Present: Ebenezer Acquah, Juste Constant Onana Amougui, Patrique deGraft-Yankson, Osuanyi Essel, Stefan Eisenhofer, Mary Claire Kidenda, Lize Kriel, Jane Otieno, Avi Sooful, Ernst Wagner
Apologies: Paul-Henri Souvenir Assako Assako, Ruth Belinga, Constanze Kirchner, Suki Mwendwa, Christian Römmelt, Runette Kruger, Lydia Muthuma, Nicola Pauli, Bernadette Van Haute
Minutes of the 28th meeting
New members to the Expert Panel (Avi)
Overview of ongoing activities
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Lize: A Minor Cosmopolitan conference in BerlinInvited by Lize Kriel, some EVC members took the chance to promote the recent EVC publications at this conference. A report can be found here: https://explore-vc.org/en/activities/news/may-9-2025.html
The results of the discussions at this panel in Berlin will be published in the conference proceedings, coordinated by Elsa Cuissard and Benjamin Merten. - Jane: Un-Told Stories
The research project Un-Told Stories started in Douala. A brief introduction can be found here: https://explore-vc.org/en/documenta-xv/un-told-stories-2025.html In the meantime, colleagues have submitted their images and themes, and sub-teams will take their research on specific topics further, based on their mutual interests.
Stefan added that two partners within this group (Ghana National Museum and Museum Fünf Kontinente in Munich, Germany) had the chance to apply for funds for a bilateral project between the two museums within this framework. A decision about success or failure can be expected in September. - Ernst (on behalf of Mina & Christian): Manuals for art teachers at schools
A small team from South Africa (Runette and the Imbali coordinators, Ruth and Justine) and from Germany (Mina, Christian, Nicola, Ernst, Gwendolin Luebbecke [Kassel University]) have started a discussion about how the objects in EVC’s database could be used to support art educators in their teaching. Results could also help to develop content for the LAB section on EVC’s website. - Patrique: Decolonizing Art Education
Patrique & Ebenezer Ekow Abraham (UEW Winneba) and Ansgar Schnurr & Jana Tiborra (Gießen University Germany) are going to publish a book about what Decolonizing Art Education could mean in different contexts / regions / countries. A call for contributions will be sent soon. - Ernst (on behalf of Lydia): AI @ Image and Text
The call for chapters for the special issue of the South African Journal Image and Text, reflecting the EVC conference in Nairobi in 2024, was very successful. For the reviewers of the abstracts it was very difficult to select 15 out of more than 40 very good concepts. Accepted authors were invited to write their contributions. Kyle Rath (UP) is the coordinator. - Elsa & Avi: “New Futures” Residencies in Johannesburg
https://explore-vc.org/en/activities/news/june-21-2025-exhibition.html
Agnes from UEW and Kirimi from TUK took part in this program. - Runette: CHA
After the Committee for History of Art in Africa (CHA) was founded at the African Days of Art History conference in Douala, Cameroon earlier this year, the committee has had a meeting, planning a series of seminars that will generate some book publications. Updates to follow. - Ernst (on behalf of Bernadette): After the successful publication of “1001 Ways of Seeing” (https://www.explore-vc.org/en/activities/news/april-2024-new-book-released-by-evc.html) a similar approach will be taken in regards to the topic of Teaching Art Histories with a specific focus of cultures beyond the own regional context. A first publication planned will focus on Southern Africa and Central Europe.
- Constant: Conference “African Days of Art History” in Douala
Constant reported about the conference, mentioning that a book that presents the given lectures will be published by Presses Universitaires de Rouen et du Havre (PURH) in late 2025. For more details about the conference see: https://explore-vc.org/en/activities/news/april-7-9-2025.html - Osuanyi: Weaving project
more information to come - Avi & Osuanyi: UEW & UP symposium on restitution
A joint online symposium will take place 4 – 8 August
Next EVC conference
Osuanyi offered to host the next EVC conference in Winneba in March 2026. Topic and program to be discussed at the next meeting in September.
Next joint exhibition
The panel confirmed the topic “Visual art as an agent of change in the age of poly crisis”. We are now looking for a central coordinator who develops a timeline and collaborates with the national curators (to be appointed).
Young EVC (Avi & Elsa)
Based on EVC’s cooperation with IofC for the residency project “New Futures” in Johannesburg in June/July 2025, Elsa and Isadora will restart the Young EVC efforts. Esther (TUK), Constant (LABA), Abraham (UEW), Obakeng (UP), and Delene Human (UP) might also be interested in developing this idea further.
Publication (Runette)
Runette sent information about a publication on the topic “International Academic Partnerships in Intercultural Communication Education and Research”. She invites colleagues to cooperate with her to submit a joint abstract. Ernst will resend Runette’s invitation.
Exhibition „Witches in Exile“ to the website
Osuanyi announced that he is working on a contribution about the exhibition „Witches in Exile“ that took place at Museum Fünf Kontinente Munich in 2024 (https://www.museum-fuenf-kontinente.de/ausstellungen/r%C3%BCckblick-auf-unsere-sonderausstellungen/witches-in-exile-english/). It can be published on EVC’s website. Ernst suggested that this contribution could be allocated to the OBJECTS section, allowing more voices to be heard (e.g. by Gertrude and Stefan).
Hackathon about Design Thinking at TUK
Mary Claire informed about the hackathon program at TUK in Nairobi. For more details see https://www.explore-vc.org/en/activities/news/july-18-20-2025-design-thinking-hackathon.html.
Next meeting
Patrique suggested a shorter interval between our meetings than this time, e.g. every two months. All members agreed. Thus, the next meeting will take place in the second half of September. Date tbc.