially invited to participate with a presentation, either on-site or online. We are happy to accept your proposals/applications from now on. Please send them to: dr.m.faber[at]t-online.de. Please refer to the attached information for details!

AVICOM looks forward to collaborating at the annual conference with: ICOM Italy, University of Turin, Museo diffuso della Resistenza, della Deportazione, della Guerra, dei Diritti e della Libertà, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, University of St. Andrews, Scotland.

Paper-Conditions-EN-rev