Open Call to Join a Focus Group on a New Ukraine-Focused Decolonisation Guide for Museums

The Ukrainian Institute, in collaboration with the Museums Association (MA), ICOM UK, ICOM Ukraine, and supported by the British Council, is developing a new museum guide focused on Ukraine, set to be published late 2024.

Application Deadline: July 29, 2024

The Ukrainian Institute, in collaboration with the Museums Association (MA), ICOM UK, ICOM Ukraine, and supported by the British Council, is developing a new museum guide focused on Ukraine, set to be published late 2024.

This guide – created and tested with international partners and subject experts – will feature case studies and examples to help cultural heritage professionals to more effectively catalogue, label and contextualise Ukrainian history and heritage. It aims to serve as a resource for specialists and non-specialists alike, enhancing the accurate identification and description of Ukraine’s cultural heritage. The guide will also promote a broader understanding of historical attempts by imperial powers to subjugate Ukrainian history and heritage.

To bring diverse perspectives and insights to this project, we are inviting expressions of interest to join an online focus group during the summer of 2024. The focus group will review the Test Version of the guide and provide constructive feedback to revise and refine the final version. This will be a valuable opportunity to shape the guide by sharing your thoughts and experience of decolonial practices relevant to other cultures. 

This open call is particularly aimed at those who work with collections, exhibitions, public programming or digital content in museums, galleries, archives, libraries  or other cultural organisations worldwide. We would also like to hear from researchers and other practitioners in the sphere of decoloniality. Participants will be offered a £200 fee for taking part. 

Selected participants will be asked to:

  • Review and comment on the Test Version of the guide
  • Complete an online questionnaire
  • Attend 2 online 2-hour workshops to discuss the Test Version of the guide and identify key outcomes.

The following criteria will be used to assess applications:

    • Alignment with Current Decolonial Practices: Understanding of and contribution to contemporary discourse and methodologies.Dedication to developing and integrating international decolonial practices.
    • Motivation for Participation: Assessed through the candidate’s motivation letter.
    • Bringing New Perspectives: Contribution of the candidate’s background and experiences to providing fresh insights.
    • Diverse range of roles, organisations and levels of understanding of decolonial practices in a cultural heritage context.
    • Geographical balance of participants. 

Although this particular guidance is focused on Ukraine, we are seeking feedback from a diverse range of potential users of the guide and welcome participants with diverse perspectives on decoloniality practices globally. 

To apply, please send a motivation letter and CV titled “Open Call to Join a Focus Group” to [email protected] no later than 29 July 2023, 11:59 PM, Kyiv time.

All applicants will be notified of acceptance or rejection by August 29, 2024.

For further information, please contact [email protected]