Smallepad 53811 MG Amersfoort
P.O. box 1600
3800 BP Amersfoort
The Netherlands
www.cultureelerfgoed.nl
Contact person
Arjen Kok
T +31334217435
A.kok@cultureelerfgoed.nl

Date

28 April 2022

Subject

Sharing Stories on Contested Histories: Call for Applications

To whom it may concern,
It is my honour and pleasure to bring the Call for Applications for the Sharing
Stories on Contested Histories training to your attention. We look forward toworking with a new group of heritage professionals and academics from theNetherlands and the 23 partner countries of the International Heritage Cooperation
programme (Previously: Shared Cultural Heritage) of the Cultural Heritage Agencyof the Netherlands (RCE). This training is organised by the RCE in close collaboration
with the Reinwardt Academy, the cultural heritage faculty of the Amsterdam
University of the Arts.
When it comes to presenting contentious pasts, international heritage institutions
are becoming increasingly aware of the need to become more polyvocal, engaging,diverse, (self)reflective and participatory. Inclusive, representative modes ofsharing cultural heritage add relevance to our institutions and contribute to tackling
broader societal issues. However, the desire to empathetically share contested
histories can lead to a diverse range of challenges for heritage institutions.
The Sharing Stories on Contested Histories training aims to engage with theseshared challenges by bringing together upcoming museum and heritage
professionals and academics from different countries to reflect on how we engage
with international cultural heritage topics that may be considered ‘contested’.
These challenges are not confined within national borders, and we believe that it is
only by joining forces and learning from and with each other that we can fully
benefit from the potential of cultural heritage to address societal challenges.
Within this context, the RCE invites emerging museum and heritage professionals
and academics from the Netherlands and the partner countries of the International
Heritage Cooperation programme to join the fourth edition of Sharing Stories onContested Histories. The partner countries of the programme are Australia,
Belgium, Brazil, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy,
Page 1 of 8

Japan, Morocco, Poland, Russia*, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka,
Suriname, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
Training and selection details
The training will take place online, from 13 – 25 November 2022. It will focus oncase studies from four different countries: Brazil, Indonesia, the Netherlands, andSouth Africa. The capacity of this training is limited to 24 participants, and thetrainee group will be composed of one participant from each partner country andone from the Netherlands. The training is open to applications from young,upcoming museum and heritage professionals and academics.
To apply for the training, candidates are invited to submit a motivation letter (500words) and a resume to Ms. Yulia Dolinina, Project Officer:
y.dolinina@cultureelerfgoed.nl before 8 June 2022, 8 AM CET.
Full details of the application requirements and selection criteria can be found in
Appendix I, along with further information about the training, the RCE, and theInternational Heritage Cooperation programme. Information about the current andpast editions of the training is also available on our website:
https://english.cultureelerfgoed.nl/topics/international-heritagecooperation/collections/training-sharing-stories-on-contested-histories. Further
questions can be directed towards Ms. Yulia Dolinina.
I truly hope that this letter has piqued your interest and that you will take thistraining opportunity into consideration.
Sincerely,

Mr. M. Stafleu MA
Head of Strategic and International Affairs
The Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands*

Cooperation with Russian state institutions and organisations is currently suspended (seethe letter of the State Secretary in appendix I, available in Dutch). However, we will consider
applications from Russian heritage professionals and academics working in private andindependent organisations or working independently.
Page 2 of 8

Appendix I
International Heritage Cooperation
A worldwide heritage community, in which professionals connect, learn from eachother and develop knowledge together. That is the mission of the International
Heritage Cooperation Programme of the Cultural Heritage Agency of theNetherlands (RCE). This is not only because of the importance of ensuring thatheritage is passed on to future generations, but primarily because heritage isvaluable in a changing world. Heritage reveals who we are, where we come fromand what we stand for. Without knowledge of the past, understanding ourselves
and others is virtually impossible. Equally, heritage can contribute to identifying
solutions for societal challenges, such as climate change, sustainability,
participation and social inclusion. The challenges faced by society call forcontinuous development, the ability to respond to changing demands andcircumstances and a shared quest for appropriate solutions. They call for curiosity,
openness and innovation of a kind that are not confined within nationalboundaries.
The RCE is just one of many players within the worldwide heritage community. Yet
the RCE has an important role to play in promoting international cooperation in
heritage and the sharing of knowledge. In this context, societal challenges in whichinternational cooperation offers an added value above national cooperation alone
are central. Think, for instance, of issues such as the repatriation of colonialcollections, the management of shipwrecks in foreign waters and urban renewal.
Together with its foreign and Dutch partners, the RCE contributes to fnding
solutions for these (shared) challenges by bringing experts together and facilitating
the sharing and development of knowledge. This enhances heritage conservation
both in the Netherlands and in the partner countries. In doing this, the RCE is also
fostering relationships with other countries and contributing to meeting the
Sustainable Development Goals.
In order to achieve these ambitions, the RCE has established the International
Heritage Cooperation programme. It continues the work achieved in the period
2009-2020 within the Shared Cultural Heritage programme. Although shared
heritage remains relevant for the Netherlands, this new policy period will focus on
the shared challenges we face. After all, every country faces similar issues in caring
for its heritage. But because every country operates in a diferent context, withdiferent issues and approaches, we can also learn from each other. This shift inemphasis is in line with the need in the partner countries and the Netherlands toPage 3 of 8

