Minutes of the 31st meeting
Present: Ebenezer Acquah, Juste Constant Onana Amougui, Patrique deGraft-Yankson, Osuanyi Essel, Mary Clare Akinyi Kidenda, Lize Kriel, Runette Kruger, Jane Otieno, Avi Sooful, Mina Ton, Bernadette Van Haute, Ernst Wagner, Kamau Wango
Apologies: Paul-Henri Souvenir Assako Assako, Ruth Belinga, Stefan Eisenhofer, Constanze Kirchner, Christian Römmelt, Lydia Muthuma,
Welcome
Avi Sooful welcomed all participants, and especially Dr Kamau Wango from Kenyatta University, Nairobi, to the Expert Panel. Mary Clare Akinyi Kidenda introduced Dr Kamau Wango.
Constitution
Bernadette presented the draft statutes with the proposed amendments (made by Lize and Constanze). The alternatives were discussed and approved. Since registration is to take place in Ghana, Osuanyi suggested seeking additional assurance from a local lawyer to ensure compliance with Ghanaian regulations. The Panel discussed and agreed on the content of the Constitution that Patrique and Osuanyi will address with a lawyer for legal compliance.
EVC Conference in Winneba
The conference, hosted by the Centre for Research in Culture and Creative Arts (CeRCCA), takes place from Tuesday, 31st March to Thursday, 2nd April 2026. Mary Clare, Avi, and Ernst are attending in person. Dr Wango may attend the conference.
EVC Exhibition
EVC’s joint 2026 online exhibition will be launched at this conference. This will be in conjunction with a physical exhibition of works from EVC partner institutions. The hallway in front of the conference centre will be made available as an exhibition space..
New Futures Residency in Winneba (Ebenezer)
New Futures and Changing Lives plan to continue the residency programme held in Johannesburg in 2025, now in Winneba, one week before the conference. The results will be presented at the exhibition. Agnes Mensha (Winneba), Lukas Sterzenbach (Munich), Ngugi Waweru and Kirimi (Nairobi) are preparing the content. The programme on Decay as a theme will be led by Isadora Canela (Brazil), Allen Charles Chipman (USA), and Elsa Cuissard (France).
New institutional member: Mozarteum Salzburg (Austria)
Iris Laner, professor in art education, has invited Avi, Patrique and Ernst to the project “Joint aesthetic judgement” based in Austria. In addition, Ebenezer Kow Abrahams (Winneba) is working with Iris on an aesthetic reading of students’ works from Ghana, currently exhibited in Germany. Iris sent an application to formalise her EVC membership. The Expert Panel welcomed the Mozarteum as a new member.
Congratulations
- Mary Clare was honoured with the Award of “Order of the Grand Warrior “(O.G.W.) of Kenya by the Head of State.
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- Avi was appointed as an Associate Professor at UP.
Residency in Kenya
Mary Clare informed the Expert Panel that TUK is planning a residency programme in Nairobi. Information will be shared when the programme is fully established.
Cooperation with Iwalewahaus Bayreuth
Avi is in touch with the new chair of Iwalewahaus, Prof Natasha Kelly. EVC looks forward to continued cooperation.
Date of next meeting: In March - tbc