A new chapter has begun for T&T’s cultural institutions with the formal launch of the Trinidad and Tobago Alliance of Museums (TTAM), an organisation created to strengthen collaboration, advocacy and professional development across the country’s museum and heritage sector.
The milestone was marked with the Alliance’s first Annual General Meeting, where members formally established the body and elected its inaugural board of directors.
Heading the new organisation is president Nimah Muwakil-Zakuri, alongside vice-president Kara Roopsingh, secretary Jaime Bagoo, treasurer Juliet Abrahim, and director of advocacy and sector development Peter Corbie.
Together, the board will guide what organisers describe as a long-needed effort to unify and advance the nation’s museum community.
The creation of TTAM comes at a time when museums across T&T are grappling with a range of challenges—from limited resources and staffing shortages to the growing need to adapt to digital technologies and changing visitor expectations.
For many institutions, the pressures of modernising operations while preserving historical collections have made collaboration increasingly essential.
Muwakil-Zakuri said the Alliance aims to give the sector a stronger, more coordinated voice.
“This Alliance represents a unified commitment to elevating the museum sector in T&T,” she said following the meeting.
“Our heritage institutions safeguard the stories, memory and identity of our people. It is imperative that we strengthen our collective voice, professional standards and partnerships to ensure that our museums thrive in the 21st century.”
A central goal of the Alliance is to create a platform where museums—regardless of size, discipline or location—can share knowledge, resources and expertise.
Vice-president Roopsingh said collaboration will be essential if the sector is to meet the challenges ahead.
“No single institution can address the challenges facing our sector alone,” she said.
“TTAM will serve as a platform for dialogue, knowledge-sharing and joint action, ensuring that museums of all sizes and disciplines are supported and empowered.”
The Alliance also plans to build relationships with regional and international museum networks, opening opportunities for professional exchange and ensuring that local practices align with global standards.
Among the Alliance’s priorities are advocating for stronger national policies and funding frameworks for museums, expanding professional training opportunities and encouraging more inclusive and accessible programming.
Organisers say these efforts are critical if museums are to fully realise their potential as educational resources, tourism assets and community spaces.
Secretary Bagoo and treasurer Abrahim have also emphasised the importance of transparency and sound governance as the organisation begins its work.
They said the Alliance will operate in accordance with national statutory requirements and internationally recognised museum standards, ensuring accountability to members and stakeholders.
Beyond institutional development, the Alliance’s founders see the initiative as part of a broader effort to protect the country’s collective memory.
Museums, they say, do far more than house artefacts—they preserve the narratives that define national identity.
By bringing together cultural institutions, heritage professionals, educators and policymakers, TTAM hopes to position museums as dynamic spaces that connect past, present and future.
As the organisation begins its work, it is inviting museums, heritage organisations, corporate partners and cultural professionals to become part of the effort.
Its message is simple: safeguarding the nation’s heritage is a shared responsibility. And with the formation of the Alliance, T&T’s museums are taking a collective step toward ensuring those stories continue to be told for generations to come.
