Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi

The first theme, How Can Museums Be Relevant to Society? will delve into Changing Narratives—addressing how museums can shift away from colonial era collection interpretation and present inclusive stories that resonate with diverse audiences. Involving Youth will further explore how museums can attract and showcase a new generation of visitors and professionals, providing innovative, accessible experiences that reflect young audiences' perspectives and aspirations.

Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi

The second theme, How Museums Impact Surrounding Communities, will engage participants in two discussions: Collections, Transmission and Connections, which considers how museums can responsibly manage and interpret their collections for their communities, and Relocating Research, a session examining the ways African museums can conduct research on key issues that can renew collections and narratives.

Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi

The third theme, How African Museums Relate to Global Issues, will look outward with sessions on International Partnerships, a discussion focused on building effective cross-border collaborations that support shared goals while respecting cultural particularities. The Contemporary Arts session will be developed through a roundtable followed by an artists’ talk assessing how museums champion current African art practices within local and international contexts.