Visiting Kenwood House and Hampstead Heath (Eneida de Lemos, Brazil, ITP 2022)

Written by Eneida Braga Rocha de Lemos, Museum Project Consultant (Brazil, ITP 2022)

My name is Eneida, a public policy specialist, and I now work as a museum project consultant in Brasília, the capital of Brazil. Since the beginning of my professional life, I have been working with culture, but museums caught my heart almost 20 years ago. I was a co-founder of the Brazilian Institute of Museums (2009), and until December 2021, I headed the Department of Promotion, Fundraising, and Economy of Museums. As a consultant, I’ve focused on projects to promote Brazilian museums, their sustainability, management, fundraising and marketing strategies.

What I love the most about working with Brazilian museums (they are more than 3,800!) is the opportunity to know their diversity and the sociocultural work of many museums with communities.

These ITP weeks have been intense, full of learning and allowing us to meet professionals from different areas of knowledge essential for improving our work and network.

Last Sunday, we had the opportunity to visit the historic Kenwood House and Hampstead Heath, considered one of London’s hidden gems.

The sunny day brightened the impressive building and gardens that are guardians of a remarkable collection managed by English Heritage.

Frances Carey was waiting for us and was an excellent host. Frances is a freelancer academic adviser, consultant to arts and heritage organisations and chair of the Marie-Louise von Motesiczky Charitable Trust, one of the charities that support the British Museum’s ITP.

In addition to introducing us to Kenwood’s beauties and stories, Frances welcomed us into her home for tea and cake. It was a lovely afternoon with memories that we will carry for life.

With all my respect for the work of the Marie-Louise von Motesiczky Charitable Trust, it’s essential to highlight the fundamental role of supporters of programs such as the ITP, which provide opportunities for the development of professionals from around the world. Without them, it would be impossible for many of us to participate in a programme like this.

After almost four weeks, we made many friends and each of the participants, in their singular way, contributed to this diverse, cohesive, and kind ITP group. But I will ask the male colleagues’ permission to emphasise the female presence at ITP 2022.

They are empowered women, professionals committed to their work and unique in their way of being. Thanks for the exchanges, learnings and friendship.