The Atlantic World and the Dutch (AWAD): Local Country Workshops

As a preliminary to the AWAD international conference, a series of workshops was held in countries where a significant Dutch presence was established: the United States, Guyana, Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles, Surinam, Brazil and Ghana. All workshops were held between June and November 2006. In Surinam two separate pilot studies were executed by Jerome Egger, MA and Dr Jack Menke: one on the tangible dimension of cultural heritage, the other on oral history. The main objectives of these pilot studies were to improve the conservation and disclosure of tangible and intangible cultural heritage and to transfer know-how by training local personnel.
Each workshop was concluded with a report covering the outcome of the discussions, compiled jointly by the counterparts and the coordinators. These reports, available on the AWAD website, formed the starting point for the discussion on the outlines of the second phase of AWAD during the international Atlantic conference. Apart from investigating the state of affairs of the heritage field and each individual country’s needs and wishes, the gatherings offered the opportunity to present the AWAD database and to complement the existing information. Last but not least, the workshops underlined AWAD’s intention to establish and extend international cooperation and partnerships within the Atlantic region.

'''USA, ALBANY, NY, 8 JUNE 2006'''

Dirk Tang (National Library),
Janny Venema (New Netherland Institute),
Charles Gehring (New NetherlandInstitute),
Jane Ashton (New York Historical Society);

'''GUYANA, GEORGETOWN, 20 JUNE 2006'''

Johan van Langen (National Archives),
Lodewijk Wagenaar (Amsterdam Historical Museum,)
James Rose (National Trust and University of Guyana);

'''ARUBA & NL ANTILLES, WILLEMSTAD, CURAÇAO, 4-5 JULY 2006'''

Han Jordaan (Institute of Netherlands History and KITLV),
Alex van Stipriaan Luïscius (Royal Tropical Institute and Erasmus University Rotterdam)
Ieteke Witteveen (NAAM),
Nolda Römer-Kenepa (National Archives),
Arminda Franken-Ruiz (Archaeological Museum);

'''SURINAM PARAMARIBO, 13-15 JULY 2006'''

Alex van Stipriaan Luïscius (Royal Tropical Institute and Erasmus University Rotterdam),
Glenn Willemsen (NiNsee),
Jack Menke (Anton de Kom University),
Jerome Egger (Anton de Kom University)

'''BRAZIL, RECIFE, SÃO PAULO, RIO DE JANEIRO, 19-26 JULY 2006'''

Barbara Consolini (KITLV),
Marcos Galindo (Pernambuco Federal University)

'''GHANA, ACCRA, 13-17 NOVEMBER 2006'''

Michel Doortmont (University of Groningen),
Emmanuel Hagan (Ministry of Tourism),
Kofi Baku (University of Ghana),
Nicholas Ivor (Ghana Museum Monuments Board)

'''Workshop in the Netherlands'''

On 3 March 2006 the first workshop was organized in the Netherlands. It was attended by
some twenty representatives of the principal Dutch heritage institutions (universities, archives, museums, built heritage institutes, et cetera). The following subjects were discussed: intangible heritage, historical and archaeological research, archival and printed sources, monuments and archaeological sites, museums and movable cultural heritage and the AWAD website/database.
Apart from stimulating research and improving accessibility to the sources, it was concluded that education on the history of the Dutch in the Atlantic should be enhanced in the Netherlands.
In addition, the public should be given more insight into this subject through the organization of events and the use of the possibilities offered by the new media. An interdisciplinary approach was advocated. Archaeological research, for instance, should be extended to cover the colonial period, making use of historical sources. It is important that measures are taken to protect the built heritage and sites of archaeological interest.

OBJECTIVES
The primary objectives of the local workshops were:
- to draw up for each country an individual inventory of current activities, collections, expertise, needs and wishes regarding the study, preservation, restoration and availability/accessibility of the mutual cultural heritage in its broadest sense;
- to discuss the improvement and extension of the AWAD database/website as an integrating tool for developing and implementing the activities and projects for the second project phase;
- to establish priorities and points of focus for each individual country in the fi
elds of preservation, accessibility and research of the mutual heritage.
For each workshop one or two coordinators as well as a local counterpart were nominated.
Together they made a list of relevant representatives of the major cultural institutions and specialists in the heritage field, who were then invited to attend the workshops. The discussions focused on a series of topics regarding various aspects of the shared heritage, including:
- archives and libraries (paper heritage, both printed material and manuscripts);
- museums/moveable heritage;
- monuments and archaeological sites;
- intangible heritage (oral history, rituals, et cetera);
- research and universities;
- other topics, such as the extension of the AWAD database/website, funding, activities for a broader public, spin-off projects, public awareness.

RESULTS
Workshops, workshop reports, database and website.

See also:
Glenn Willemsen (Expert)
Emmanuel Hagan (Expert)