Vitalice Ochieng | Senior Programme Manager -TICAH (Trust for Indigenous Culture and Health), Kenya 

Which workshop did you attend?

I have attended the following courses:
1. Successful Fundraising for Heritage Managers: Strategies and Best Practices

2. Communication Strategy and Strategic Marketing for Cultural Organizations
3. Interpretive Writing for Natural and Cultural Heritage
4. Project Management for Heritage Managers
5. Engaging Communities in Cultural Heritage
6. Community and Economic Development
7. Impact Assessment

Was the training an opportunity to enhance your connection with your peers?

Yes, the courses have been a wonderful opportunity to meet peers and make friends across borders. I have many friends from other countries with whom I can discuss my projects and even personal issues. Every course connected me with at least one new friend.

Has the training contributed towards the improvement of your career?

A lot. Even though I am still at TICAH, it has reinforced my leadership and the standing of my programme. The training has also enabled me to learn from other projects in different contexts, giving me valuable insights and different strategies for approaching my own projects. The opportunity to share my projects with peers during the training has also strengthened my belief in my own strategies and initiatives. Receiving feedback and appreciation when I share makes me more confident in my approaches.

Do you feel that your ability to perform relevant tasks has improved?

Yes. My understanding of community engagement, fundraising for heritage, communication, and heritage management has grown significantly.

Following the completion of the training, has your project benefited?

Yes. One of my projects, which entails the promotion of the cultural heritage of the Mijikenda community in Kenya, has benefited greatly from this training. For instance, the idea to support the community in strengthening their cultural tourism was shaped by the training on Economic Development. We were able to support the community in producing cultural dresses and costumes to celebrate the Rabai Cultural Festival in 2024.

Would you recommend this training to others?

Yes, most definitely. There are not many opportunities available for people to learn heritage management. Apart from people like me with a background in Anthropology or Cultural Studies, there are also other professionals such as managers, architects, and scientists who are in charge of heritage but may not have a cultural understanding of its management. Likewise, there are people with a background in cultural studies who may lack skills such as fundraising, communication, or project management. This training is very important for anyone working in a field where heritage, both natural and cultural, is involved.

18 Heritage professionals from 13 countries joined us for the online workshop ‘Organising Temporary Exhibitions from your Collections and Touring Strategies’. The programme was led by Sophia Handaka, Co-Founder and Host of the CoMuseum International Conference and Curator of World Cultures at the Benaki Museum, Dr Evangelos Kyriakidis, Director of the Heritage Management Organization, and Dana Andrew, an independent museum consultant specialising in touring exhibitions and international projects.

Dr Kyriakidis opened the workshop with a discussion on the values that shape cultural institutions and how exhibitions can fulfil their missions. Participants reflected on their organisation’s purpose, the types of exhibitions that align with that purpose, and the impact of local, national, and international partnerships. Sophia Handaka then led a session on exhibition creation strategies, focusing on the practical aspects of planning and developing engaging exhibitions. She emphasised the role of storytelling, interpretation, and the importance of accessibility to ensure exhibitions cater to all audiences.

I have gained valuable networks that I plan on utilizing to get advice and feedback on how to refine my exhibition to make it more successful.

Priscilla Mungoma,  Head of Commission for Museum Development Creative at Institution of Umukuuka Inzu Ya Masaaba

The second day featured guest speakers who shared their curatorial experiences. Alison Moloney presented her Fashion Accounts exhibition, which explored memory, resistance, and colonial legacies through clothing. Eileen Musundi from the National Museums of Kenya introduced the Kanga Stories travelling exhibition, which celebrates the cultural significance of Kanga cloth from Eastern Africa, demonstrating the power of community collaboration in exhibition design.

On the final day, Dana Andrew focused on strategies for touring exhibitions, both nationally and internationally. She highlighted the importance of aligning a touring strategy with an institution’s overall mission and shared case studies from the V&A Museum and other UK institutions. Andrew also stressed the importance of integrating evaluation into the early stages of exhibition planning to ensure long-term success and impact.

I really enjoyed how the course connected theory with practical experience. It was great to work on real-world projects, and I learned a lot through collaboration with workshop-mates.

Peter Jegede, Curator at On Your Mark

The workshop provided participants with valuable insights and practical tools to enhance their exhibition projects. “I’ve gained valuable insights on the best practices on curating a temporary exhibition. I have ained Knowledge from experts. U have gained valuable networks that I plan on utilising to get advice and feedback on how to refine my exhibition to make it more successful,” said Pricilla Mungoma, Head of  Commission for Museum Development at Institution of Umukuuka Inzu Ya Masaaba.

