Chantal Umuhoza

Biography

Chantal Umuhoza obtained a bachelor’s degree in bio-chemistry in 2008 from the Kigali Institute of Education. Before joining the Institute of National Museums of Rwanda (INMR) as curator in 2012 she was a high school teacher of Biology at Lycee de Kigali for four years.

In collaboration with the museum research team and the museum designers, Chantal organises creative exhibitions (both permanent and temporary exhibitions), and is currently responsible for objects used in exhibitions. She works in collection management by making catalogues and completing object inventories, including collection accountability, insurance, safety and the need for conservation and preservation of collections. Chantal also assists with the process of acquiring new objects, including selecting objects to bring to the museum, conducting research on selected objects for documentation and completing acquisition records. Chantal is also a part of the de-accessioning process.

She is interested in projects dealing with insects’ biodiversity and conservation, and is currently working on a project to create a temporary exhibition on insects at the Museum of Environment. The exhibition will aim to help visitors, especially students, learn more about insects, and the need to protect them. Chantal is passionate about exhibitions across Rwanda; after the 1994 genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda there was only one museum whereas today Chantal is part of a large team working across 8 museums under INMR.

At the British Museum
During her time on the International Training Programme, Chantal was based in the Department Africa, Oceania and the Americas, and spent her partner placement at National Museums Northern Ireland.

Chantal worked with Huyam Khalid Mohammed (Sudan) on her Object in Focus project, Life after Death: A Chinese tomb figure.

Chantal’s place on the International Training Programme was generously supported by the Aall Foundation.

Legacy Projects
In 2020, Chantal attended the International Training Programme’s series of online subject specialist sessions. Chantal attended:
Circulating Artefacts: A global platform against the looting and trafficking of cultural property
Project management in the cultural sector: a guide to principles, processes and performance
Socio-economic Impact Assessment for Heritage: Why Do We Need to Learn This?
International copyright and artist’s rights
The Samarkand Half Marathon, cultural accessibility and ‘going digital’ during COVID-19
Setting up a Subject Specialist Network (SSN)
Skill-Sharing Workshop: Interpretation and Label Writing
Go mMAD {Make Museums Accessible Digitally}
Outreach at Glasgow Museums – what now?
Egyptology in Lockdown: Connecting collections with isolated people

ITP Newsletter Publications
ITP Newsletter Issue 6 (2019), Connectivity in the 21st century: making collections accessible, The digital story at the Institute of National Museums of Rwanda
ITP Newsletter Issue 6 (2019), Global perspectives: Engaging digitally: challenges and solutions
ITP Newsletter Issue 6 (2019), Your collection in focus: Object of the month: Institute of National Museums of Rwanda
ITP Newsletter Issue 6 (2019), Bulletin Board
ITP Newsletter Issue 7 (2020), Engaging with our audiences: Rwanda Museums
ITP Newsletter Issue 7 (2020), Your collection in focus: Inyambo, sacred cows at Rwanda Museums
ITP Newsletter Issue 7 (2020), Inclusion: The mission of Rwanda Museums
ITP Newsletter Issue 7 (2020), Bulletin Board
ITP Newsletter Issue 8 (2021), Rwanda museums
ITP Newsletter Issue 8 (2021), Bulletin Board
ITP Newsletter Issue 9 (2022), The Museum of Environment
ITP Newsletter Issue 9 (2022), Did you know that…To protect the environment, Rwanda banned the use of plastic bags in 2008?