ensure that international cooperation not only benefts our shared heritage, butalso the shared challenges we face.
This ambition is reflected in the following goals:
1. Fostering connections, exchange, and cooperation in order to enhance
heritage conservation in the Netherlands and in the partner countries.
2. Developing new knowledge and expertise together for the purpose ofsocietal challenges where international cooperation offers greater added
value than national cooperation alone.
3. Ensuring that knowledge and expertise developed within the programme
are visible and accessible.
RCE
The RCE is closely involved in listing, preserving, sustainably developing, andproviding access to the most valuable heritage in our country. The agency is the link
between policymakers, academics, and practitioners, providing advice, knowledge,
and information, and performing certain statutory duties. The Sharing Stories onContested Histories training falls within the RCE’s theme of Collections.
Responsibility for the Netherlands’ international cultural policy is jointly shared by
the Minister of Foreign Affairs (BZ), the Minister for Foreign Trade andDevelopment Cooperation (BHOS) and the Minister of Education, Culture andScience (OCW). In the International Cultural Policy 2021-2024, the RCE has been
appointed as one of the executing agencies on the topic of cultural heritage. Other
executive organisations are: National Archives of the Netherlands, DutchCulture,
the Dutch Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage (KIEN) and the Dutch embassies in
the 23 partner countries, namely Belgium/Flanders, Germany, France, Hungary,
Italy, Poland, Spain, the UK, Turkey, Egypt, Morocco, China, South Korea, Australia,
Brazil, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, Sri Lanka, Suriname, the United States andSouth Africa. The RCE already worked together with the last ten of these countries
during the previous period.
Reinwardt Academy
The Reinwardt Academy positions itself as the knowledge-, research-, and training
centre of cultural heritage in the Netherlands. This higher vocational college (inDutch: HBO) is located in Amsterdam and offers the only bachelor’s programme on
Cultural Heritage available in the Netherlands, as well as a master’s programme on
Applied Museum and Heritage studies. Additionally, the Reinwardt Academy iswell-known for its contributions to the Dutch and international heritage field due toPage 4 of 8

its role as a platform for (inter)national heritage professionals to exchange
knowledge and experience.
Sharing Stories on Contested Histories Training
The training programme aims to strengthen an international working community ofyoung, upcoming museum and heritage professionals and academics from the 23
partner countries and the Netherlands. Using four case studies from four different
countries, the participants will explore the relevance of contemporary museums. As
a strategy to overcome grid-locked discussions and polarised bubbles, constructivist
and empathic multivocal storytelling will be explored. Through activity-oriented
assignments and workshops participants will experience the various concepts ofexhibiting, storytelling, tour-guiding, and educational programming, and will get a
new and immersed understanding of this way of exploring museum collections andtheir stories. As we will be working as professionals amongst professionals, there
will be a constant flux of exchanging knowledge, ideas, and concepts. From this, acommunity of practice for peer-learning and co-creation will arise.
Theoretical approach
Most museums have long-established roots in traditional museum learning(education) and exhibiting (presentation), which is offered in a well-designed
environment (aesthetics). Too often this leads to a single voiced, grand narrative
way of storytelling. However, museums have developed rapidly in the last few
decades by becoming more inclusive, representative, and participatory towards
their public. These ways of sharing cultural heritage and the linked histories havebeen successfully tested but are not yet a common practice. The deconstruction ofunderlying institutionalised power structures and working fashions is needed and a
new and active working mode needs to be found.
This development has its roots in ‘New Museology’ and strongly focuses on society,reflected in a maximum societal involvement in what museums collect and the way
they present it. New Museology revolves around three key issues: representation,access, and participation. The key concept here is user-generated content: it is theusers that, as participants in a specific community of interest, deliver content. Thisis also significant when topics related to contested heritage are considered. As
these discussions are often heated and difficult, museums and heritage institutions
can offer safe places for societal development. They provide spaces where
discussions and debates can take place in a non-toxic and open way: ‘contact
zones’. These concepts also apply to the subject matter of topics and histories thatare shared between countries and communities. In many cases these are disputed
histories which require a dialogical and polyphonic approach. This training
Page 5 of 8

