Talks
Marie-Cécile Zinsou in Conversation with Kamini Sawhney
Marie-Cécile Zinsou, Kamini Sawhney
This session of MAP’s new series Director’s Cut features Marie-Cécile Zinsou, the President of the Fondation Zinsou, in conversation with the director of MAP, Kamini Sawhney.
Fondation Zinsou was originally envisioned as a platform and exhibition centre for contemporary African artists, particularly those active in Benin’s art scene. By now its activities extend beyond the realm of art to include education and social development as well as the fight against poverty. Its accomplishments include the opening of an exhibition space in the city of Cotonou, six mini-libraries and a contemporary African art museum – Ouidah Museum.
The Director’s Cut series offers a glimpse into how the institution of the museum is being reimagined and reinvented today and presents a unique opportunity to hear from reputed practitioners in museums around the world as they reflect on their institutional experiences, behind-the-scenes challenges, unique initiatives and more.
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Marie-Cécile Zinsou
President, Fondation Zinsou, Benin
Marie-Cécile Zinsou is the President of the Fondation Zinsou created in June 2005 in Benin. One of the main objectives of the Fondation is the enhancement of the artistic heritage affecting Africa as well as its education and development.
In eleven years, the Fondation has opened an exhibition space in the city of Cotonou, six mini-libraries and the first contemporary art museum on the continent, the Ouidah Museum, with over 5 million visitors to date.
In June 2015, Marie-Cécile Zinsou joined the board of directors of the public establishment of the Palace of Versailles.
She is also a member of the Global Museum Leader of Metropolitan Museum since April 2015.`
Kamini Sawhney
Director, Museum of Art & Photography (MAP), Bangalore
Kamini Sawhney is the first Director of the Museum of Art & Photography (MAP), Bangalore. She has brought together a young, inspired team that is focused on creating a new museum experience for audiences in India.
In her earlier role, Kamini was the head of the Jehangir Nicholson Art Foundation. Bringing institutions together in collaborative projects has been one of her special skills enabling audiences in India the opportunity to enjoy several exhibitions in collaboration with Tate, London, Foam, Amsterdam, the Duke University, Durham, the KNMA, New Delhi and more. Sawhney was selected as one of the first candidates for the Brooks fellowship at Tate Modern, London in 2014 in collaboration with the Delfina Foundation.
In a previous avatar as journalist and television anchor, Kamini was the Bureau Chief of NDTV, Mumbai, one of India’s leading news channels where she reported on a whole range of events, both political and cultural.
