A world-renowned Ghanaian sculptor, El Anatsui, made a powerful mark as the keynote speaker at the 27th General Conference of the International Council of Museums (ICOM Dubai 2025), held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai.
The event, which was on the theme ‘The future of museums in rapidly changing communities,’ was attended by more than 4,500 museum professionals, cultural leaders, and decision-makers from around the world.
El Anatsui, a special guest at ICOM Dubai 2025, met on the sidelines with Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the visionary of the conference, where they discussed the influence of art in connecting cultures and building shared understanding among communities.
In his keynote presentation, he advocated effective museum models that differ from traditional Western ideas, adopting principles more suited to local culture.
He stressed that for museums, adaptability means rethinking the institution’s form, function, and relationship with society, stating that “Adaptability requires museums to shift from being repositories of fixed knowledge to platforms for evolving dialogue.”
El Anatsui said museums should be more like living spaces, connecting the past, present, and future. They should be modest, cheaper to organise, accessible, and attractive to ordinary people, further stating that “Museums should have active civic roles and responsibilities.”
He further emphasised that “Restitution is obviously a central and controversial topic today. Nations want their stolen artefacts and artworks returned, and the autonomy to decide how to restore them to their living cultures and contexts.”
Sheikha Latifa, delivering an honorary keynote address, affirmed that ICOM Dubai 2025 reflects a shared vision driven by a belief in the power of culture to shape humanity’s future. Her Highness said Dubai’s hosting of the event stands as a recognition of its pioneering role on the global cultural stage.
She noted that the event marked a convergence of worlds, experiences, and perspectives:
“We gather here, each carrying the story of our people, our nations, our cultures, our heritage, and our museums. Together, our stories meet, intertwine, and form a living archive that reflects the richness and diversity of human experience, and reminds us that, at its heart, culture is an ongoing dialogue between the past, the present, and the future.”
Sheikha Latifa MR Al Maktoum’s official Twitter account tweeted Her Highness’s encounter with El Anatsui on the sidelines of the conference:
“It was a pleasure to meet the world-renowned Ghanaian sculptor El Anatsui, one of Africa’s and the world’s leading contemporary artists, on the sidelines of the 27th General Conference of the International Council of Museums (ICOM Dubai 2025).”
BY TIMES REPORTER
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