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Melissa Kurkut is a multidisciplinary artist and curator born and raised in The Netherlands, inspired by her Rwandan and Kurdish roots. She explores cultural identity and community engagement through photography, virtual exhibitions, and community projects.
She started off her curating career in Rwanda where she curated interactive exhibitions and co-founded Milele Virtual Museum. Melissa has curated exhibitions in Antwerp focusing and co-hosted the podcast “Behind The Frame” that aimed to create a more diverse art landscape in The Netherlands and Belgium.
She holds a Bachelor’s in International Business Management and is pursuing a Master’s in Arts Leadership at the University of Houston on scholarships from Fulbright The Netherlands and Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds.
Melissa Kurkut is speaking at the Digital Collections Summit:
Join us for a compelling session on how Milele Museum is transforming the preservation and presentation of African artifacts. We’ll delve into our innovative use of virtual reality, 3D scanning, and interactive web experiences to reclaim and celebrate African heritage. Hear about our journey, the impact of digital tools on cultural restitution, and our vision for empowering communities by bringing history to life. This is a unique opportunity to explore how technology can reshape the narrative and accessibility of African art and history.