Claude Ardouin
Curator, Head of the Africa Section
Claude is responsible for the
Africa section, with specific focus on the care of west Africa
collections.
Department: Africa, Oceania and the
Americas
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7323 8038
Email: cardouin @ thebritishmuseum.ac.uk
Claude studied anthropology and
history at the State University of Leningrad, USSR (MA and
PhD).
His current research/projects explore the
history of gold and textiles in west Africa and the related history
of exchanges with north Africa, Europe and within west Africa
itself. More broadly his interests are in the complex
inter-relations between exchanges and cultural history in west
Africa as reflected in material culture, the arts
and intangible culture.
He has recently begun a fieldwork-based
project on gold, silver and brass in the history of west Africa. He
is also responsible for coordinating the British Museum programme
of partnerships with museums in Africa for in the department of
Africa, Oceania and the Americas. This involves collaborative
projects and exchanges of skills and resources with museums and
heritage institutions in several countries on the African
continent.
His interests build upon past work in Mali,
Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana. The outcome of this was various
publications, exhibitions and museum programmes.
Dr. Ardouin’s work on African heritage
preservation and promotion includes major museum programmes in west
Africa. He started the new National Museum of Mali in 1982, was
Executive Director and a founding member of the West African
Museums Programme (Senegal) with activities in sixteen countries in
west Africa. He managed several museum development programmes
including the rehabilitation of the photographic archive of the
Institut Fondamental d’Afrique Noire in Dakar. He developed the
Master Plan for a new National Museum in Burkina Faso (with the
European Commission), planned the development of the National
Council of Arts and Culture in The Gambia (with the World Bank)
and coordinated the National Museums of Kenya Support
Programme (with the European Commission). He is a founding member
of the International Council of African Museums (AFRICOM).
Current British Museum projects
Previous British Museum projects
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External fellowships/ honorary positions/ membership of professional bodies
Member of AFRICOM (International Council of African Museums)
Publications
Most recent publications
C. Ardouin, E. Arinze (ed), Museums and History
in West Africa (Smithsonians/James Currey,
London, 2000)
C. Ardouin (ed.) Museums and
Archaeology in West Africa (Smithsonians/James
Currey, London, 1997)
C. Ardouin, 'Culture,
Museums, and Development in Africa', in P. Altbach, S. M.
Hassan (ed.) The Muse of Modernity : Essays on Culture and
Development in Africa (Africa World Press, Inc., Trenton,
1996)
C. Ardouin, 'Vers un trafic
licite des biens culturels? Quelques réflexions et suggestions à
partir d'une perspective anthropologique', in International
Journal of Cultural Property, 1, Vol. 4 (Walter de
Gruyter, Berlin-New York, 1995)
C. Ardouin, Arinze, E. (ed.) Museums and the Community.
Materials of the Seminar on Local Museums (James Currey,
London, 1995)