Catalina Cavelier Adarve

Biography

Catalina has BAs in Anthropology and History from Los Andes University, and an MA in Cultural Heritage Studies from University College London. She is in charge of the section of Intangible Heritage at the Cultural Heritage Institute of Bogota and her responsibilities include devising and leading strategies for safeguarding intangible heritage in the city of Bogota. These include structuring and implementing projects and programmes and advising on heritage listing procedures. Her day-to-day responsibilities also include recruiting and leading a team of four professionals, managing the section’s budget and liaising with other areas and institutions. Previous to this experience, she has been engaged in curating archaeological collections and weaving them with local perspectives in Colombian museums.

Catalina is currently involved in projects and programmes aiming to safeguard urban intangible heritage through community involvement and empowerment. She recently curated an exhibition about family photo albums, aimed at creating a dialogue between private and collective memories and connecting audiences through such dialogue. Her work experience has been dedicated to exploring heritage and museums’ possibilities for generating social value and cultural sustainability today.

At the British Museum

During her time on the International Training Programme in 2019, Catalina was based in the Department of Africa, Oceania and the Americas, and spent her partner placement at National Museums Northern Ireland.

Catalina worked with Alsu Akhmetzyanova (Uzbekistan) on her Object in focus project. Their exhibition proposal was titled Eternal Provision for the Soul: celebrating life in ancient Egypt.

Catalina’s place on the International Training Programme was generously supported by the Santo Domingo Family.