Around the world, communities and museums of various sizes and kinds are engaged in a growing conversation about ethical stewardship of cultural heritage. From this conversation, new modes of inclusive museum practice are emerging that reexamine whose stories are told in museums, who tells these stories, who is considered to be part of the audience, and how these stories are relayed to audiences. To further and deepen the sharing of ideas about museums and cultural heritage stewardship, the U.S. Department of State and the Smithsonian Institution (SI) are launching Cultural Heritage Forward, a new exchange program for museum professionals and community-based cultural heritage practitioners.

Cultural Heritage Forward will:

• examine a range of topics including equity, access, inclusion, shared stewardship, and ethical returns;
• provide technical assistance and professional development for its participants, rooted in a multi-directional exchange of ideas and approaches;
• build the capacity of individuals and institutions to conserve, manage, and display and interpret objects; and
• build and strengthen networks of dialogue around these key topics.

Cultural Heritage Forward is funded by the Cultural Heritage Center (CHC) in the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The program was developed and is managed by the Cultural Heritage Center and the Office of Global Affairs (OGA) at the Smithsonian.

The Department of State and the Smithsonian are excited to invite applications from the following countries to participate in the inaugural exchange cohort: Cameroon, Nigeria, New Zealand, Vietnam, Chile, and Peru.

Learn more and apply: https://global.si.edu/who-we-are/office-international-relations/cultural-heritage-forward