CIRCE (Inclusive Valorization Model for Controversial Cultural Heritage in Mediterranean Harbors and Beyond)

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Slave Monument by Clara Sornas in Stone town, Zanzibar, Tanzania, Africa

Africa Nomads Art Space (AFNO) formally announces its participation as a consortium partner in CIRCE (Controversial Cultural Heritage: Reinterpretation and Co creation in Europe and the Global South), a four-year research project funded by the European Union under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) of the Horizon Europe framework programme (Grant Agreement No. 101235092).

The project is coordinated by Dr Giuseppe Capriotti, who leads the international consortium through the University of Macerata (UNIMC), Italy. CIRCE brings together academic and non academic institutions across Europe and Africa to develop innovative and inclusive models for identifying, interpreting, documenting, and valorizing controversial cultural heritage (CCH).

An International and Interdisciplinary Consortium

CIRCE is implemented through a distinguished inter sectoral consortium comprising:

Consortium partners
  • University of Macerata (UNIMC) – Project Coordinator
  • University of Genoa (UNIGE)
  • University of Split (UNISP)
  • National Distance Education University (UNED), Spain
  • University of Tunis (UNITN)
  • Pwani University College (PUC), Kenya
  • Mdinti, Tunisia
  • Approdi, Italy
  • HULU – Croatian Association of Artists, Split
  • Africa Nomads Art Space (AFNO), Kenya

This transcontinental partnership bridges the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean regions, examining medieval and early modern heritage across port cities in Italy, Spain, Croatia, Tunisia, and Kenya.

Project Scope and Research Focus

CIRCE addresses three thematic strands central to European and Global South heritage discourse:

  • Jewish and anti Jewish cultural heritage
  • Islamic and Ottoman legacies
  • Blackness and histories of slavery

Through participatory methodologies including : focus groups, decolonial heritage walks, co-design sessions, and artist-led workshops, the project seeks to transform heritage that is perceived as controversial into shared cultural resources that foster intercultural dialogue, inclusion, and responsible cultural management.

Africa Nomads Art Space’s Strategic Role

Africa Nomads Art Space contributes to CIRCE as a non academic cultural partner specializing in art based research, participatory practice, and postcolonial methodologies.

Within the consortium framework and exchanges:

  • AFNO is tasked with leading the Artist-Led Workshops in Europe, facilitating intercultural artistic dialogue and co-creation processes across European partner countries.
  • HULU – Croatian Association of Artists is tasked with leading the Artist-Led Workshops in Africa, working in collaboration with African partners to foster reciprocal artistic exchange.

This cross geographical leadership model introduces a multidimensional and decolonial perspective to the consortium, ensuring that artistic interpretation flows in both directions from Africa to Europe and from Europe to Africa thereby decentralizing heritage discourse and strengthening transnational collaboration.

AFNO further contributes to:

  • The co-development of the Atlas of Controversial Cultural Heritage
  • The creation of a multilingual glossary including Kiswahili and Arabic
  • Community based mapping and interpretation processes along the Swahili Coast

Expected Outcomes

CIRCE will produce:

  • A validated framework for identifying and interpreting controversial cultural heritage
  • An Atlas comprising visual panels developed through participatory artistic methodologies
  • A multilingual glossary addressing sensitive heritage terminology
  • A publicly accessible MOOC and training toolkit
  • An open access digital archive
  • A documentary capturing the research and co-creation process

All outputs are developed in alignment with Horizon Europe principles, including open science practices, gender equity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and ethical research standards.

Institutional Commitment

Through its participation in CIRCE, Africa Nomads Art Space strengthens its commitment to advancing African perspectives within global heritage discourse. The project reinforces AFNO’s role as a cultural bridge between continents and as a contributor to responsible, inclusive, and forward looking heritage practices.