Panama joins Yale directors’ forum on cultural heritage

Panama is entering Yale’s international network for cultural heritage leaders through the selection of Ana Elizabeth González, executive director and chief curator of the Panama Interoceanic Canal Museum.

González was chosen alongside 11 specialists from nine countries in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. Panama is one of only two Latin American countries included in this edition of the Yale Directors Forum, a program promoted by Yale University’s Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage.

The forum brings together leaders from museums, cultural centers, archives and community projects. Participants from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Togo, Jamaica, Brazil and Panama will take part in meetings, workshops and exchanges with Yale faculty and specialists.

The program covers both material and living heritage, including historical collections, archives, photographs, artworks, gastronomy, music and knowledge passed between generations. Its stated aim is to strengthen leadership, conservation and institutional management while expanding cooperation among organizations that preserve and share cultural memory.

For González, the selection recognizes both her own career and the work of the Canal Museum. “This opportunity not only represents personal recognition, but also recognition of the collective work of the Canal Museum. In recent years, we have promoted new narratives, expanded access to heritage and strengthened the museum as a space for memory, research and public dialogue. Being part of this international network will allow us to continue learning, build partnerships and strengthen capacities for the future of the institution and Panama’s cultural sector,” she said.

“

This opportunity not only represents personal recognition, but also recognition of the collective work of the Canal Museum. In recent years, we have promoted new narratives, expanded access to heritage and strengthened the museum as a space for memory, research and public dialogue. Being part of this international network will allow us to continue learning, build partnerships and strengthen capacities for the future of the institution and Panama’s cultural sector.