Aprille Tijam

Aprille Tijam (b. 1972) obtained her BA in Philippine Arts from University of the Philippines-Manila and has been working with Philippine private and government museums since 1994. Her extensive experience in museum work—education, PR, exhibitions, collections—provided her with holistic understanding of many facets of museum work.

In 2024, she was promoted to Associate Director, Head of Exhibitions and Collections at Ayala Museum, where she is affiliated since 2004. In her current role, she oversees in-house exhibitions management; local/ international loans and networking; overseas loans courier. Aprille was Exhibition Manager/courier of Zóbel. Contrapuntos, Ayala Museum’s Collateral Event entry, 57th Venice Biennale (2017). Simultaneously, she oversaw the Collections Management Program of Ayala Museum and Bank of the Philippines Islands collections; project manage Ayala Group of Companies special art programs; museum development projects; five traveling exhibitions brought to over 70 Philippine destinations (2008-present). Sge project-managed/courier for Philippine loans for Zobel. The Future of the Past, Museo Nacional del Prado (2022-2023) and collaboration with Asian Civilisations Museum Singapore for Philippine loans in Manila Galleon: From Asia to the Americas (2023-2024).

Aprille developed collections-focused learning programs and organized trainings. She is spearheading the incremental implementation of access programs for Persons with Disabilities. A grant from British Council-Connections Through Culture Programme supported my Research on Fernando Zóbel Collection and Donation to the British Museum (2020). This is part of a three-phase research—United Kingdom, Spain, and soon in the US. A British Museum-International Training Programme grant allowed her to continue with phase 2—Research on Fernando Zóbel as Art Patron and the Spanish Printmakers in the Museo de Arte Abstracto Español in Spain (2022). She is one of ten international fellows of International Working Group-Reimagining the British Museum Programme (2022-2024).

Aprille is an ICOM member since 2008; member of ICOM Philippines Board (2019-2021). She received travel/training grants from CollAsia2010-ICCROM/SEAMEO-SPAFA, ICOM, Getty Foundation, British Museum, and British Council.

Aprille Tijam, Associate Director and Head of Exhibitions and Collections, Ayala Museum, Makati City, Philippines, has been awarded by the Getty Foundation, Los Angeles.