Great news for the Caribbean heritage sector. Two museums just received a Museum Grant from NWO (Dutch Research Council): the Saba Archaeological Center Foundation and the Sint Maarten National Heritage Foundation. This shows that organisations and researchers from the region have real opportunities within the NWO programmes. They are among 16 awarded projects in this new funding round.
The Museum Grants programme strengthens the research role of museums. It funds museum professionals to carry out in-depth research related to their collections, heritage, and museum practice. The results will be shared through open access publications, ensuring that the knowledge benefits the wider museum sector.
Awarded Caribbean projects:
Saba Heritage Center: Building a Strong Foundation for the Future
One of the awarded projects comes from the Saba Archaeological Center Foundation. The project, "Collecting Without a Framework: Developing Collection Management and Storage Standards for the Saba Heritage Center in the Context of the Caribbean Netherlands", is led by S. Balfour. As Saba prepares for the opening of a new heritage center in 2029, the project will investigate collection management practices across the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom and in the European Netherlands. The research will identify best practices and develop recommendations to support the future Saba Heritage Center. The outcomes will help ensure that the island's heritage is preserved, managed, and shared for future generations.
Sint Maarten: uncovering the history of slavery and emancipation
The Sint Maarten National Heritage Foundation also received a grant. S.M. Dehaney leads the project "From Salt Pond to Emancipation: Slavery, Labour, Ruin, and Memory in the Sint Maarten Museum". The research explores the island's history of slavery and emancipation. It looks at sites, ruins, family memories, museum collections, and archives. The work covers salt production, plantation life, and the long road to freedom. It also brings attention to the island's indigenous history. The results will help the museum build stronger exhibitions. They will also support new educational materials. Sint Maarten's history will reach more people, on the island and beyond.
A real chance for Caribbean communities
These two grants show something important. Caribbean organisations and researchers can receive NWO funding, on equal footing with institutions in the European Netherlands. Through other NWO programmes, including ‘Caribbean research: a multidisciplinary approach’, Caribbean researchers can apply for more research grants. These grants cover a broad range of research initiatives that address societal challenges, strengthen knowledge development, and create impact across the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.
Congratulations, Saba and Sint Maarten
Congratulations to the teams of the Saba Archaeological Center Foundation and the Sint Maarten National Heritage Foundation. Their projects will not only strengthen museum practice but also help preserve, share, and deepen understanding of the rich histories and cultural heritage of the Caribbean. We wish both teams every success with their research and look forward to seeing the impact their work will have across the region.