Shared Cultural Heritage 2017–2020
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Shared Cultural Heritage 2017–2020 look forward Looking back to 1 Shared Cultural Heritage 2017–2020 Looking back to look forward Table of Contents Looking back 3 The Shared Cultural Heritage programme 2017–2020 in numbers 7 Happy healthy Hirado: Working together on the revitalisation of a historical city centre 9 Mindful Circulations: Musing on Shared Histories 13 Shared archival sources: Surinamese-Dutch collaborations 17 Russian-Dutch Shared Heritage: From artistic practices to knowledge exchange 20 A still from the documentary They Call Me Babu by Sandra Photo: Beerends, showing a ‘babu’ at the docks. ‘Babu’ was the Pieter van Huystee Film Looking forward 24 word used by Dutch families to refer to their Indonesian nannies during Dutch colonial rule. This documentary was supported by the Shared Cultural Heritage Matching Fund of DutchCulture. 2 Shared Cultural Heritage 2017–2020 Looking back to look forward Looking back Shared Cultural Heritage was one of the priorities of the Netherlands’ International Cultural Policy, which is a respon- sibility of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The two ministries used the International Cultural Policy Framework 2017–2020 to provide guidance to efforts in the field of shared cultural heritage. The main objectives of this policy were: • A strong cultural sector, where international exchange and sustainable cooperation ensure increasingly higher quality, and which is reco- gnised and valued abroad. • More room for the arts to contribute to a safe, just, future-proof world. • To use culture effectively as a tool of modern diplomacy. Our language, our culinary traditions, the buildings that surr- ound us, archives we have collected and the stories we pass on bear many traces of histories that connect the Netherlands with other countries, among them Australia, Brazil, India, Indo- nesia, Japan, Russia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname and the United States. The following organisations worked on and supported international and Dutch partners towards the pres- ervation, management, accessibility and visibility of cultural heritage related to shared histories between the Netherlands and these ten countries. 3 Shared Cultural Heritage 2017–2020 Looking back to look forward Partners Cultural Heritage Agency of DutchCulture, Centre for International National Archives of the Netherlands Dutch embassies in the partner the Netherlands Cultural Cooperation countries The Cultural Heritage Agency is the Neth- DutchCulture is the network and knowl- The National Archives of the Netherlands The diplomatic missions of the Nether- erlands’ centre of expertise for heritage. edge organisation for international cul- is situated in the Hague and holds over lands in the focus countries play a key It is an executive body of the Ministry of tural cooperation. This centre supports 3.5 million records created by the Dutch role in connecting local cultural heritage Education, Culture and Science. Heritage the Dutch cultural and creative sector, central government, organisations and professionals and organisations with care is a public interest, for which the public authorities and diplomatic posts individuals that have been of national relevant counterparts in the Netherlands. Dutch government also takes responsi- in the pursuit of their international ambi- significance. The collection includes The cultural officials working at the bility. The tasks of the Agency go beyond tions. DutchCulture’s mission regarding archives and maps concerning former embassies aim to foster and support merely preserving and protecting histor- shared cultural heritage was to boost Dutch colonies and overseas trading the exchange of knowledge and co- ical buildings, sites and works of art. To- international cooperation focused on posts in North and South America, Afri- operation. Additionally, thanks to their day, society devotes increasing attention tangible and intangible shared heritage, ca, Asia and Oceania dating from 1600 specific knowle-dge of national, regional to how cultural historical values can be by supporting (mainly, but not exclusive- to 1975. The National Archives works and local contexts, they support profes- given a place within spatial development ly) Dutch heritage professionals. This with (other) archival institutions, heritage sionals and organisations based in the plans and projects. Doing so ensures was done by offering advice for interna- organisations and a global network of Netherlands to improve their understand- giving future a – recognisable – past. tional cooperation, sharing information, researchers and communities to exchan- ing of local circumstances and adapt Together with its partners, it works on a organising network events, organising ge knowledge and create awareness their ambitions and projects accordingly. sustainable future for heritage within the Visitor Programmes to the Netherlands, of shared histories. By digitisation and Furthermore, the diplomatic missions domains of historic buildings, museums, supporting knowledge exchange be- online publication of relevant archives play their part in the identification of archaeology and the landscape. With- tween the Netherlands and the focus from the Netherlands and the partner economic and cultural opportunities for in Shared Cultural Heritage, in the last countries, and by financially supporting countries, the National Archives aims both local and Dutch heritage organi- four years, the Cultural Heritage Agen- international heritage projects. to improve and enlarge the accessibility sations. Last but not least, they provide cy supported local experts in partner and the use of these collections. Im- financial means to support projects that countries by promoting the exchange of proved access to these archival sources focus on international cultural heritage knowledge and capacity building. The stimulates international and interdiscipli- cooperation. instruments that the Agency uses are nary (historical) research. The National trainings, advice and knowledge prod- Archives also advises and supports ucts such as handbooks and inventories. archivists and heritage professionals Based on the needs and wants of local in the field of restoration/conservation experts in partner countries and the and digitisation of archives, as well as available expertise, the Cultural Heritage (digital) records management. Agency focused on three themes within the Shared Cultural Heritage programme: Maritime Archaeology, Collections and Built Environment. 4 Shared Cultural Heritage 2017–2020 Looking back to look forward In this publication, we look back at the past four years of Shared Cultural Heritage cooperation. Through infographics we give an impression of the diversity and scope of our work and the many projects and activities that took place from 2017–2020. Four articles share concrete examples of our projects, while highlighting good practices, lessons learnt and collaboration amongst the programme’s partners and many organisations and institutions around the world. Each of the articles addresses at least one if not more of the main goals of the programme: the sustainable preservation, management, accessibility and visibility of cultural heritage that connects the Netherlands with several countries around the world. The first article focuses on Hirado in Japan. It sheds light on the process of working together towards the revitalisation of urban environments by making use of (shared) heritage assets, a challenge that is common to many contexts around the world. The second looks at one of the many projects supported by DutchCulture’s Matching Fund in the past four years, called Mindful Circulations. This project is a powerful illustration of the potential of international collaboration and creative practic- es for dealing with violent pasts, in this case the colonial histo- ries that connect the Netherlands with India and Indonesia. The now empty coal silos in Sawahlunto, Indonesia, are Photo: Jean-Paul Corten The third article is about the accessibility of archival collec- currently used as a climbing wall by the local alpinist association. This site represents an interesting example tions through digitisation. Many collections based in the of adaptive reuse. The Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands refer to the histories of different countries, and Netherlands has been supporting the local authorities in finding a new future perspective for the former mining therefore cooperation is essential to make them accessible town, recently listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. to everyone interested. The fourth article sheds light on two different projects supported by the Dutch Embassy in Moscow and the Netherlands Consulate- General in St. Petersburg. One represents an artistic and textile take on shared Russian- Dutch histories, an example that showcases, much like Mindful Circulations, the potentials of multidisciplinarity for engender- ing different perspectives about the past. The second high- lights the importance of knowledge exchange for the devel- opment of new approaches to using built heritage for shifting societal needs. In the final part of this publication, we shift our gaze forward to share information about how our work will continue in the new policy period 2021–2024. The next four years are character- ised by many continuities as well as important changes. 5 Shared Cultural Heritage 2017–2020 Looking back to look forward We created this publication to be informative and inspirational for those