New ITP Conference Grant 2025 awarded!!
Written by Claire Messenger, Manager, International Training Programme
We are delighted to award an ITP Conference Grant 2025 to Twana Mamand, Researcher and Curator at Salahaddin University-Erbil (Iraq, ITP Fellow 2023).
Twana will use his grant to attend The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities, ICOM General Conference 2025 in Dubai from 11 to 17 November 2025.
Twana says that attending the 27th ICOM General Conference is crucial for his work digitizing Salahaddin University’s archaeological heritage. Engaging with global experts on ‘The Future of Museums’ will provide vital insights and innovative strategies to preserve their collections and make them accessible within Iraq’s evolving context and to the wider world.
He also believes that connecting with peers and experts worldwide will be immensely valuable. Sharing challenges and solutions, particularly with colleagues in regions facing similar resource constraints or political instability, will provide practical insights and innovative approaches and a new network for ongoing support and collaboration.
You can read more about the conference here https://dubai2025.icom.museum/
As curator of the Salahaddin University Archaeology Museum (SAM), Twana’s core responsibility is stewarding the collection ensuring the preservation, documentation, security, and ethical management of priceless archaeological artifacts. Daily, he oversees artifact handling, storage, and environmental monitoring. He also manages museum records, supervises staff/students, and liaises with faculty and external researchers regarding access and study requests.
A significant portion of Twana’s time involves developing and maintaining exhibits researching context, designing displays, creating labels, and ensuring their physical upkeep. He also handles administrative duties like budgeting, reporting, and coordinating educational outreach programs.
Concurrently, Twana is actively researching the digitization of cultural heritage. This involves investigating and implementing technologies like 3D scanning, photogrammetry, and database management systems specifically for archaeological collections. This work includes testing equipment, processing digital data, creating virtual models or archives, researching best practices, and exploring how digitization enhances preservation, accessibility, research potential, and public engagement for SAM’s unique holdings. This research directly informs practical digital initiatives within the museum.
We are delighted to be able to support Twana this year and look forward to hearing more about his conference experience and sharing his final report with our ITP global network.