Dr Grace Ann Varkey, was awarded the UK Visiting Fellow (Charles Wallace India Trust) 2025-26, while Superintending Archaeologist, Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Gujarat, for a study of interactive and experiential museums and exploration of new dimensions of museums’ public engagement in the UK.
Grace Ann Varkey is a Superintending Archaeologist with the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Gujarat, India, with professional expertise in archaeological heritage management, museum development, and public engagement. She holds a Doctorate in Archaeology, with her research titled A Study of Ceramic Traditions of North Gujarat with Special Reference to Vadnagar Excavations (Early Historic to Medieval). She is responsible for the conservation and management of state-protected monuments, archaeological surveys and excavations, and the regulation of heritage-related statutory processes. She has worked with the Archaeological Survey of India for three years at the Vadnagar excavation site, contributing directly to field research and interpretation. She has served as Curator-in-Charge of the Vadnagar Archaeological Experiential Museum, India’s largest archaeological museum integrated with an open air excavation site and immersive exhibitions that combine archaeological research with contemporary storytelling.
Her UK fellowship project, “Interactive and Experiential Museums: Exploring New Dimensions of Public Engagement,” examined interactive displays, digital storytelling, immersive content, and strategic digital marketing to expand museum audiences. Her work aims to align India’s state museums with international best practices in curatorial innovation, sustainability, and inclusive public engagement.