CONNECTING THE DOTS

Museums are spaces for presentation of the life and history of societies. They are spaces for discussion, contestation, construction and reconstruction of a society’s past, present and future. "Connecting the Dots" is an ongoing museum project by Goethe-Institut Nigeria and supported by Ford Foundation which facilitates community engagement with public museums in Nigeria through the establishment of a museum fellowship program, a museum conversations series and a youth arts education program.

The project facilitates engagement, education and enjoyment of historical and contemporary art at various museum spaces across Nigeria. It focuses on a critical engagement with Nigerian museum content and the creation of research results that engage contemporary topics and takes a critical review of current collections, curation, language, and the links with contemporary issues. The project also seeks to create opportunities for young artists and researchers to present their works and to increase the knowledge and interest of young people in their heritage, museum and their collections.

The hall way of ile ife museum © Goethe-Institut

Participating Museums

Connecting The Dots Programmes

Museum Fellowship Program
Youth Art Education Program

Connecting The Dots Programmes

Museum Fellowship Program

The museum fellowship program supports six young scholars/research-based artists from within Nigeria to develop a project at selected museums and produce knowledge that address critical aspects of the museum’s content and context. In addition to a broad focus on the curatorial process and historical relevance of displays, the program seeks to address contemporary challenges facing Nigeria and contribute to knowledge that could advance the role of museums in addressing key national development challenges.

Youth Art Education Program

Across the six host museums in the Connecting the Dots program, 60 young individuals have been selected to join the Youth Art Education program. They engage with an art and history curriculum that encourages personal and creative responses to artefacts, culturally significant narratives and symbols. Through a digital publication made available towards the end of the program, audiences are invited to explore the youths' creations and interpretations, igniting inspiration to connect with Nigerian heritage and craft their own representations.

Youth Art Education Program

Gallery

Museum Conversation Series

Theme: Rediscovering & Retelling Yoruba Science & Technological History

The inaugural session of the "Connecting the Dots" (CtD) Museum Conversations Series is hosted by the A. G. Leventis Museum of Natural History, OAU. Themed "Rediscovering & Retelling Yoruba Science & Technological History," the conversation spotlights recent studies that challenge long-held Eurocentric narratives on technological development in Africa by highlighting the indigenous contributions to glass bead technology among the Yorubas dating back to the 11th century. The program also features captivating research presentations by Yahuza Garba, the outgoing “Connecting the Dots” felow, who spent six months researching glass bead technology in southwestern Nigeria. Additionally, attendees enjoy displays and presentations from youth cohorts in the Youth Art Education program, followed by a batik-making workshop.
Theme: Ethnographic Collections, Way Forward For A Sustainable Culture

The program features conversations on challenges and remedies to heritage management in Nigerian museums and the significance of ethnographic collections in shaping contemporary cultural dialogue.
Spotlighting her illustrious fellowship experience and research focus over six months, “Connecting the Dots” museum fellow Ifunanya Madufor presents a play developed in collaboration with students from the Faculty of Arts at Kaduna State University. Additionally, ten young participants from the “Connecting the Dots” Youth Art Education program present an exhibition and showcase their talents through performances inspired by their workshop experiences, including a session on contemporary dance in collaboration with @mudartcompany

CONNECTING THE DOTS

Participating Museums

Slave History Museum, Calabar

CRIMMD Nigeria History Museum, Lagos

Colonial History Museum, Aba

National Museum, Kaduna

National Museum, Benin

Natural History Museum, (OAU) Ile-Ife

Connecting The Dots Programmes

Connecting The Dots Programmes

Museum Fellowship Program

Youth Art Education Program

Youth Art Education Program

Gallery

Museum Conversation Series

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