Day 3 - Thursday, 19 June
Voices of tomorrow: digital revolutionaries taking the stage
Isaac and Rebecca, Known as ‘The Jewish Bride’ - Rembrandt ca. 1665 - ca. 1669
Morning - 09:15 to 13:00
Program subject to change
Introduction
Voices rising: setting the tone for our day of future dialogue
🇸🇪 Björn Eriksson, Communicating the Arts
-
As cultural institutions navigate an era of rapid change, how can we shape conversations that inspire action? This opening session sets the stage for a day of forward-thinking dialogue, exploring emerging trends, bold ideas, and the evolving role of arts in society. Join us as we amplify diverse voices and chart a path toward a more dynamic and impactful cultural future.
Panel
Digital natives, cultural pioneers: unexpected paths to cultural connection
🇸🇬 Shauna Goh, CHERISHED Singapore • 🇧🇪 Noé Lagaert, Schoonvolk! • 🇳🇱 University of Amsterdam delegates
-
How are digital-first generations reshaping cultural engagement? This panel brings together innovators who are redefining how audiences connect with arts and heritage through gaming, social media, virtual spaces, and interactive storytelling. Discover unexpected pathways that are making culture more accessible, participatory, and relevant in the digital age.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Your choice of 45 minute sessions with 2 consecutive presentations concluded with Q&A
Case Studies
Theme: Empowering youth through cultural participation
Mobile culture: empowering youth through museum outreach in rural India
🇮🇳 Vaidehi Savnal, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya
-
Nearly 65% of India's population is under 35 years of age and are in an active phase of learning. As a country that is recognised globally for its rich and diverse culture, communicating to the youth, an inclusive and objective idea of history, is of prime importance to the CSMVS Museum. In an increasingly digital world where histories are understood, and impressions formed, often through popular media, CSMVS has pioneered outreach projects to bring tangible cultural experiences to people through its flagship Museum on Wheels and Trunk Museum projects. Reaching out to over 300,000 individuals in rural India annually, these projects offer opportunities for critical thinking, through mobile exhibitions, curatorial projects and immersive educational programmes.
Beyond boundaries: the Waterdrop young curators initiative
🇮🇸 Soffía Karlsdottir, Kópavogur Municipality • 🇮🇸 Ingibjörg Gréta Gísladóttir, The Waterdrop Project • 🇮🇸 Vigdís Másdóttir, The Waterdrop Project
-
The Waterdrop is a collaborative project initiated by Kópavogur Municipality, bringing together four cultural institutions from the Nordic and Baltic regions. At its heart, the project empowers children to become curators – designing exhibitions and leading creative workshops that blend the timeless themes of Nordic children’s literature with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
This participatory model encourages young people to explore global challenges – such as gender equality, climate action, and social responsibility – through artistic expression and cultural heritage. Over its 3.5-year lifespan, The Waterdrop engaged nearly 5,000 children and received €450,000 in European cultural grants.
It stands as a testament to how creative agency, when placed in the hands of children, can bridge education, activism, and the arts.
Chaired by 🇫🇷 Corinne Estrada, Communicating the Arts
Case Studies
Theme: Rethinking engagement through reconstituted identities
Awakening change and nurturing connections: the McCord Stewart Museum’s work with First People
🇨🇦 Anne Eschapasse, McCord Stewart Museum
-
In this presentation, Anne Eschapasse examines how three decades of political and social change have reshaped relationships between museums and Indigenous communities in Canada. Drawing from metrics and benchmarks, she reveals how institutional transformations in Montreal’s McCord Stewart Museum's practices are impacting both Indigenous and non-Indigenous audiences. Through the presentation of several decolonization initiatives, Eschapasse demonstrates how cultural institutions can move beyond performative changes to create meaningful encounters and lasting partnerships for the preservation, interpretation, and promotion of Indigenous cultural heritage.
Pride & paintings: how queer events changed the way we look at ourselves
🇧🇪 Bart Ooghe, Museum of Fine Arts Ghent
-
In recent years, the Museum of Fine Arts Ghent has been experimenting with different kinds of take-over events. In this talk we’ll focus on the lessons learned from the most successful of these: the now annual queer nights curated by local drag collective House of Lux. These have positively influenced the museum’s reach, inner workings and image. However, they also give rise to new questions, such as on the boundaries between ‘museum’ and ‘event-space’, how to balance enthusiasm with a small team and limited funds, and how to convince colleagues that no, we aren’t being ‘too woke’.