The workshops also emphasised the need for strategic planning, creative storytelling, and effective audience engagement, and elicited enthusiasm from participants. “I really enjoyed how the course connected theory with practical experience. It was great to work on real-world projects, and I learned a lot through collaboration with workshop-mates,” said Peter Jegede, Curator at On Your Mark. “Participating in this course will help me apply new ideas and techniques to my projects, especially in curating and exhibition planning. I’ll be able to approach my work with a broader perspective, improve my skills, and create more impactful and engaging exhibitions.”

To read more about our upcoming workshops, click here. 

 

From 28^th to 30^th March HERITΛGE welcomed 23 heritage professionals from 15 countries across four continents to the Successful Fundraising for Heritage Managers: Strategies and Best Practices online workshop. Over three days, participants explored practical strategies to strengthen fundraising for cultural heritage projects.

The workshop was led by fundraising expert, Linda C. Hartley, principal of H2Growth Strategies, and Sue Divine, a nonprofit leader with decades of experience working with organisations including the American Friends of the Louvre and the British Museum. Together, they provided participants with practical strategies and real-world insights into fundraising within the cultural sector.

Through this course, I learned about new information and online resources that we can utilize for effective fundraising. This stood out for me. My project will definitely benefit from new skills and resources for fundraising, thus will be positioned to mobilize more resources for activities implementation.

Didas Mwachila Mzirai, CEO at Mucho Mangoes Farmers CBO

The workshop began with a pitching exercise, where participants presented their projects in three minutes, having prepared in advance with a video on pitching techniques. They voted for the most compelling projects, which were later used in simulation activities. Participants then explored fundraising fundamentals and best practices through lectures and group storytelling. Linda introduced key concepts such as donor trends and long-term engagement, while Sue emphasised crafting impact-driven cases for support. Examples from Uganda and Ukraine highlighted the real-world relevance of these principles.

On the second day, selected participants presented their full cases for support, featuring projects from Italy, India, Ukraine, and Uganda. These presentations received detailed feedback from both peers and instructors. Sue then introduced donor research techniques, and participants used GrantStation to identify prospects and begin drafting a Letter of Inquiry.

This course will significantly enhance the strategic development and impact of my project. The opportunity to learn best practices, network with like-minded professionals, and receive expert feedback directly informed the design and sustainability of my current and future programs. What I appreciated most was the balance between practical tools and reflective discussions. The course not only provided frameworks that I can immediately apply to my work but also created a safe space to exchange ideas, challenges, and solutions with peers from diverse backgrounds.

Iryna Shevchuk, CEO at NGO Nachynnya

The final day focused on donor engagement and solicitation. Participants were offered guidance on preparing for donor meetings, followed by a simulation activity where participants role-played funding pitches. The workshop concluded with a Q&A session and participants were presented with their final task; composing a Letter of Inquiry (LOI), which could be sent directly to a prospect of their choosing after review.

The blend of expert advice, feedback, and collaboration made for a highlight successful workshop, and by the end, the group had sharpened their fundraising skills and built a strong network of peers.

To read more about our upcoming workshops, click here. 

 

 

22 participants joined us in March for the Communication Strategy and Strategic Marketing for Cultural Organizations training programme. The course was led by Derwin Johnson, an independent senior communication consultant with more than 30 years experience as a journalist, communication executive and educator. Derwin guided participants through the three day course which covered crafting effective communication messages, developing communication toolkits, managing media relations, and conducting crisis simulations.

Day one kicked off with a comprehensive introduction to content management. The instructor outlined key objectives such as crafting impactful messages, managing media relations, and preparing for crisis communication. Participants explored their organisations’ core identities, drafted mission statements, and developed key messages. Through presentations and personalised feedback, they learned how to tailor their communication to resonate with target audiences.

The most compelling aspect of this Heritage Communication course was its emphasis on the dynamic interplay between cultural heritage and modern communication strategies. The course effectively bridged theoretical foundations with practical applications, highlighting the role of digital media, community engagement, and policy frameworks in preserving and promoting heritage.

~Mohammad Idrees Tahiri,  PM Senior Conservation Architect at Turquoise Mountain

On day two, the focus shifted to storytelling and media engagement. Participants were instructed how to think like journalists, considering news angles, timing, and audience relevance. They practised pitching stories via simulated phone calls, received guidance on writing letters to the editor, and explored traditional and digital PR tactics. The session concluded with the creation of communication maps to guide audience engagement across a range of platforms. 

