Raymond Silverman, director, Museum Studies Program and interim co-director, U- M Museum of Art

"Being Invited to One's Own House: Reflections on Culture and Heritage in Techiman, Ghana"

What does “culture” mean for the citizens of a community in Ghana today? How does one engage the citizens of such a community who see local traditional authority (the chief) as the custodian of culture in a more democratic process of (re) presenting culture? How does one engage the citizens of a complex multi-ethnic community who have never thought about why and how they might present their cultures to other people in planning for a space where culture is performed? This presentation offers reflections on recent collaborative efforts developing Techiman's first cultural center.