Virtual Programs

PAST EVENTS:

 

The Museum’s Association of the Caribbean (MAC) and the special MAC COVID Collecting Committee, hosted an online exhibition, entitled Collecting Our Voices in the Caribbean Diaspora (COVID). 

The exhibition features work by artists from the English, French, Spanish and Dutch-speaking Caribbean, with representation from ten countries: The Bahamas, Cayman Islands, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Puerto Rico and Suriname.  


COVID: Collecting Our Voices In Dialogue (Part 1)

During the COVID-19 crisis, the Museum’s Association of the Caribbean (MAC) and the special MAC COVID Collecting Committee, created an online art exhibition entitled Collecting Our Voices in the Caribbean Diaspora (COVID) to bring together creative voices from across the region to illuminate how people in the Caribbean and its Diaspora were living and moving through the crisis.  The exhibition features artists from ten countries: The Bahamas, Cayman Islands, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Puerto Rico and Suriname.  The exhibition will stay online for eight months—through November 26th, 2021—and is accompanied by a lively talks series. Below you will find a series of Curator and Artist’s Talks illuminating how the exhibition came together and the process behind the works.

The Curators of MAC’s first-ever online art exhibition discuss the conception, vision, and planning of the show, as well as the difficulties of organising an exhibition during the COVID-19 pandemic and its and expected outcomes.

COVID: Collecting Our Voices In Dialogue (Part 2)

 This second talk for MAC’s “Collecting our Voices in the Caribbean Diaspora” Exhibition was held on Thursday, June 17th, 2021, at 6 p.m. EST 11 p.m. GMT in the French Language.
Moderated by MAC Board Member Katarina Jacobson, the discussion featured artists from Martinique and Guadeloupe speaking about their artworks in the show. These include Elie Babel, Céline Bernabé, May Clemente, David Gumbs, Bruno Métura, Ruddy Marc Roquelaure. The recording for this talk is in French only.


La deuxième conférence pour « Collecter nos voix dans la diaspora des Caraïbes » a eu lieu le jeudi 17 juin 2021 à 18 h(HNE 23 h GMT en langue française.
Animée par Katarina Jacobson, membre du conseil d’administration du MAC, la discussion mettra en vedette des artistes de la Martinique et de la Guadeloupe qui parleront de leurs œuvres dans l’exposition. Parmi eux, Elie Babel, Céline Bernabé, May Clemente, David Gumbs, Bruno Métura, et Ruddy Marc Roquelaure.

COVID: Collecting Our Voices In Dialogue (Part 3)

The third iteration of the MAC “Collecting our Voices in the Caribbean Diaspora” Artist Talk series was held on Thursday, July 22nd, 2021, at 6 p.m. EST 11 p.m. GM. Moderated by MAC Vice President, Nyasha Warren, the discussion featured artists from Guyana/USA, Haiti/USA, the Cayman Islands and Suriname speaking about their artworks in the show. They included Errol Ross Brewster, Francks Deceus, Sunil Puljhun, Simon Tatum and Rene Tosari. The talk was held in English.

COVID: Collecting Our Voices In Dialogue (Part 4)

MAC hosted the fourth Artist Talk for “Collecting our Voices in the Caribbean Diaspora” on Thursday, August 26th, 2021, at 6 p.m. EST 11 p.m. GM. Moderated by MAC Board Member Katrina Cartwright, the discussion featured artists from The Bahamas and Suriname speaking about their artworks and poetry in the show. Featured artists were Dede Brown, Shaundell Horton, Eugene Elire, Keneth Flidjers and Rinaldo Klaas. The recording for this panel is in English.

COVID: Collecting Our Voices In Dialogue (Part 5)

The final episode in the MAC “Collecting our Voices in the Caribbean Diaspora” Artist Talk series was held on 23rd September 2021, at 6 p.m. EST 11 p.m. GM. MAC Immediate Past President Natalie Urquhart joined artists from Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Jamaica and Suriname to discuss the impact of the exhibition and their practice. Featured artists included: Jemimah Johnson (Jamaica/UK), Miguel Keerveld (Suriname), CK Ledesma (Puerto Rico/US), Iria Prieto (Puerto Rico), and Dhiradj Ramsamoedj (Suriname).  The recording for this panel is in English. The exhibition continues until November 26th, 2021.

 

 

MAC Pandemic Support Series – WORKSHOP #3 – Health and Safety for Caribbean Museums

Pandemic Support Series - HEALTH AND SAFETY FOR CARIBBEAN MUSEUMS

About the session: Museums are forced to take stringent measures to protect both their staff and stakeholders in response to prevention measure guidelines announced by regional governments. This Webinar provides an introduction to the best practices in Health & Safety and explores some of the approaches and challenges to implementing Health & Safety guidelines when reopening museums in the Caribbean.

October 8, 2020 at 1:00pm – 2:00pm (EST)

Speakers:

  • Ishenkumba Kahwa – Prof Emeritus, University of the West Indies (Mona Campus, Jamaica)
  • Kevin Farmer – Deputy Director, Barbados Museum and Historical Society (Barbados)
  • Meegan Ebanks – Head of Business and Operations (Facilities), National Gallery Cayman Islands (Cayman Islands)
  • Maria Amalia Leon de Jorge – Director General, Centro Leon (Dominican Republic)

Moderated by Lourdes Ranero – Chief Museum Registrar, The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum (Miami)

Translation from English to French available.


