CURRICULUM VITAE OF DEIRDRE PRINS-SOLANI PRINS-SOLANI HERITAGE CONSULTING cc Contact Details Postal Address: c/o 47 Field Close Pinelands 7405 Cape Town Republic of South Africa Telephone: +2772 7853588 Email: Deirdreprins17@yahoo.com Nationality: South African Identity Number: 7007170160087 Date of Birth: 17/07/1970 Tertiary Education Name of University: Qualification: University of Cape Town Bachelor of Arts Period: 1989-1991 Major Subjects: Other subjects: Name of University: Qualification: English Psychology Afrikaans Xhosa Linguistics Political studies University of Cape Town Higher Diploma in Education Period: 1992 1
Teaching Subjects: English Guidance and Counselling Life Skills Name of University: University of Cape Town Qualification: Post Graduate Diploma in Management Period: 1996 Modules: People Management and Development Organisation Decision Making Operations Management Information Systems Management Management Accounting Marketing Industrial Ecology Financial Management Organisation and Management Name of University: Qualification: Period: Modules Passed: Name of University: Qualification: University of Cape Town Post Graduate diploma in Adult Education 1999 (converted to MPhil) Specialisation: Literacy Studies The Social Uses of Literacy Literacy in theory and Practice Literacy in the Workplace/Social Development Intercultural Communication University of Cape Town Master of Education (Literacy Studies Specialisation) Period: 2000-2004 Thesis Topic: Literacy Practices and the Construction of Identity in the Robben Island Maximum Security Prison:1960-1975 2
Please note: Course work for this qualification was completed. The mini-thesis will be submitted as soon as the outstanding university debt is settled Internships and other Study Programmes/Professional Development Eklavya Education Foundation India Development of curriculum for new school 1996/7 See: http://www.eklavya.org for details Prema/ICCROM Course on Museums Enlivening Skills held in Zimbabwe in 1998 Smithsonian Institution (USA) Heritage Institutions Study Tour Participated in an Internship programme looking at Education and Public Programming in Museums in 1999 Participated and visited various museums in the UK looking at their education and outreach programmes 2001 Dutch Museums Association Guest Adjunct to a Conference where I was keynote speaker, a study tour was organised of Museums in Amsterdam Anne Frank House in particular Wits Business school Africa 2009 Swedish Study Tour Certificate in strategic thinking and planning 2006 Heritage Sites and Sustainable Development 2007 Visited museums, sites and academic and research institutions 2010 Shanghai China Visited museums and sites in Shanghai 2010 UNESCO 2003 Convention UNESCO Expert in intangible cultural heritage 2011 3
Fellowships and Visiting Scholar Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA I served as a member of the steering committee for the Rockerfeller Foundation Program called; Institutions of Public Culture. This program was a collaboration between Emory University and other US based institutions and African heritage institutions. Scholarships and fellowships for post-graduate student to spend research and study time at Emory University and for fellows to spend time on research and writing. My responsibility was to visit and access progress and challenges that both students and fellows were facing and recommend resolutions to the steering committee where there were areas of concern. I also presented a seminar on the making of Political Imprisonment and Leadership and lessons learnt and the screening of the documentary series of the same title which I had project managed on behalf of Robben Island Museum. See http://csps.emory.edu/photogallery0304-2.htm for photographs Salzburg Global Fellowship 2011 Museums and Libraries in an era of Participatory Culture. Salzburg Seminars are a highly prestigious seminar sessions which brings together global leaders within different sectors who are believed to be Thought Leaders, visionaries in their areas of expertise. Developed a curriculum which integrates participatory culture into practises of librarians and museums professionals (on-going as I am part of an international team to finalise) See: http://youtu.be/-q6zq2416ry for video clip featuring me 4
Nominations and awards Salzburg Faculty Member 2012 Member of 3 rd Take Africa Review Team 2012 Salzburg Fellow 2011 UNESCO Expert in Intangible Cultural Heritage 2011 Finalist in the Shoprite/Checkers/SABC Women of the Year Awards 2003 Company Anchor, UCT 1996 Work Experience Current: Deirdre Prins-Solani Heritage Consulting August 2012- current Clients and Projects: Museum of AIDS in Africa, www.museumofaidsinafrica Project Coordinator for the Healing through Memory Project Project Coordinator for the Winston Zulu Documentary series; Winston s World Freelancer for Urban Brew, MemoryInc Researcher/Editor, Matola Raid Memorial and Interpretation Centre Project, Department of Arts and Culture Advisor, South African World Heritage Sites documentary for Department of Environment UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Section Participated in the Review Meeting of the UNESCO 2003 Convention Global Strategy in China 2012 Development of learning and teaching materials; Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage as part of the Global Capacity Building Strategy 2012-2013 5
