Research on Heritage Conservation in Senegal and International Scholarly Exchange in France
By Cécile Mendy
Research Stay in Senegal
In spring 2026, I travelled to Senegal (Dakar, Gorée and Saint-Louis) as part of my PhD research on endogenous heritage conservation practices.
During my stay, I took part in the symposium Sovereignty and the Restitution of Cultural Property (23–26 February 2026): on 23–24 February at the IFAN – Théodore Monod Museum, on 25 February at the Gorée Historical Museum, and on 26 February at the Museum of Black Civilizations. I also attended the study day Repairing Absence on 24 March 2026 at the French Institute in Saint-Louis.
My research combined fieldwork and archival research conducted at IFAN, Gaston Berger University, the National Archives of Senegal, the Directorate of Cultural Heritage, and the House of Slaves in Gorée. This visit highlighted the importance of local knowledge in developing more sustainable approaches to heritage conservation that are adapted to African realities, particularly in a context where issues of restitution are increasingly the subject of international debate.
Art and craftsmanship: an organic link?
Following my research stay in Senegal, I took part in the International Student Meetings organised within the programme of the fifteenth edition of the Festival of Art History, coordinated by the National Institute of Art History (INHA) and the Château de Fontainebleau. These meetings brought together PhD and postdoctoral researchers from various countries in Europe and Africa working on a range of topics related to art, craftsmanship and art history.
Following an initial session held in Rabat, Morocco, the second phase of the programme took place in Paris from 25 May to 4 June 2026 and in Fontainebleau from 5 to 7 June 2026.
During my stay, I attended several lectures given by renowned professors and specialists in fields such as contemporary art, architecture, decorative arts, dyeing and weaving, and archaeology. I also visited several major cultural and heritage institutions, including the Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, the storage facilities and restoration workshops of the Musée National des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, and the Maison Louis Vuitton and its craft workshops.
Throughout the event, each PhD and postdoctoral researcher presented their research. These presentations provided valuable opportunities for exchange, discussion and constructive feedback on our respective projects. The meetings fostered interdisciplinary dialogue and enabled participants to reflect on shared methodological and theoretical challenges across different research contexts.
Together, these experiences in Senegal and France enriched my research, strengthened international academic networks, and contributed to ongoing reflections on heritage conservation, restitution, museum practices, and the role of local knowledge in shaping sustainable approaches to cultural heritage management.