The final day concentrated on crisis communication. Participants learned how to respond effectively under pressure, developing clear, key messages reinforced by strong evidence. A crisis simulation exercise brought the theory to life, as teams navigated a mock media storm, fielding questions from the instructor in the role of journalist. The recorded sessions provided valuable feedback, strengthening their confidence and strategic thinking.

The instructor made the content easy to digest and online learning (over the weekend) manageable. 

~Martha Mosha, Research assistant at Commission for Archaeology of Non European Cultures KAAK

The level of engagement throughout the workshop was excellent and it was great to see the enthusiasm displayed by participants. We look forward to seeing how these skills are put to use in heritage organisations throughout Africa, Asia and Europe.*

Read more about our upcoming workshops here.

*Afghanistan, Albania, Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Germany, Ghana, Iraq, Italy, Lesotho, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, United Kingdom

 

In December 2024, 20 participants from 18 countries joined HERITΛGE for the Project Management for Heritage Managers workshop. This 3-day online course aims to equip attendees with essential project management skills, guiding them through the entire project lifecycle.

The course instructor, Tim Healing, started day one with a discussion on the concept of a project, how it differs from everyday tasks and the key qualities of an effective manager. He then outlined the project manager’s responsibilities and essential skills before going over common pitfalls to avoid, equipping participants to recognise and address these issues early. These skills were then put into practice with a group analysis of  a case study. The teams used this example to employ the project cycle framework and identify and resolve challenges, before drafting their own proposals.

The projects will be well planned, organized and with clear budgets to attract donor funding. The projects will also be evaluated and risks clearly assessed to have greater impact to the intended beneficiaries.
Walugembe Muzaphalu, Executive Director at Kanungu Empowerment and Support Organization

On the second day, training focused on the need for a structured agenda, with task outlines and risk identification the priority. Tim also introduced the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), Critical Path Diagram and the SPECTRES risk assessment tool. Participants then  worked on the Niger Restoration Project case study, ranking risks, proposing solutions, and identifying which risks should be mitigated before starting the project, applying the risk management techniques and SPECTRES framework already outlined. 

I have found good insights in how to manage my project already in progress and it benefits to improve the rest of my project activities.
Rediat Messele, Lecturer in Archaeology and Heritage Management at Aksum University

The final day began with a session on developing project budgets, explaining direct and indirect costs through a publication case study. Participants worked in groups on the Sudan Museum Project case study, identifying monitoring concerns and strategies to stay on track, followed by group presentations and feedback.

The discussions remained lively to the end, and it was clear that participants had gained skills which they felt confident in applying in their own careers.

Participants were from Albania, Botswana, Czech Republic, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Greece, India, Lesotho, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Uganda, and the United States.

Read more about our upcoming workshops here.

Over three days in October, fifteen heritage professionals joined our online workshop to learn more about engaging communities in heritage. Community engagement is one of the key strategies in heritage management and allows

HERITΛGE’s Aris Anagnostopoulos and  Eleni Stefanou along with the Organization’s Director, Evangelos Kyriakidis, led the workshop, each working with participants on a different section and drawing on case studies from participants’ own work.

After an introduction into how local perspectives are essential in heritage conservation, participants explored the idea of values and examined how the values tied to heritage by the local community make these communities essential stakeholders in safeguarding the knowledge and importance of heritage sites. Over the course of the workshop, participants also learned techniques for engagement through ethnographic research, values identification, collaborative design and representation of the whole community, looking at case studies from around the world and in different types of sites.

“What I liked most about this course was how it showed the importance of involving communities in preserving heritage,” said eter Adewale Jegede, Curator at Nigeria-based On Your Mark. “I now have a better understanding of how to build trust, encourage collaboration, and ensure that heritage initiatives are inclusive and sustainable. This knowledge will help me design projects that respect community perspectives and create stronger connections between people and their cultural heritage.”

Ibrahim Hassan Gafar Ali Fadolr, Director at University of Nyala Centre for Darfur Heritage said that “Major benefits of this training course shall be used in better planning, implementation and review of performance in dealing with communities with different backgrounds, cultures and linguistic variances. ”

“We were lacking skills of how to bring communities at odd to work jointly together to achieve success on behalf of everyone,” he added. 

HERITΛGE offers regular 3-day workshops on Community Engagement in Cultural Heritage, as well as an annual Summer Field School, held in Greece and online.