Slavery Memorial Committee, NAAM sign heritage agreement through 2029

The Slavery Memorial Committee and NAAM Foundation signed a framework agreement on Friday 16 October to work together through 2029 on research, collections and public access to Caribbean heritage. The organisations said the work will cover Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius and Sint Maarten.

According to the organisations, the partnership includes an inventory of existing slavery-history publications and research from the six islands. They said the findings will be used to develop a research agenda with attention to local knowledge and Caribbean perspectives.

The agreement also covers a 2027 programme marking the centenary of Elis Juliana, including publications, educational materials, public activities and a travelling exhibition. NAAM Foundation said it will develop and carry out agreed activities, while the Slavery Memorial Committee will provide thematic priorities, resources and networks.

The partners also plan a collection, digital map and knowledge bank for projects funded by the committee. A pilot project will explore access to the Zikinzá collection, which includes about 1,400 recordings made by Juliana and Paul Brenneker from the 1950s onward.