Contested Desires: Constructive Dialogues (CDCD)

Coordination: ECCOM (Italy)

Team of the Museo Egizio: Johannes Auenmüller, Enrico Barbero, Divina Centore, Virginia Cimino, Alessia Evangelista, Cedric Gobeil, Sara Menato

Partner institutions: BJCEM (Belgium), Creative Court (The Netherlands), D6:EU (Cyprus), H401 (The Netherlands), La Bonne (Spain), La Fabrique (Tunisia), MUNHAC (Portugal), MUCIV (Italy), Pro Progressione (Hungary) e Xarkis (Cyprus).

Associated partners: D6 Culture in Transit (UK), Larnaka 2030 (Cyprus), Cyprus University of Technology (Cyprus), Casa Árabe (Spain) e FSBAC (Italy).

Subcontractors: MMHR (Chile), Nubuke Foundation (Ghana) e RCMG (UK).

Europe’s artistic heritage is partly made up of artefacts from former colonies by means of war, plunder and misappropriation. Some collections have been built with the profits of colonialism, and increasingly to the public exploitation of this heritage for politically populist and nationalist discourse. With pressure from the grassroots pushing for a more democratic and egalitarian society, we have seen a strong public debate around issues related to the way in which our histories are edited and our heritage is presented, demands that are still valid today. From the removal of historic statues and proposals for new memorials, to demands for educational reform, the repatriation of looted artefacts and reparations; We are questioning the connection between past and present, questioning how national identities are forged and how systems and structures of oppression are upheld.

22 artists from 11 countries have been commissioned to work with heritage partners and local communities, responding to contentious collections and sites. They created new art works and exhibitions, enriched by workshops and public events, resulting in a body of new work that explores the issues from different social and cultural perspectives. A focus on social inclusion and audiences means that each commission is a driver of innovation and change, and the new interpretations and relationships will have a lasting impact on the partner institutions and their local communities. The most important outcome of the project is to provide heritage professionals with methods, resources and – above all – the confidence to use contested heritage as a focus for constructive, democratic dialogue that reflects the best of European values and contributes to reconciliation across the divisions of the past.

Discover more: https://contesteddesires.eu/

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Contested Desires: Constructive Dialogues (CDCD)