ITP MA Conference, Cardiff 2025

Written by Amelia Kedge, International Training Programme Coordinator (Legacy Projects)

I am delighted to announce that this Autumn we will be joined by six ITP fellows from 4 – 12 October 2025 for the Museums Association (MA) conference in Cardiff.

Joining us this year will be:

Abdelrehim Moussa, Senior Curator, Museum of Islamic Art, Cairo, Egypt (ITP 2012)

Abdulrahman Al-Khafaji, Head of the Database Division, Iraq Museum, Iraq (ITP 2024)

Marie-Antoinette Al Gemayel, Curator, Ministry of Culture, National Museum of Beirut, Lebanon (ITP 2016)

Olena Shevchenko, Senior Researcher and Head of the Archaeological, Collections Management & Research Department Odesa Archaeological Museum, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Ukraine (ITP 2025)

Richard Ohene-Larbi, Museum Educator, Ghana Museums and Monuments Board, Ghana (ITP 2024)

Sayed Ahmed, Director of the Museum Display, The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, Cairo, Egypt (ITP 2016)

Read their biographies HERE.

The conference will take place on 06 – 09 October 2025 at St Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff. The theme of this year’s conference is perthyn, the Welsh word meaning to belong. Museums and their collections and stories belong to everyone, and all communities have the right to representation, participation and agency. Belonging is not just a principle but a basic human right. At a time of global political, economic, social upheaval and polarisation, this year’s conference will discuss how ideas of community, solidarity and friendship bring people together in museums to make them such special and engaging places.

As well as attending the conference, the programme will offer networking opportunities and the chance to explore museums, galleries and heritage sites in and around Cardiff, as well as time in London and at the British Museum.

“Attending this year’s conference, with its theme perthyn – the Welsh word to belong – is profoundly meaningful for me and my institution. The theme’s focus on belonging aligns closely with our mission to ensure that our museum’s collections, narratives, and spaces are inclusive, representative, and accessible to all. In a world facing political, economic, and social divisions, this gathering offers a vital opportunity to learn how museums can serve as places of solidarity, dialogue, and shared humanity. For me, it is a chance to deepen my understanding of community engagement strategies that foster genuine participation and agency, ensuring all voices are heard and valued. For my institution, the conference will provide insights and tools to strengthen our role as a trusted cultural home – where people from diverse backgrounds feel ownership of the stories we tell, and where our collections truly reflect the communities we serve, now and in the future. It is also a great opportunity to re-connect with ITP fellows, I am looking forward to meeting them.”
Abdelrehim Moussa

“My participation in Conference 2025: perthyn – belonging is a vital opportunity for me and the Iraq Museum to strengthen our role within the global museum community. The theme of belonging reflects the very essence of our mission: the Iraq Museum is not only a guardian of national heritage but also a living space where people reconnect with their past and gain a profound sense of identity and pride. Attending this conference will allow me to exchange knowledge with colleagues worldwide, learn innovative practices in audience engagement, inclusive exhibition design, and sustainable strategies that keep museums dynamic and relevant. For us, this experience will open the door to new, collaborative projects that involve all segments of society. It will reaffirm that Iraq’s heritage is not only a legacy of the past but also a foundation of belonging – a compass that shapes our present and inspires future generations.”
Abdulrahman Al Khafaji

“The conference theme of belonging has prompted me to reflect more deeply on the curator’s role as a connector – linking collections, stories, and people. Working with archaeological material, my focus is often on the past. But the idea of belonging reminds me that the past holds the most power when it resonates with people in the present. This theme has challenged me to rethink how I present permanent exhibitions: whose voices are included, which communities are represented, and how accessible the narratives are to diverse audiences. Belonging means creating space for people to see their identities, histories, and values reflected in the museum. It has strengthened my commitment to inclusive interpretation, community collaboration, and ethical storytelling. Above all, this theme reinforces that museums are not neutral spaces. They must actively work to ensure everyone feels welcome, represented, and connected. As a curator and a collection management, that responsibility is both a challenge and a powerful opportunity.”
Marie-Antoinette AlGemayel

“In Ukrainian museums – and the Odesa Archaeological Museum, where I am employed, is no exception – access to collections is regulated by an outdated and highly restrictive system. The right to work with a given object is determined almost entirely by the discretion of the institution’s leadership. In practice, I have repeatedly witnessed how such decisions may be shaped by conflicts of interest, personal relations, or other non-academic considerations.

When a researcher seeks to study an artefact originating from archaeological excavations, they are required to obtain explicit permission from the head of the excavation. This requirement remains in force regardless of how many years have passed since the excavation took place, or whether the former head of the expedition is still professionally engaged in archaeology. Consequently, significant scientific collections often remain unpublished and excluded from scholarly circulation for decades.

The challenges outlined here do not exhaust the problem of restricted access to museum collections in Ukraine. Transforming a system that is rooted in customary practice and serves primarily the interests of an influential segment of the museum community is a considerable challenge.

By attending the forthcoming thematic conference, I hope to acquire both knowledge and practical strategies that will enable me to contribute to improving the situation in Ukraine – within the framework of my own museum as well as on a broader, national scale”.
Olena Shevchenko

“As a museum educator, I contend that the concept of belonging transcends access to heritage or museums; it involves recognition, agency, and the co-creation of meaning. Participating in this year’s Conference, themed belonging, which aligns with my research and practice, offers a valuable opportunity to engage with heritage practitioners who are committed to challenging norms and advocating for community voices. I am eager to engage with fellow ITP alumni and international professionals as we share experiences, question conventions, and envision new possibilities for curatorial practice to transform museums into spaces of dialogue and belonging.

Beyond the conference sessions, I anticipate exploring and learning from Cardiff’s dynamic museum landscape to observe diverse interpretive strategies, community engagement models, and exhibition practices aimed at addressing issues of identity, belonging, and representation. These experiences will undoubtedly enhance my practice and inspire new approaches to public learning and curatorship upon my return to Ghana.”
Richard Ohene-Larbi

“Attending the Museums Association Conference 2025 in Cardiff under the theme belonging is an invaluable opportunity for both my professional growth and my institution’s mission. For me, belonging reflects the museum’s role as a shared space where diverse communities can connect, feel represented, and see their heritage valued. Participating in this conference will allow me to exchange ideas with global peers, explore innovative strategies for inclusivity, and learn how to embed a sense of belonging into exhibitions, educational programmes, and visitor experiences. For my institution, it is a chance to strengthen our community engagement by adopting practices that ensure all voices are heard and respected. This ITP legacy project offers a platform to develop long-term collaborations, share our experiences from Egypt, and bring home new perspectives that will enhance our role as a welcoming, accessible, and culturally relevant museum for all.”
Sayed Ahmed

We are looking forward to reconnecting with these ITP fellows and showing them all that the city of Cardiff has to offer.