7 MANAGING ART COLLECTIONS: from ancient to contemporary In-Presence Workshop in Rome The in-person workshop, held in Rome from 20 to 24 April 2026 at the Scuola nazionale del patrimonio e delle attività culturali, constituted the core component of the training programme. During this phase, participants and representatives of the host institutions worked closely, combining theoretical reflection, methodological exchange, and the initial development of projects that were further advanced during the residency period. The workshop was conceived as a shared working space for programme participants and officers from the Italian partner institutions, with the aim of establishing the conditions for the collaborative work developed during the residencies. Through hands-on sessions, lectures, and case studies, the week addressed key issues for contemporary museums, including the relationship between collections and institutional mandate, different approaches to interpreting and exhibiting heritage, the role of conservation in shaping cultural value, and the forms of engagement that museums develop today with artists, research centres, communities, and local contexts. A substantial part of the workshop was devoted to collaborative sessions, conceived as spaces for joint work and discussion among participants. These activities allowed the group to progressively develop shared languages, references, and working approaches, both among the African professionals involved and in dialogue with their Italian counterparts. In this sense, the workshop functioned as an initial co-design phase, helping to outline conceptual frameworks and lines of work that will be further developed during the residencies at the host institutions. Theoretical lectures and case studies presented throughout the week provide additional perspectives for bringing into dialogue experiences, collections, and professional practices from different cultural contexts. Invited speakers included Lorenza Baroncelli, MAXXI Architecture and Contemporary Design Director, MAXXI Museum – National Museum of XXI Century Arts; Cristiana Perrella, Director of MACRO – Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome; Franck Ogou, Director of the École du Patrimoine Africain; Laura Barreca, Director of the Civic Museum of Castelbuono; Silvia La Pergola, architect, MAXXI Museum; Max Magaldi, artist; Alessia Cemmi e Marta Chinnici, scientists from ENEA – the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development; and Sara Chiesa, curator at MUDEC – Museum of Cultures in Milan. The programme was further enriched by study visits to MAXXI – National Museum of XXI Century Arts and MACRO – Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome, offering participants direct engagement with leading institutions in the field of contemporary art. Overall, the workshop was conceived as an intensive space for exchange and inspiration, aimed at strengthening professional relationships, sharing methodologies and preparing the development of projects during the residency phase.
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