Kick-off meeting in Rome

Contested Desires: Constructive Dialogues takes its first steps

On 25-26 January 2024, the kick-off meeting for Contested Desires: Constructive Dialogues was held at the Museo delle Civiltà in Rome. Supported by the European Union’s Creative Europe programme, this project builds on its previous iteration, expanding its geographical scope and perspectives to connect voices from the global North and South.

This two-day event brought together members of a consortium of cultural organisations from countries with diverse histories and experiences of colonialism. It marked the start of a constructive dialogue to address the complex legacy of European colonialism and its impact on contemporary culture through the work of 22 artists and contemporary artistic production. Through research, workshops, residencies, and exhibitions, the initiative aims to forge new narratives around shared heritage.

ECCOM leads the consortium, which includes D6:EU and Xarkis (Cyprus), Museo delle Civiltà and Museo Egizio (Italy), BJCEM (Belgium), La Bonne (Spain), H401 and Creative Court (Netherlands), National Museum of Natural History and Science (Portugal), Pro Progressione (Hungary), and La Fabrique (Tunisia). Associated partners are D6 Culture in Transit (UK), Cyprus University of Technology and Larnaka 2030 European Capital of Culture (Cyprus), Casa Árabe (Spain), and Fondazione Scuola dei Beni e delle Attività Culturali (Italy). Collaborating institutions include Nubuke Foundation (Ghana), Museum of Memory and Human Rights (Chile), and the Research Centre for Museums and Galleries (RCMG) at the School of Museum Studies, University of Leicester (UK).
Photos by Mohamed Keita.