Conference "Cultural Heritage for Reconciliation in the Balkans" (April 5-7, 2024)
The main objective of the conference “Cultural Heritage for Reconciliation in the Balkans” is to contribute to decreasing social and political issues on the region within cultural heritage. We will try actively to contribute to the mitigation of prevalent social and political challenges in the Balkans, employing cultural heritage as a transformative tool to foster cross-cultural understanding, encourage dialogue, and promote reconciliation, thereby cultivating a more cohesive and harmonious societal fabric within the region.
Goal is to cultivate robust professional networks, bridging the generational and experiential gaps between young and experienced professionals in culture and cultural heritage within the Balkans region. The overarching aim is to foster the development of societies that refrain from exploiting cultural heritage and history as catalysts for conflicts and divisions. By creating opportunities for meaningful dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge exchange, the initiative aspires to instill a sense of shared responsibility for preserving and celebrating the region’s cultural richness. The established professional networks on this conference will serve as dynamic platforms where emerging talents and experienced practitioners can engage in constructive conversations, transcending the historical tensions that have often led to societal divisions. Through networking, dialogue, and exchanging ideas, the goal is to nurture a culture of respect for diverse perspectives and a collective commitment to utilizing cultural heritage as a unifying force rather than a source of discord. This objective seeks to empower the younger generation with insights and guidance from established professionals while encouraging experienced individuals to embrace fresh perspectives. By emphasizing the shared heritage of the Balkans, the initiative aims to contribute to the cultivation of a harmonious societal fabric that values cultural diversity, rejects divisive narratives, and collectively safeguards the region’s cultural legacy for future generations.
The specific objective of the conference is to improve the knowledge of young professionals and experienced professionals in the cultural sector about the potential of cultural heritage for building peace, stability, and reconciliation in the Balkan. We hope this event will elevate the level of specific professional knowledge within the cultural sector by engaging a cohort of 12 young and 12 senior professionals in an immersive exploration of the untapped potential of cultural heritage (2+2 from Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Kosovo*). This initiative transcends traditional educational boundaries, aiming to equip both emerging young cultural talents and seasoned practitioners with specialized insights into leveraging cultural heritage as a transformative tool for building peace, stability, and reconciliation in Montenegro and other countries in the region.
Through lectures of young professionals, two panel discussions, and a study visit, the project seeks to delve deep into the intricate relationship between cultural heritage and societal well-being. The 12 young participants, representing the next generation of cultural stewards, will benefit from these activities and expertise of the experienced professionals, ensuring a transfer of knowledge and skills that is both nuanced and contextually relevant. Importantly, the conference extends its impact beyond the selected cohort by actively involving the wider Montenegrin audience. By organizing public lectures, panel discussions, and other events, the initiative strives to disseminate the acquired knowledge to a broader demographic, fostering a collective understanding of the role cultural heritage plays in fostering peace and reconciliation. By doing so, the project aims to plant the seeds of awareness and appreciation within Montenegrin society, cultivating a shared commitment to utilizing cultural heritage as a powerful catalyst for positive social change. Ultimately, it envisions a ripple effect, where the enriched understanding of cultural heritage permeates the broader cultural sector, contributing to a more harmonious and resilient societal fabric in Montenegro.
Unfortunately, in the faculties where cultural heritage is studied (archaeology, ethnology, anthropology, history of art, museology, heritology, and the like) in the Balkans, not enough attention is paid to the issues of intercultural dialogue, common heritage, overcoming differences, and the overall reconciliation of our often quarrelling societies that live in this area. This is especially noticeable among the younger cultural professionals, more than among experienced professionals who are certainly more mobile and knowledgeable about each other, and more than among younger colleagues who are not often in a position to travel around the region and establish communication and cooperation with each other.
Therefore, the project seeks to alleviate the existing problem and the lack of intercultural dialogue and international cooperation among young people, providing them with a platform for meetings, dialogue, and the development of ideas for future projects and cooperation.
Appreciating all of the above, we hope that the conference will contribute in the long term to better acquaintance and the establishment of friendly, good-neighborly relations between the cultures and societies living in the Western Balkans.
This event is part of the larger project “Cultural Heritage for Reconciliation in the Balkans”, which is realized within the framework of the RYCO multi-year project “Western Balkans Youth Cultural Fund“, supported by the German Federal Foreign Office and implemented by the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO).
* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.
