Museums uniting a divided world

National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo
3–4 November 2026

 

ICOM South East Europe (ICOM SEE) Regional Alliance invites museum professionals, researchers and representatives of related institutions to submit proposals for presentations at its Annual Conference, to be held at the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo on 3 and 4 November 2026.

 

Conference theme

The conference “Museums uniting a divided world” addresses the role of museums in contexts marked by social, political, ethnic, cultural and economic divisions, with a particular focus on South East Europe. It seeks to explore how museums can contribute to building trust, dialogue and inclusive narratives, and how they deal with the legacies of conflict, polarization and inequality.

We invite contributors to focus on, but not be limited to, the following thematic strands:

• Museums and post‑conflict societies: memory, reconciliation and critical engagement with the past.
• Museums as spaces of dialogue: community participation, inclusion of marginalized groups and multivocal narratives.
• Ethnic, religious and political divides: challenges of interpreting sensitive topics and controversial histories.
• Intangible cultural heritage and identity: the role of living heritage in bridging divides.
• Digital museums and online polarization: algorithms, “echo chambers” and new opportunities for connection.
• Museums and public space: architecture, urban context and symbolic presence in divided cities.
• ICOM standards, ethical codes and museum practice in divided societies.

Case studies from museum practice, innovative projects, research‑based contributions and critical reflections from the South East Europe region are particularly welcome.

 

Submission guidelines

Abstracts should not exceed 250 words. Each proposal must include:

• a clear and informative title,
• an abstract outlining the main focus and key arguments of the contribution,
• a brief biographical note of the author/speaker.

 

Please send your submissions by e‑mail to: mdronjic@gmail.com

The official language of the conference is English. Abstracts, presentations and all official documentation should be submitted in English.

 

Important dates

• Deadline for abstract submission: 15 September 2026
• Notification of acceptance: no later than 1 October 2026
• Preliminary conference programme: mid October 2026

 

Registration and practical information

Information on registration fees, participation without a presentation, accommodation options and possible travel support schemes will be announced on the official websites of ICOM SEE. Participants are advised to plan their arrival in Sarajevo one day in advance due to the morning start of the programme on 3 November.

 

Organizers

The conference is organized by ICOM South East Europe (ICOM SEE) in cooperation with the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo, with the support of ICOM National Committees from the region.