"Protection of Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis": International Museum Conference in Tivat, April 18–19, 2024.
At a time when cultural heritage is increasingly threatened by armed conflict, natural disasters, illicit excavation and trafficking, as well as neglect regarding its preservation and care, an international museum conference titled "Protecting Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis" is taking place. The eighth edition of the Balkan Museum Network’s annual conference, titled "Meer, See, Do" (Meet, See, Apply), will gather over 70 participants from 17 European countries in Tivat on April 18 and 19, 2024. The conference program is extensive and diverse, offering insights from global experts on topics such as digitization, interpretation, education, community engagement, heritage conservation, and many others. Through two keynote speeches, three panel discussions, nine workshops, and 13 case study presentations, valuable practical experiences and research findings will be shared. The conference is designed to spur action, foster dialogue, and facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience among diverse museum professionals from across the region.
The conference is organized by the Balkan Museum Network (BMN) to strengthen regional cooperation and foster partnerships among professionals dedicated to cultural heritage preservation. The conference would not be possible without the cooperation and partnership of the Tivat Museum and Gallery Public Institution and the support of the Municipality of Tivat.
The conference is organized by the Balkan Museum Network (BMN) to strengthen regional cooperation and foster partnerships among professionals dedicated to cultural heritage preservation. The conference would not be possible without the cooperation and partnership of the Tivat Museum and Gallery Public Institution and the support of the Municipality of Tivat.
During the conference, two European projects in which BMN is a partner—funded by the European Horizon program—will be presented: the SHIFT project, which utilizes new technologies to improve the accessibility of cultural heritage for blind and visually impaired persons; and the AURORA project, which explores innovative approaches to protecting artifacts from illegal excavation and theft through the use of chemical tagging, miniaturized devices, deep-scanning techniques (XRF), and a digital platform for storing all the collected data.
A highlight of the conference will be the announcement of the launch of a new cultural heritage program—the Headley Southeast European Cultural Heritage Fund 2024–2026—which will be available to cultural heritage institutions and organizations across Southeast Europe. The Fund’s objectives focus on enhancing engagement with and the management of Southeast Europe’s cultural heritage. This includes capacity building for young people, communities, heritage professionals, and civil society organizations, as well as fostering regional cooperation and understanding.
During the conference, two European projects in which BMN is a partner—funded by the European Horizon program—will be presented: the SHIFT project, which utilizes new technologies to improve the accessibility of cultural heritage for the blind and visually impaired; and the AURORA project, which explores innovative approaches to protecting artifacts from illegal excavation and theft through the use of chemical tagging, miniaturized devices, deep-scanning techniques (XRF), and a digital platform for storing all the associated data.
A highlight of the conference will be the announcement of the launch of a new cultural heritage program—the Headley Southeast European Cultural Heritage Fund 2024–2026—which will be available to cultural heritage institutions and organizations across Southeast Europe. The Fund’s objectives focus on enhancing engagement with and the management of Southeast Europe’s cultural heritage. This includes capacity building for young people, communities, heritage professionals, and civil society organizations, as well as fostering regional cooperation and understanding.
The conference will also serve as the venue for announcing the recipient of the inaugural "Curator of Peace" award, presented to a museum professional from the Western Balkans who has made a significant contribution to the peacebuilding process. The conference is generously funded by The Headley Trust UK and co-funded by the European Union through the AURORA and SHIFT programs.
