Museums constitute an existing and wide network active in all regions of the world. As a result, they are ideally situated to play a central role in helping achieve the ‘UN’s Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’. Through their engagement in initiatives directed to long-term environmental protection, to social justice and to equitable economic exchanges, they have the potential to support the sustainable development of societies.
Increasingly, contemporary museums of all genres are working both individually and together to help create better futures on a local, national and global scale. To contribute in the planet, museums are drawing on their unique collections and working with local and global communities and other partners, to foster community engagement and education that explores, imagines, frames and proactively generates sustainable futures. Within the new UN 2030 Agenda museums are, and have the potential to act as, information resources, communicators, educators, facilitators, activists and advocates, and as users of natural resources to achieve these aims.
Back in September of 2018, ICOM decided to officially place the topic of sustainably at the heart of its activities by establishing a Working Group on Sustainability. The Working Group’s mission is to help our organisation consider how to mainstream Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement across its range of activities, as well as to support its members in upholding the SDGs and working towards climate change adaptation.
Considering the various local and global aspects of sustainability, this session will explore the different paths and innovative strategies museums are following -and can follow- to support society in this period of unprecedented challenges. So much has been achieved, and so much more can be achieved, as museums are at the nexus between tradition, innovation and communities to nurture sustainable futures. All museums have a part to play and can maximise our collective impact and benefit. This panel will encourage all participants to reflect on how they can get involved in creating this shared story of positive transformation.
ICOM Kyoto 2019
Between the 1st and the 7th of September 2019, Kyoto (Japan) will host the biggest and most important conference of museums in the world. More than 3.000 museum professionals and experts from all international backgrounds will participate in this triannual event, the 25th General Conference of ICOM. After 24 successful editions, ICOM’s flagship conference has become a worldwide reputed hub for exchange about the topical issues museums tackle today, as well as the most innovative solutions.
THE PROGRAMME