Chaired by 🇺🇸 Ryan Dodges, Smithsonian Institution
Switch session
Case Studies
Theme: Empowering youth through cultural participation
Mobile culture: empowering youth through museum outreach in rural India
🇮🇳 Vaidehi Savnal, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya
-
Nearly 65% of India's population is under 35 years of age and are in an active phase of learning. As a country that is recognised globally for its rich and diverse culture, communicating to the youth, an inclusive and objective idea of history, is of prime importance to the CSMVS Museum. In an increasingly digital world where histories are understood, and impressions formed, often through popular media, CSMVS has pioneered outreach projects to bring tangible cultural experiences to people through its flagship Museum on Wheels and Trunk Museum projects. Reaching out to over 300,000 individuals in rural India annually, these projects offer opportunities for critical thinking, through mobile exhibitions, curatorial projects and immersive educational programmes.
Beyond boundaries: the Waterdrop young curators initiative
🇮🇸 Soffía Karlsdottir, Kópavogur Municipality • 🇮🇸 Ingibjörg Gréta Gísladóttir, The Waterdrop Project • 🇮🇸 Vigdís Másdóttir, The Waterdrop Project
-
The Waterdrop is a collaborative project initiated by Kópavogur Municipality, bringing together four cultural institutions from the Nordic and Baltic regions. At its heart, the project empowers children to become curators – designing exhibitions and leading creative workshops that blend the timeless themes of Nordic children’s literature with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
This participatory model encourages young people to explore global challenges – such as gender equality, climate action, and social responsibility – through artistic expression and cultural heritage. Over its 3.5-year lifespan, The Waterdrop engaged nearly 5,000 children and received €450,000 in European cultural grants.
It stands as a testament to how creative agency, when placed in the hands of children, can bridge education, activism, and the arts.
Chaired by 🇫🇷 Corinne Estrada, Communicating the Arts
Case Studies
Theme: Rethinking engagement through reconstituted identities
Awakening change and nurturing connections: the McCord Stewart Museum’s work with First People
🇨🇦 Anne Eschapasse, McCord Stewart Museum
-
In this presentation, Anne Eschapasse examines how three decades of political and social change have reshaped relationships between museums and Indigenous communities in Canada. Drawing from metrics and benchmarks, she reveals how institutional transformations in Montreal’s McCord Stewart Museum's practices are impacting both Indigenous and non-Indigenous audiences. Through the presentation of several decolonization initiatives, Eschapasse demonstrates how cultural institutions can move beyond performative changes to create meaningful encounters and lasting partnerships for the preservation, interpretation, and promotion of Indigenous cultural heritage.
Pride & paintings: how queer events changed the way we look at ourselves
🇧🇪 Bart Ooghe, Museum of Fine Arts Ghent
-
In recent years, the Museum of Fine Arts Ghent has been experimenting with different kinds of take-over events. In this talk we’ll focus on the lessons learned from the most successful of these: the now annual queer nights curated by local drag collective House of Lux. These have positively influenced the museum’s reach, inner workings and image. However, they also give rise to new questions, such as on the boundaries between ‘museum’ and ‘event-space’, how to balance enthusiasm with a small team and limited funds, and how to convince colleagues that no, we aren’t being ‘too woke’.
Chaired by 🇺🇸 Ryan Dodges, Smithsonian Institution
Break
Panel
Young voices, deep impact: 30UNDER30 perspectives on cultural communication
30UNDER30
-
How is the next generation redefining the future of cultural communication? This dynamic panel brings together emerging leaders from Communicating the Arts’ 30UNDER30 program to share fresh perspectives on audience engagement, digital innovation, and the evolving role of cultural institutions. From social media revolutions to grassroots activism, these young voices are driving bold, impactful change—challenging conventions and reshaping the way culture connects with the world.
Joint Session
Reflecting together: collective insights from CTA Amsterdam
🇫🇷 Alexia Jacques-Casanova, Artizest
-
As the conference draws to a close, this interactive session invites participants to reflect on key learnings, share insights, and explore actionable takeaways. Together, we will distill the most impactful ideas, discuss future challenges, and envision new paths for meaningful change in the cultural sector.
Afternoon - 13:00 to 18:00
14:00 to 17:00
Optional tours
Choose 1 of 2:
tour of Fenix Museum in Rotterdam - Led by the Communication team.
or tour of Voorlinden Museum in Wassenaar - Led by Joop van Caldenborgh, Chairman of the board of Museum Voorlinden, talking about the design and construction of the museum and showing highlights of the building and its collection.
