Collecting as Cultural Practice

Workshop & Panel Discussion

Since the time of the so-called Neolithic revolution, collecting certain objects charged with value and meaning has become an important cultural phenomenon of mankind, always found, in all places and in all societies. Since it no longer exclusively served subsistence, collecting has played an important social role as one of the central cultural techniques of mankind, with diverse historical, political, and economical meanings.

In this Interdisciplinary project, the AGYA working group ‘Common Heritage and Common Challenges’ explores the diverse forms and facets of collecting in Eurasia and the MENA region. Drawing on specific examples from the past and present through an interdisciplinary and transcultural perspective, the group addresses central questions of memory cultures, the preservation of cultural heritage and the personal and social impact of collecting.

The project partners prepared a Working Group Meeting with a workshop and scientific excursions in Cairo, Egypt, where AGYA members, alumni/ae and invited experts explored issues of collecting and the study of collectors and collections.

Given that the study of collecting intersects numerous fields—ranging from history, material culture studies, and economics to sociology, natural history, art history, anthropology, philosophy, and archaeology—the Working Group Meeting benefited from the diverse expertise of AGYA members. With their wide-ranging academic backgrounds and research methodologies, participants fostered a spirit of cooperation and interdisciplinarity, sharing and expanding their collective knowledge.

Beyond the workshop and group discussions, the meeting offered a rich variety of additional activities. These included a keynote lecture delivered by Ali Abdelhalim Ali, Director of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, at Nile University, which provided insightful perspectives on the role of museums in cultural preservation.

Participants also embarked on several scientific excursions, visiting the Coptic Museum in Cairo, where AGYA member Barbara Henning provided an introductory lecture, and the Egyptian Museum, where AGYA member Ghada Mohamed and invited expert Alexander Schütze led in-depth tours, offering contextual insights into the collections.

The project culminated in a public panel discussion at the historic Marriot Mena House in Giza. This event brought together notable figures, including AGYA alumnus Tarek Tawfik, Hugo DeBlock, and Mary Missak Kupelian, alongside Alexander Schütze, to debate the evolving role of museums as spaces of knowledge production, transfer, and science communication in an ever-changing world. Moderated by AGYA members Ghada Mohamed and Phillip Grimberg, the discussion offered a dynamic platform for dialogue on how museums can continue to adapt and contribute to societal development.

This project and its outcomes aim to contribute to the development of a ‘Global History of Collecting Practices’ with a special focus on object itineraries and the nature and formation of networks of collectors from an interdisciplinary and transcultural perspective.

Phillip Grimberg