In 2023, a groundbreaking COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) project was spearheaded by Concordia University in Canada (Dr Anita Sinner) and Helwan University in Egypt (Dr Samia ElSheikh), in partnership with the Bogotá Museum of Modern Art (MAMBO), where Susana Vargas was Head of Digital Strategy and Communications at the time. This innovative initiative brought together undergraduate art education students from Helwan University and graduate art education students from Concordia University, fostering a global dialogue around art, museums, and education.

Hear one of the episodes, “Analysis of ‘Shaman-Girl’s Prayer’ by Mariko Mori.” 

The project featured a virtual tour developed by MAMBO, which enabled students from Cairo and Montreal to engage with time-based media artworks from the exhibition An Uncertain Pleasure: Selected Works from the Pierre Huber Collection, held at MAMBO from September 2022 to February 2023. This virtual exploration promoted cross-cultural collaboration and provided a platform for students to discuss and analyse the artworks.

The resulting podcast series, now available on MAMBO’s Spotify profile, showcases the students’ experiences, insights, and perspectives on specific artworks from the exhibition. Through these episodes, listeners can explore the challenges of cross-cultural communication and the creative solutions that emerged from this international collaboration.

This podcast series exemplifies the power of global collaboration, community, and creativity in art education, while demonstrating how digital tools can bridge cultural gaps and enhance global dialogue in the museum context.

To hear the podcast, please visit: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Ls4VGU9nbVgJir3PpzWyh

Photo by Gregorio Diaz. Courtesy of the Bogota Museum of Modern Art.