PFPAD 2026 Special Edition: Meet Dr. Carol Ann Dixon

Dr. Carol Ann Dixon is a brilliant academic, education consultant, and researcher specializing in decolonial museology and African/Caribbean diaspora histories. With over 20 years of experience as an educator, she serves as a Visiting Academic at Newcastle University ‪@newcastleuni‬ and an affiliated researcher at the University of Sheffield ‪@universityofsheffield‬ Dr. Dixon’s work meticulously traces how Western museums have historically "othered" Africa and its diasporas, turning rigorous academic critique into an active platform for structural, decolonial change. In this insightful episode of Blackfluencers, Dr. Dixon connects the preservation of cultural heritage directly to the question of global reparations. She dives deep into the politics of heritage, unpacking the misrepresentation of African artifacts in curatorial texts and literature. Far from accepting static definitions, she discusses the material culture as an ongoing, living connection to our ancestors—evoking the foundational principles of Sankofa (looking back to move forward) and Teranga. Dr. Dixon highlights how contemporary visual arts, such as the works of Yinka Shonibare, serve as powerful gateways to re-evaluating the past. She advocates for stepping out of academic "ivory towers" and translating deep research directly into the community—bringing these vital conversations into churches, afro-salons, local restaurants, and family homes. For Dr. Dixon, the future of the museum depends on Pluriversality and Polyvocality: creating living, breathing institutions where multiple voices, named authors, and multilingual catalogs exist without pervasive surveillance. About Dr. Carol Ann Dixon Dr. Carol Ann Dixon completed her PhD at the University of Sheffield in 2016, focused on the "othering" of Africa in Western museum practices. She has spent more than two decades designing heritage projects, anti-racism toolkits, and inclusive curricula. She has co-curated touring exhibitions and served as the Network Facilitator for the Leverhulme Trust-funded CARISCC project, consistently bridging the gap between historical collections and grassroots community advocacy. Connect with Dr. Carol Ann Dixon Official Website & Blog: museumgeographies.com / LinkedIn: Dr. Carol Ann Dixon Academic Contact: [email protected] #PFPAD #CarolAnnDixon #Blackfluencers #MuseumGeographies #DecolonialMuseology #Sankofa #Teranga #YinkaShonibare #Polyvocality #Pluriversality #ReparationsNow #MaterialCulture #AfricanHeritage #DecolonizeTheMuseum #Provenance #BIPOCSafeSpaces #NewcastleUniversity #AfricanDiaspora #CulturalGeography #GlobalJustice #PalaisDesNations #Geneva #UNHumanRights #BlackScholarship #CommunityDialogue