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YSMA, Toledo Museum Launch Cultural Exchange to Promote African Art
In a groundbreaking international collaboration, the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art (YSMA) in Nigeria and the Toledo Museum of Art (TMA) in the United States have entered into a strategic cultural exchange aimed at advancing the global appreciation of Modern and Contemporary African Art while strengthening institutional capacity and museum expertise.
The partnership, formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed in November 2024, marks YSMA’s first major international alliance. The agreement will see both nonprofit museums engage in joint curatorial projects, training programs, professional development exchanges, and traveling exhibitions featuring works from YSMA’s acclaimed collection.
Described as a “transformative partnership” by both institutions, the initiative comes at a pivotal time in global cultural diplomacy and seeks to expand access to African art while promoting mutual learning between museum professionals in Nigeria and the United States.
“This partnership is a major milestone in our journey to bring Nigerian art to a broader audience,” said Jess Castellote, Director of the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art. “By working with an esteemed institution like TMA, we are not only building professional capacity but also affirming the place of African art in the global narrative of creativity, innovation, and heritage.”
The Toledo Museum of Art, which was recently named the 2025 Best Art Museum in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, brings to the table decades of curatorial leadership, public engagement strategies, and museum management expertise.
Adam Levine, Director and CEO of TMA, emphasized the shared values underpinning the partnership. “This collaboration with YSMA not only enriches our understanding of African art traditions but also deepens our ability to integrate art into the lives of people — both locally and globally. Together, we strengthen the institutional ties and cultural connections that inspire, educate, and promote access to the transformative power of art.”
Traveling exhibitions from YSMA to the U.S. will give American audiences access to a vast collection of African artworks, from ancient cultural relics to bold contemporary pieces. Beyond the exhibitions, the partnership is expected to foster long-term ties between the two institutions and serve as a model for future cross-border cultural diplomacy efforts.
In a time marked by increasing global interdependence, both YSMA and TMA see the collaboration as a vehicle for advancing shared humanity, preserving cultural heritage, and inspiring the next generation through art.
