Raphael Chikukwa
In 2022, 41 contemporary art curators, researchers, and museum directors from 24 different countries were awarded to attend the CIMAM 2022 Annual Conference. The CIMAM 2022 Annual Conference, titled "The Attentive Museum. Permeable Practices for a Common Ground", was held in Mallorca (Balearic Islands), Spain on 11–13 November, hosted by Es Baluard Museu d'Art Contemporani de Palma.
Raphael Chikukwa's Conference Report
As a recipient of the Travel Grant to attend the 2022 CIMAM Annual Conference in Spain, this report highlights my experiences at the conference and recommendations. Firstly, I would like to thank CIMAM and the Grant Sponsors for allowing me and others to attend this important gathering. Arrived in Spain the afternoon of the 10th of November and the Conference started the following morning at the Es Baluard Museum d’Art with a networking session with other grantees and meeting the CIMAM Board members. As one of the grantee delegates, it was great to meet others from Africa, such as Angola, Ethiopia, South Africa, and Mali. Reflection on the CIMAM Annual Theme: The Alternative Museum for A Common Ground. It was officially opened by King Philip the 5th of Spain and later a speech by then CIMAM President Mami Kataoka and Saskia who narrated the 60th anniversary of CIMAM. A panel presentation then followed it by various speakers that included Meskrem the founding Director of ZOMA Contemporary Art Museum. The Model for her Museum as an independent Museum and its functions which is self-funded. A virtual presentation by the M+ Museum of Hong Kong. Having been to the two spaces I could relate to these two projects and the only common ground between these two is there are all Museums of Art and are run by very passionate people. Furthermore, these two projects are new spaces that are also challenging the way we see Museums today, one in the African City of Addis Ababa and one in Hong Kong. We later had group sessions that allowed us to tour the exhibition at the Museum which was very informative.
Day two Saturday the 12th of November with a keynote by Danise Fereira da Silva which was very poetic and followed by Sithembile Msezani and Clementine Deliss whose contribution touched on Decolonization while complimenting Sithembile Msezani’s talk on looking back. Later we moved into group works interrogating the presentations by the speakers and it also gave us the opportunity to network with others during and after the conference. Studio visits allowed us to continue conversations with others too.
On day three Sunday the 13th of November the Conference continued at an old Church with yet another powerful session. As the final day of the conference, it allowed me to digest and also realize the common ground that we are in as much as I am working from Africa. The results of the new President of the Board were later announced in the evening back at the Es Baluard Museu d’ Art. The conference was an eye-opener and an opportunity to network. The sad reality of the CIMAM Annual Conference is the minimal representation of African Museums and given that it was CIMAM @ 60 and this Annual Conference has never taken place in Africa. Been asking myself why? Does it mean that there are no Museums in Africa? The answer is there even older Museums than CIMAM itself.
Given that CIMAM is the same age as the National Gallery of Zimbabwe ICAC also started in 1962. Having been established in 1957 the National Gallery of Zimbabwe has the capacity to host CIMAM to be staged in the African Continent. This will also allow many African Museums to affiliate with CIMAM and for African representation in the CIMAM Board and it will allow equal representation of the forgotten continent. Africa has contributed immensely to the Global Arts but has not been able to harness its contribution. The staging of CIMAM in the African Continent will also allow CIMAM members from Asia, Africa, and other parts of the work to understand Africa in its own backyard other than depending on media. The studio visits and gallery visits made me understand the art scene in Palma.