Authored Position Paper for the Intangible Cultural Heritage UNESCO 2003 Convention Celebration Conference; Parallel Universes. A commentary on the differences and similarities between the World Heritage, Intangible Cultural Heritage, Diversity of Cultural Expressions and the Intellectual Property Rights Conventions 2013 UNESCO Nairobi Office Development and Implementation of capacity building for East African Directors of Culture; Intangible Cultural Heritage 2012 IDEA International Coalition of Sites related to the legacy of Leprosy/Hansen s disease 2012-current Advisor and Capacity Building Expert University of Mauritius On-going Advisor and Faculty Member of the Masters in Heritage Management University of Cape Town Lecturer: Intangible Cultural Heritage, MA Program in Built Heritage 2013 UNESCO/UNDP Authored contribution to the 2013 Creative Economy Report AFRICAN WORLD HERITAGE FUND Edited the final report on World Heritage and Extractive Industries for submission to the World Heritage Committee meeting, Cambodia, 2013 6
Previous Position Centre for Heritage Development in Africa Executive Director Period Jan 2009 - June 2012 Duties Developing a long term strategic plan for the institution that redefines its programmatic strategy to address the needs of the heritage sector in Africa Sourcing strategic work contracts for the Centre from bodies such as the World Heritage Centre, African World Heritage Fund, UNESCO Intangible Heritage cultural division, Movable Heritage Division and World Monuments Fund Source funding and contracts from State Parties Resource Mobilisation Prepare the strategy and report on the state of world heritage in Africa to the World Heritage Committee in 2011 Conceptualise and monitor Youth Heritage Programmes Support State parties in developing nomination Dossiers for World Heritage Status Ensure that there is an ongoing research programme that attracts international scholars and higher education institutions Creating partnerships with strategic institutions with similar objectives as the Centre Please note: That as a member of the PREMA/ICCROM network my association with CHDA began in 2000. I was invited to review the curriculum outline for the Museums Enlivening Skills Course by ICCROM in 2001. I n 2000 I co-facilitated the inaugural activity of the PMDA/CHDA (Program for Museums Development in Africa) and continued to serve as a Resource Person in the areas of Education, Public Programming and Community Involvement. I also acted as reviewer to the curri culum of the Africa 2009 Program (An ICCROM,UNESCO World Heritage Centre, EPA, CHDA,CRAT -erre ENSAG partnership program in Immovable Cultural Heritage) Major projects completed Running a Youth driven heritage and development incubation programme that attracts youth in Old Town Mombasa 7
Successfully hosted the University of Gothenburg Conservation School and developed internship program for Masters students Attracted and implemented the partnership program between the University of Newcastle (UK), Ikworama Rainforest Centre (Guyana) and Hainan Centre for Cultural Diversity (China). This program culminates in three Masters scholarships at the University of Newcastle for African professionals Part of a review and editing team of a book titled, Heritage Impact assessment in Africa: An overview: 2010 Accreditation of a CHDA innovative conservation product; Lab in a Suitcase by the DG UNESCO as a UNESCO CAT project 2012 Successfully managed the Nomination Dossier Training on behalf of the African World Heritage Fund which saw an exponential increase in the number of successful listings of sites in 2010 and 2011 Successfully participated in the conclusion and wrap up of the Africa 2009 program Successfully participated as a partner to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre in the Africa Periodic reporting from 2010-2011 Successfully managed and facilitated the capacity building of States Parties from East Africa in the UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage Successfully managed and facilitated the capacity building program for African universities for the integration of Intangible Cultural Heritage into curriculum Successfully implemented capacity building program for African NGOs on the implementation of the UNESCO 2003 Convention Robben Island Museum 1997-2008 Tour Guide 1997-1998 Main tasks Educating visitors about the history of Robben Island both natural and historical Facilitate the participation of various stakeholders in the planning of educational tours and materials of the island Facilitated RIM s role in the campaign to re-introduce History into the new school curriculum. Succeeded in this campaign, as well as having Robben Island inserted into the school curriculum Education Programmes and Materials development 1998-2001 Coordinator/Manager Main tasks 8