 

MAC Pandemic Support Series – WORKSHOP #4 – Advocacy in the Caribbean

Pandemic Support Series - ADVOCACY IN THE CARIBBEAN

About the session: As Caribbean economies struggle in the face of the COVID-19, regional museums have either lost funding or are at risk of losing, funding. 13% of museums, participating in the MAC survey in April, were at risk of being closed permanently. In the face of great socio-economic insecurity, Caribbean museums must advocate for their survival. This webinar provides an introduction to developing an advocacy campaign and examples of how Caribbean museums professionals advocate on behalf of their institutions.

October 14, 2020 at 2:00pm – 3:00pm EST

Speakers:

  • Diana McCaulay, – Environmental activist and author (Jamaica)
  • Alissandra Cummins – Director, Barbados Museum and Historical Society (Barbados)
  • Marianne Ramirez – Director, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico)
  • Laurella Rincon – Director, Memorial ACTe (Guadeloupe )

Moderated by Rosie Gordon-Wallace – Director, Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator (Miami)

Translation from English to Spanish will be available.


 

 

“In Conversation” Series 

Join MAC in conversation with Museum leadership from different linguistic regions of the Caribbean (Spanish, English, French, and Dutch) as they discuss the impact of COVID-19 on their museums, how their institutions initially adapted to the crisis, engagement strategies used in lockdown, move to reopening, and looking to the future of the sector. The conversations will be held in the native language but translated into English in real time during the webinar.

PAST EVENTS:

“In Conversation” (Dutch Caribbean) – New date: September 17, 2020 – 6:00PM EDT

  • Natasha Joelle Silva, Chief Conservation Officer, Fundacion Parke Nacional Aruba
  • Dr. Delno L.A. Tromp, Director of the Kura Hulanda Museum of Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, Curaçao
  • Marguerita Wever, Head of Education and Presentations Department of the Museo Arqueologico Nacional Aruba
  • Michèle Russel-Capriles, Chairman of the Jewish Cultural Historical Museum and treasurer at Landhuis Bloemhof, Curaçao
  • Moderator: Arminda Franken-Ruiz, Caribbean Heritage Specialist, Advisor to the Mondriaan Fund, Aruba


 

 

“In Conversation” (English Caribbean) – August 13, 2020 – 6:00PM EDT

  • Nimah Muwakil-Zakuri, Director, Central Bank Museum of Trinidad & Tobago (Trinidad & Tobago)
  • Amanda Coulson, Director, National Art Gallery of the Bahamas (Bahamas)
  • Shani Roper, Curator, University of the West Indies Museum (Jamaica)
  • Natalie Urquhart, Director, National Gallery of the Cayman Islands (Cayman Islands)
  • Moderator: Germaine Joseph, Programme Officer, Built Heritage Conservation, St Lucia National Trust (St Lucia)


 

 

“In Conversation” (Spanish Caribbean) – August 19, 2020 – 6:00 PM EDT

  • Marianne Ramirez Aponte, Executive Director and Chief Curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Puerto Rico and President of the Association of Museums of Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico)
  • Alexis Salazar, Director of the Museum of Belize and Houses of Culture, National Institute of Culture and History (Belize)
  • Alex Martínez Suárez, General Coordinator and Museographer of the Fernando Peña Defilló Museum (Dominican Republic)
  • Amanda Destro, Administrator of the Destro Buttons Museum, President of the Network of Museums and Visitor’s Centers of Panama (Panama)
  • Moderator: Nyasha Warren, The Society of Friends of the West Indian Museum of Panama / MAC Board (Panama)


 

 

“In Conversation (French Caribbean)”  August 27, 2020 – 6:00PM EDT

  • Lyne-Rose Beuze, Chief Curator, CTM (Martinique)
  • Laurella Rinçon, General Director, Mémorial ACTe (Guadeloupe)
  • Florent Plasse, Head of Collections and Heritage, Fondation Clément (Martinique)
  • Jean Mathiot, Executive Director, Centre d’Art (Haïti)
  • Animatrice: Katarina Jacobson, Head of Collections Department, Musée Edgar Clerc/ MAC Board member


 

 


 

 

Online Workshops and Webinar Series

Part Two: An Introduction to Distance and E-Learning Wednesday, September 9, 12:00pm-1:00PM EDT

About the Webinar Education is at the heart of most museum missions and learners of all ages represent a core part of on-site attendance. But what if you’re eager to learn and not able to make it to the museum? Whether to overcome challenges of affordability, geography, or pandemic closures, it’s time for institutions to consider how digital advancements can help them to expand opportunities for learning and engagement beyond the museum. This webinar will introduce the spectrum of distance and e-learning opportunities and will highlight various digital initiatives that museums have put in place for inspiration, with examples from the Caribbean. After the presentation, participants will have the chance to ask questions and share their own thoughts and ideas.


 

 

Part One: Digital Museums in a New Era – Friday, 07 August 2020, 12:00 – 1:00 PM EDT

About the webinar – The global pandemic has accelerated the need for digital engagement and transformation within our museums. This webinar will explore what the “next normal” might look like and discuss which digital initiatives museums should consider prioritizing in the medium term as we emerge into a new era. After the presentation, participants will have the chance to ask questions and share their own thoughts and ideas.