PROJECT IN DEVELOPMENT- ANNOUNCEMENT

We are excited to share the development of this pioneering online cultural heritage project, dedicated to preserving and promoting women’s traditional and cultural medicine as living intangible heritage. This project moves beyond displaying objects to highlight the stories, practices, and knowledge of contemporary practitioners who carry forward these ancestral traditions.

This online galley foregrounds the voices of those actively practising and teaching these healing traditions today. Objects and materials from distinct cultures will be presented not only for their historical significance but also as reflections of ongoing cultural practice and wellbeing. By sharing these narratives alongside the material culture, the project illustrates how identity, belonging, and cultural knowledge inform approaches to health across generations.

An early iteration of the project was showcased by WSMC Clinical Director at the Postpartum Conference 2025, demonstrating how cultural medicine practitioners, institutions, and healthcare professionals can collaborate to recognise the cultural dimensions of wellbeing. Conversations between the Curator, health professionals, and knowledge holders form a core part of the development of this online exhibition, ensuring that these practices are presented with authenticity, respect, and cultural context.

The online platform is being designed to be accessible, enabling audiences to engage with the objects, learn about the knowledge systems they represent, and hear from the people to whom these traditions belong. The project is not only a tool for preservation, it is an advocacy initiative that positions cultural medicine as a living, evolving practice placing its relevance in contemporary life.

As development continues, this online exhibit will serve as a space for reflection, learning, and connection, demonstrating the critical role WSMC can play in safeguarding intangible heritage while fostering wellbeing, belonging, and cultural continuity. Stay tuned for updates as we bring this living exhibition online, celebrating the stories, knowledge, and resilience of women’s healing traditions from across the world.