Ana Isabel Díaz-Plaza Varón

Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares.
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid

ICOM No. 77015

Nominators: Isabel María García Fernández (Spain), Carmen López San Segundo (Spain)

Biographical note

Ana Isabel Díaz-Plaza Varón is a museum and cultural heritage professional at the Autonomous University of Madrid, where she serves as curator of the Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions. She holds degrees in Art History, Museography, and Historical Research Methods, and her area of expertise is ethnography and university museum management. As a current UMAC Board member (2022–2025), she has led the Building Bridges project to connect university museums and collections in Spain and Latin America. Her work focuses on fostering cooperation, inclusivity, and dialogue within the global university museum community. Link to CV.

Qualifications for the position

I am a museum and heritage professional with over fifteen years of experience at the Autonomous University of Madrid, where I have worked in university cultural management, curatorship, and institutional coordination. My career has focused on connecting academic, cultural, and community dimensions through museums, exhibitions, and collaborative projects that foster participation and dialogue.
As curator of the Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions (MATP-UAM), I lead institutional and cultural initiatives that involve project management, team coordination, and strategic planning. This position has provided me with extensive experience in governance, budgeting, reporting, and inter-institutional collaboration—skills directly relevant to the Secretary’s responsibilities. I am used to managing complex administrative processes while ensuring clarity, accuracy, and transparency.
Since 2022, I have served on the UMAC Board, an experience that has deepened my understanding of the diversity, creativity, and challenges faced by university museums worldwide. Within UMAC, I have been particularly involved in strengthening the visibility of the Spanish-speaking community and fostering cooperation between Europe and Latin America through research, professional exchange, and bilingual communication.
My international engagement includes participation in several conferences such as Kyoto (Japan), Prague (Czech Republic), Dresden (Germany), Puebla (Mexico), Bogotá (Colombia), Granada, Salamanca, and Madrid (Spain). I have published articles in the UMAC Journal, Revista PH, and other professional journals, and I regularly teach and supervise students in heritage and museum studies.
I value precision, empathy, and collaboration as essential qualities in any professional context, especially in positions of responsibility within international networks. My experience in documentation, coordination, and intercultural communication equips me to contribute effectively to the Secretariat’s duties, ensuring consistency, institutional memory, and an inclusive working environment for all members.

Main goals of candidacy

My main purpose is to contribute to a well-organised, transparent, and responsive Secretariat that supports both the UMAC Board and the wider membership. I see the role of Secretary as essential for ensuring continuity, clarity, and trust within the committee—serving as a bridge between governance and community.
Core Secretary commitments
• Prepare and keep accurate records of Board meetings and Annual General Assemblies, ensuring that minutes are circulated, approved, and properly archived.
• Maintain and safeguard UMAC’s archives, guaranteeing their organisation and smooth transfer to the next Secretary at the end of the term.
• Liaise with the ICOM Secretariat to keep UMAC membership data updated and to validate member status for voting, Board eligibility, conference registration, and travel grants.
• Keep the UMAC mailing list current and ensure that members receive relevant information and official communications.
• Respond to general inquiries about UMAC membership, applications, and activities, redirecting specialised questions to the appropriate Board members.
• Compile and consolidate information about UMAC activities and membership for inclusion in the Annual Report and other official documents.
• Coordinate the distribution of official announcements and updates, ensuring that information from ICOM, the UMAC Board, and partners reaches members clearly and promptly.
These commitments reflect my view of the Secretariat as the reliable backbone of the committee—ensuring that procedures are clear, communication is effective, and institutional memory is preserved for the future.

Board-wide contributions (beyond the Secretary’s core)
Alongside these administrative duties, I wish to continue contributing to UMAC’s broader mission by:
• Supporting the “Building Bridges / Construyendo Puentes” initiative, a bilingual platform that enhances the visibility of university museums and collections in the Spanish-speaking world. My focus will be on documentation, coordination, and the sustainable integration of its outcomes within UMAC’s structure.
• Encouraging linguistic and regional diversity in UMAC activities, helping ensure that members from different backgrounds can engage and contribute on equal terms.
• Assisting thematic and regional working groups by providing consistent reporting and archiving frameworks that support continuity and institutional memory.
• Contributing to collaborative projects and outreach activities that promote professional exchange and strengthen UMAC’s role as a global community of practice.
Ultimately, I believe that good communication begins with listening. As Secretary, I aim to ensure that every voice within UMAC is heard and that information flows smoothly, accurately, and inclusively. I hope to contribute to a committee that remains open, dynamic, and connected—a UMAC that continues to grow stronger through collaboration and shared purpose.