This July the British Council will host what promises to be a fascinating symposium on the intersections between indigenous knowledge and technology.
This latest edition of the British Council “Culture Grows” programme is themed “Heritage in a Digital Age” and will be an exploration of indigenous knowledge and technology. The symposium will bring together artists, technologists, cultural practitioners, and researchers to reflect on how culture is preserved, reimagined, and shared across generations and borders.
The British Council’s work in Cultural Heritage centers on collaboration with communities to protect, value, discover and share Cultural Heritage with all. Working with and through partners, their programmes contribute to the understanding of Cultural Heritage and Cultural Protection and support innovative projects that increase access to skills, networks and knowledge of the communities they work. They aim to work in ways that develop tangible opportunities and create economic and social growth.
Throughout the symposium expect provocative panel discussions on topics like decolonising digital archives, the politics of memory in virtual spaces, and what it means to “digitally preserve” oral traditions. There will also be hands-on workshops, tech showcases, and networking sessions for creatives navigating the ever-blurring lines between the past and the future.
At the heart of the symposium lies an urgent question: who gets to tell the story of our culture, and through what lens? In an era of AI-generated art, NFTs, augmented reality museums, and cloud-based memory banks, the boundaries of heritage are expanding fast. Culture Grows offers a rare chance to pause, reflect, and co-create tools for a more inclusive and dynamic digital heritage landscape.
Culture Grows: Heritage in a Digital Age will be a four-day hybrid symposium running from 23 to 26 July 2025 at the National Museums of Kenya, with online sessions happening throughout.
It kicks off on Wednesday, 23 July with pre-symposium conversations hosted on X (Twitter Space) via ke_British from 11:00 a.m – 1:00 p.m. EAT, followed by an evening gathering.
This leads into two full days of in-person and virtual programming on 24 and 25 July, featuring:
- Keynotes and spotlight talks
- Interactive panels and case study presentations
- Film screenings, exhibitions, folklore games, and youth-led sessions
- Dedicated online experiences, workshops, and even speed dating!
- A Night at the Museum – an exciting lineup of performances, music, and installations
The symposium closes on Saturday, 26 July with immersive experiences including curated walking tours, cinema in nature, and online policy discussions focused on culture and innovation.
There are two ways to attend:
- In-person attendance (All in-person sessions will also be available via livestream. The joining link will be shared with all registered participants closer to the event).
- Online attendance
All in-person sessions will be at the National Museums of Kenya, please arrive at least 15 minutes before the session you are interested in to allow time for registration.
In addition to panel conversations, physical attendees will have access to exclusive on-site experiences, including networking sessions, installations, showcases, and A Night at the Museum on 25 July.
The full programme can be downloaded here (scroll to the bottom of the page). Registration for sessions is here.
Please note: You are welcome to attend sessions across all four days, but you must register separately for the sessions you plan to attend.