programme therefore focuses on researching polyphonic storytelling andcommunicating heritage through multiple interpretations.
Set upThe online training is case-oriented and practical in approach. Basic literature will
be provided in advance. The programme is comprised of the following elements:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Lectures will offer both theoretical reflection as well as case-studies.
Practical and immersive workshops will lead to deeper insight.
Museum case studies will offer exploration and reality checks.
Individual presentations will offer opportunities for sharing ideas andopinions.
Teamwork will offer opportunities for co-creation.
Literature will be provided for orientation and self-study.
Questions addressed in this course include:o How do visitors perceive museums and museum collections in
exhibitions in relation to contested histories/coloniality?
o How can we involve visitors from culturally diverse backgrounds
and place their needs at the heart of our museum work?
o Which fresh methods of constructivist and emphatic interpretation
can we use to engage visitors in the multiple perspectives ofmuseum collections and stories?

The new training programme for 2022 will focus on international case studies,drawn from four countries: Brazil, Indonesia, the Netherlands, and South Africa.
The case study museums will often be connected to marginalised communities who
have complicated, delicate relationships with other groups or authorities.
The first week of the programme will consist of an online ‘world tour,’ in which wewill have a virtual visit to each case study institution. We will meet the curators andeducators who are responsible for the museum and hear about its place in thecommunity. They will give insights into their work to strengthen the position of
their communities by opening lines of communication and contact with the rest ofsociety.
In the second week, the trainees will reflect upon the central dilemmas of the casestudies and discuss potential approaches. In a process of intense and creative
teamwork, they will prepare presentations for a final conference. The international
teams cooperate to elaborate on transnational ideas on how to share stories oncontested histories.
Page 6 of 8

Results/Outcomes
The training programme is explorative in its nature, utilising innovative methods toachieve:•a better understanding of exhibiting/storytelling and its emotional
impact;•a strong understanding of constructivist learning regarding open andmultiple interpretations;•a good understanding of concepts of empathy as a means to enable anopen-minded and safe sharing of ideas;•
insight into methods that enhance mutual tolerance through emotional
networks;•
insight on how to develop multi-vocal exhibiting and storytelling.
Requirements of participants
The capacity of the training program is limited to 24 participants. One participant
will be chosen from each partner country and the Netherlands. In our selection
procedure, we will aim to achieve a balance between museum and heritage
professionals and academics from (vocational) universities. Selection is done by the
RCE and the Reinwardt Academy according to the following criteria:
•

•
•
•
•
•

*

The candidate works in the museum, heritage, or academic field in oneof these countries: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, China, Egypt, France,
Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Morocco, theNetherlands, Poland, Russia*, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri
Lanka, Suriname, Turkey, the United Kingdom, or the United States ofAmerica.
The candidate is proficient in the English language, both in written andspoken form.
The candidate falls within the age range of 25 - 35.
The candidate has a bachelor, specialist, or master degree.
The candidate has at least three years of experience in the heritage or
the academic field.
The candidate can commit to the training period: 13 – 25 November
2022. It is necessary for participants to free their agendas for the datesof the training to ensure focused participation.

See the letter of the State Secretary in appendix I, available in Dutch.
Page 7 of 8

The course will be conducted in English, so participants need to have a goodworking understanding of the English language.
To apply for the training, candidates must submit a motivation letter (500 words)
accompanied by a resume.
The motivation letter should include a short reflection on the question: ‘How can
the training contribute to your professional growth?’
The resume should include the following details:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

First name
SurnameAddress
Email address
GenderDate of birth
Education
Employer, if applicable
Position in the organisation, if applicable
Level of English [Reading, Speaking, Understanding]Work experience
Location and time zone for the period of the training

The results of the selection will be communicated before 15 July 2022.
Time investment
The course will be held online over 10 working days, starting on Sunday 13
November, and ending on Friday 25 November 2022. The expected total workloadof this two-week training programme will be 80+ hours.
Each day will feature two live sessions (in total 3-4 hours per day), in which
participants are introduced to case studies and engage in group discussions. Alongwith attending the live sessions, participants are expected to allocate additionaltime every day (4+ hours) for preparatory reading, self-study, and group meetings
to work on assignments. Applicants should be aware that the international natureof the programme will likely require work outside of regular office hours. Someparticipants will have early starting or late finishing times.

