With the support of a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Collecting Cultures scheme (2015-2019), the museum was able to work with a specially-created Collecting Panel. Made up of specialists in African fashion, both through personal experience and academic training, the panel directed the museum’s collecting activities. Panel discussions were expertly chaired and facilitated by Sarah Naomi Lee. Panel members were: Harriet Hughes, Tony Kalume, MaryFrances Lukera, JoAnn McGregor, Edith Ojo, Thomas Onyimba, Tshepo Skwambane, Nicola Stylianou, Lou Taylor, Carol Tulloch and Joma Wellings Longmore. As well as identifying objects for the museum to collect, panel members also became involved in sourcing acquisitions.
(Left-right) Tony Kalume, Rachel Heminway Hurst, Sarah Naomi Lee (facilitator), Thomas Onyimba, Edith Ojo, Lou Taylor, Nicola Stylianou, Tshepo Skwambane, Joma Wellings Longmore and MaryFrances Lukera. Missing from the picture are Harriet Hughes, Carol Tulloch and JoAnn McGregor.