By Peace Udugba
The Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art (YSMA) has announced its inclusion as a partner residency institution in the 2026 cohort of TheMuseumsLab, a leading Afro-European initiative focused on collaboration, exchange, and professional development among museums across Africa and Europe.
The 2026 edition, themed “Building Futures from Memory: Museums and Memorial Sites as Agents,” is designed to reposition museums as spaces for dialogue, social transformation, community engagement, justice, and reconciliation. The programme is jointly organised by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, with funding support from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM) and the German Federal Foreign Office.
Selected as one of 66 partner museums globally, YSMA’s inclusion marks a major milestone for both the institution and Nigeria’s museum sector. The museum also becomes the first Nigerian university art museum to join the prestigious Afro-European network.
As part of the partnership, YSMA will host its first international residency programme in September 2026, welcoming two museum professionals from Uganda and the United Kingdom. The residency is expected to provide a platform for knowledge exchange, capacity building, and cross-cultural collaboration, while strengthening professional museum practice.
The development aligns with YSMA’s mission as an educational museum dedicated to critical inquiry, creative exploration, and inclusive access to art and culture. It further expands the museum’s role as a hub for academic engagement and professional training within the global museum ecosystem.
Speaking on the development, the Museum Director of YSMA, Jess Castellote, described the inclusion as a significant milestone for the institution.
“Joining TheMuseumsLab network is a great moment for us. It affirms our commitment to positioning YSMA not just as a repository of art, but as a living institution dedicated to learning, dialogue, and exchange,” he said. “Hosting a residency of this nature allows us to contribute meaningfully to the development of museum professionals across continents while bringing global perspectives into our local context.”
Also speaking, Solveig Rietschel, Head of TheMuseumsLab, welcomed YSMA into the network, noting that the museum’s approach aligns with the programme’s objectives.
“We are delighted to welcome YSMA to our growing network of partner institutions. YSMA’s work reflects a forward-looking approach to the role of cultural institutions in society, with strong emphasis on education, community engagement, and innovative programming,” she said.
YSMA’s participation in TheMuseumsLab network highlights its growing influence within Africa’s cultural and academic landscape. The museum has over the years built a reputation for exhibitions, research initiatives, and programmes that connect academic and public audiences.
Through this partnership, YSMA is expected to deepen international collaboration, strengthen museum practice, and contribute to new conversations on African art, heritage, and museology across continents.
