Future cultural professionals in Africa will be trained by six Italian museums

The fourth edition of the International School of Cultural Heritage (Scuola Internazionale del Patrimonio Culturale) is underway, with 23 cultural professionals from 12 African nations participating in a hands-on training program hosted by six Italian museums. After online modules and a week of lectures in Rome, the residential phase runs from April 27 to May 22, 2025, placing participants at the Museo delle Civiltà (MUCIV), the Archaeological Parks of Praeneste and Gabii, the National Archaeological Museum of Taranto (MArTA), the National Archaeological Museum of Naples (MANN), the National Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria (MArRC), and the National Archaeological Museum of Agro Falisco and Forte Sangallo in Civita Castellana. The program, titled "Managing Art Collections: from ancient to contemporary," focuses on collection management, conservation, and public programming, linking archaeological heritage with contemporary practices.

This initiative matters because it is part of Italy's Mattei Plan for Africa, a strategic government project launched in 2024 to shift from a donor-beneficiary model to equal partnerships with African nations. By training directors, curators, conservators, and archivists from Algeria, Angola, Congo-Brazzaville, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Senegal, Tanzania, and Tunisia, the School fosters cultural diplomacy and long-term institutional collaboration. It also strengthens the international role of Italian museums, demonstrating their capacity for coordinated cooperation in specialized training and heritage management.