Pink map of the Latin America and the Caribbean territory

About Us

The Santo Domingo Centre of Excellence for Latin American Research (SDCELAR) at the British Museum is dedicated to developing and supporting collection-based projects in collaboration with communities in Latin America and the Caribbean. By fostering a growing network of heritage communities, researchers, artists, and partners with the Museum, SDCELAR aims to: 

  • Broaden the understanding and visibility of Latin American and Caribbean collections at the British Museum.
  • Cultivate collaborative curatorial practices and collective interpretation with Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and traditional communities in the region.
  • Promote the value, conservation, and self-representation of traditional knowledges and material practices through the shared access and study of collections.
  • Contribute to the documentation of both archaeological and ethnographic materials, bringing together transdisciplinary approaches and contemporary voices. 

SDCELAR curators advocate for the co-creation of collection and community-based projects and research initiatives centred around the vast cultural heritage of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Ongoing Projects

We work alongside Indigenous, Afro-descendant and traditional communities in Latin American and Caribbean in documenting and (re)interpreting the British Museum collections.

Our projects promote transdisciplinary approaches and plurivocal perspectives by encouraging different ways of engaging with collections and supporting local heritage initiatives.

How can pottery-related traditions connect to questions of Diaguita-Kakán identity, territory, and heritage...
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Three community museums in the Afro-Colombian Pacific and Caribbean gathered around the hearth to put...
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Learn about the celebration of the cultural heritage of the Indigenous Chontal people, both at the British...
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