To design innovative educational and public education programs To generate materials relevant for use by various museum/site audiences To appoint, develop and manage innovative staff To provide strategic inputs to the overall educational functions of the museum and site Projects managed in this capacity Created the Robben Island Museum Annual Spring School Developed and managed the Robben Island Museum Road show Developed materials such as the RIM Bird brochure, Fauna and Flora in collaboration with WWF and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens Hosted daily schools program and camps Acting Manager/Senior Manager Education Department Period 2001-2002 Main tasks Oversight and management of department projects and strategy Financial planning and oversight of activities Participate in management team activities Projects managed and achievements in this capacity Grew the Education and Public Programs Department staff Transformed the Robben Island Training Program from an exclusively externally funded program into a South African owned program Senior Manager Education Department and Public Programmes Period 2002-2008 Main Tasks Strategic Management and oversight of the education and public programming within the museum and site People Development and Management Create and Sustain innovative programs Attract and retain donor interest and funding through the above Create, nurture and sustain effective partnerships (internally and externally)for the delivery of programs Projects managed and achievements in this capacity 9
Creation of the Academic Review Committee which quality assured RIM s contribution to the African Program in Museums and Heritage Studies Co Project Managed the development of the Integrated Management Plan (ICMP) for RIM Coordinated and wrote up the Interpretation Strategy for RIM as a part of the ICMP Managed the Restoration, Conservation and Use program of the Medium B Prison/Multi-Purpose Learning Centre (MPLC) Revitalised the Artists in Residency Program and in collaboration with the RIM Heritage Department staged successful exhibitions Created successful partnerships between Museums, Libraries, Education and Culture ministries in local governments so as to effect the RIM Road show Nurtured partnerships with institutions and organisations for the implementation of the RIM Annual Spring School (including internationally) Project Managed the Political Imprisonment and Leadership Project funded by W Kellogg Foundation. This was a; research project with interviews of over 50 ex political prisoners, a ten part documentary series and conference with conference report Project Managed and innovated various new initiatives; Robben Island for Children publication, Robben Island Treasure Hunt among others Annotated/ Selected papers and articles 1. The Art of Memory Making, Art and Human Rights Education, editors; Trentham Publications 2003 2. Un-intended Consequences: Public Programming at RIM unpublished paper 2006 3. Of Matisse and Mutuality: Building Equitable Partnerships, African Studies Association Conference University of Oxford 2010 4. Conservation by Design ICOM Conference Shanghai China 2010 5. Museums and Libraries in an Age of participatory culture Salzburg Global Seminar 2011 Professional Committees and Board Membership Vice President South African Museums Association (SAMA) President South African Museums Association (2004-2006) President International Council of African Museums (AFRICOM) (2006-2012) 10
Board Member Museum of AIDS in Africa (2008-present) Achievements: Oversaw the implementation of the Training for Transformation Program through SAMA on behalf of the Department of Arts and Culture Succeeded in retaining traditional membership whilst expanding SAMA s membership to include heritage professionals outside of the museums sector Succeeded in fostering the return of scientists and science museums to SAMA Re-Aligned AFRICOM s vision and mission Successfully appointed an Executive Director with exceptional competency and experience Reviewed and adopted AFRICOM Policy Documents Attracted new partners and programs Successfully completed the electronic voting system to democratise elections across the continent and amongst members across the globe Professional Committees AFRICOM General Assembly and Conference Advisory Panel 2003 Member of the Standards Generating Body, Culture and Art for the NQF (National Qualifications Authority) 2003-2007 Institutions of Public Culture Steering Committee 2002-2007 African Program for Museums and Heritage Studies Steering Committee 2002-2008 South African Cultural Heritage Program (SANCH) Steering Committee 2001-2003 Member of the Africa 2009 Steering Committee 2009 Member of the Revitalisation Committee, Little Theatre Club, Mombasa 2010- present Member of the Steering Committee for the World Heritage Earthen Architectural Program Stigma and Leprosy Documentary Advisory Committee (NY) 2012 Referees Lazare Eloundou Chief of the Africa Desk UNESCO World Heritage Centre L.Eloundou@unesco.org Cell Phone:+33685638284 11
Joe King Director, Sites ICCROM (International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage) jk@iccrom.org Cell Phone:+393485240250 Ahmed Kathrada Former Chairperson Robben Island Museum Council amkathrada@mweb.co.za Cell Phone:+27836440300 Jean September Deputy Director British Council Cape Town Jean.september@britishcouncil.org Cell Phone:+27828088377 12