Page 8 of 8

>Retouradres Postbus 16375 2500 BJ Den H aag

De voorzitter van de Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal
Postbus 20018
2500 EA DEN HAAGMedia en Creatieve Industrie
Rijnstraat 50
D en H aag
P ostbus 16375
2 5 00 BJ D en H aag
www.rijks overheid.nl

Onze ref erentie
3 1 832865
BijlagenE uropese verklaring over s teunen s olidariteit aan O ekraïne

Datum

9 maart 2022

Betreft

Solidariteitsverklaring van de Europese ministers voor Oekraïne en
uitgangspunten t.b.v. culturele samenwerking met de Russische
Federatie en Belarus

Hierbij treft u, vooruitlopend op het verslag van de informele OJCS-raad van 7 en
8 maart 2022 1, een solidariteitsverklaring over Oekraïne aan die tijdens deinformele OJCS-Raad vastgesteld. Deze verklaring is op het laatste moment
opgesteld. Zowel in de geannoteerde agenda als het schriftelijk overleg dat u
eerder heeft ontvangen hebben we hier geen melding van gemaakt, omdat het
voornemen toen nog niet bekend was.
De hele wereld heeft geschokt gereageerd op de gebeurtenissen in Oekraïne. Ookin het culturele veld in Nederland leven grote zorgen over de Russische militaire
inval in Oekraïne en de ongekende humanitaire crisis ten gevolge daarvan. Dezezorgen deel ik. Daarbij zijn er vele vragen over hoe te handelen in de ze extreme
situatie, juist in de wereld van kunst, cultuur en media. Cultuur gaat immers bij
uitstek over geografische grenzen heen. Deze zorgen en vragen spelen niet alleen
in Nederland, maar ook in andere landen in Europa. Ik onderhoud daarom nauwe
contacten met mijn collega’s in de Europese Unie en daarbuiten, om zo goedmogelijk gezamenlijk op te trekken.
In de verklaring die tijdens de informele OJCS-raad is vastgesteld, verwijzen wenaar de internationale regelgeving en waarden van democratie en vrijheid.
Daarbij betuigen wij gezamenlijk onze steun en solidariteit aan Oekraïense
kunstenaars, journalisten en cultuur- en mediaprofessionals, en spreken wij onze
bereidheid uit om hen te helpen.
We spreken ook onze zorg uit over het erfgoed in Oekraïne en verwijzen daarbij
naar het Haags Verdrag inzake de bescherming van culturele goederen in geval
van een gewapend conflict (UNESCO-verdrag 1954) als onderdeel van het
internationaal humanitair recht.
Advies aan de Nederlandse culturele en creatieve sector
De solidariteitsverklaring is in lijn met hoe we in Nederland de culturele encreatieve sector adviseren om te gaan met culturele contacten in de Russische
Federatie en Belarus. Mede namens de ministers van Buitenlandse Zaken en voor
1

H et verslag hiervan zal ik u volgende week toesturen.
P agina 1 van 2

Buitenlandse Handel en Ontwikkelingssamenwerking, roep ik de Nederlandse
culturele en creatieve sector op om onafhankelijke, kritische organisaties enindividuele denkers en kunstenaars te blijven steunen. Tegelijkertijd vragen wehen, gezien de aard van de gebeurtenissen en in lijn met het beleid van vele
andere Europese landen, om alle formele en institutionele samenwerkingen met
de overheid in de Russische Federatie en Belarus, evenals de aan hen gelieerde
culturele instellingen, op te schorten.

Onze ref erentie
3 1 832865

We blijven wel ruimte bieden aan individuele Russische en Belarussische
kunstenaars in Nederland, om de verbindende kracht van kunst en cultuur tekunnen blijven benutten. Deze kracht bleek ook weer tijdens de landelijke actie‘hArtforUkraine’ die het culturele veld het afgelopen weekend organiseerde.
Het is belangrijk om juist in deze tijd goede contacten met onafhankelijke
journalisten en kunstenaars in de Russische Federatie en Belarus te blijven
onderhouden.
Velen vragen zich af hoe zij onafhankelijke journalisten en kunstenaars en
journalisten in Oekraïne kunnen helpen in deze uiterst moeilijke tijden. En ook
hoe zij onafhankelijke journalisten en kunstenaars in de Russische Federatie en in
Belarus kunnen ondersteunen. Samen met het Nederlandse culturele veld willen
we bekijken hoe we dergelijke initiatieven vorm kunnen geven.
Ook houden velen zich bezig met hoe we Oekraïense onafhankelijke journalisten
en kunstenaars die in Nederland hun heil hebben gezocht, kunnen opvangen en
ondersteunen. We zullen bezien hoe en op welke wijze de Nederlandse culturele
en creatieve sector hieraan een bijdrage kan leveren.
De staatssecretaris van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap,

Gunay Uslu

P agina 2 van 2