Interesting looking cultural heritage conference in Budva, Montenegro, due in early April 2025. Explore how cultural heritage drives social change! Day 1: Inclusive innovation & digital/environmental dimensions. Day 2: Heritage in the EU enlargement agenda. Join the conversation April 3-4 (CEST) - hybrid event.

The first day of the Forum offers a broad look at preserving and sharing heritage, with a focus on promoting innovation and inclusivity. Discussions will explore how heritage can bridge divides, strengthen communities, and support the EU Enlargement Agenda, particularly in the Western Balkans. The day will showcase innovative strategies for using heritage as a catalyst for economic, social, and environmental change. 

Day 2 emphasises the role of cultural heritage within the EU Enlargement Agenda, particularly concerning the Western Balkans.
Discussions will centre on the opportunities and challenges presented by the ongoing EU enlargement process.
The role of cultural heritage in fostering regional cooperation and development will be a key theme.

Here are the people who will be involved in the two day conference; for this Irishman it seems a very different lineup to what we usually see in the neck of the woods. Maybe it's time I learned more about the Western Balkans?

Draft programme here.

NameLocation/Affiliation
Sneška QUAEDVLIEG-MIHAILOVIĆSecretary-General of Europa Nostra, Project Leader of the European Heritage Hub
Glenn MICALLEFEuropean Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport
Tamara VUJOVIĆMinister of Culture, Montenegro (invited)
Nikola JOVANOVIĆMayor of Budva, Montenegro (invited)
Ruud SCHUTHOFDeputy Regional Director, ICLEI Europe
Komal POTDARExpert, Built environment, culture and heritage, ICLEI Europe
Daniele MOSCHETTILa Paranza Cooperativa, Italy
Sorina NEACSUPresident of ESACH (European Students Association for Cultural Heritage)
David RADOVIĆYouth Special Task Force Europa Nostra Heritage Hub (Montenegro)
Eugen VAIDAArchitect, Asociatia Monumentum, Romania
Joke QUINTENSSocial Designer, Wetopia & Moving*Marseille, and member of the Advisory Council of the European Heritage Hub
Cristina GARZILLOHead, Built Environment, Culture and Heritage, ICLEI Europe
Lorena ALDANAHead of External Relations and Advocacy, Europeana
Pavlos CHATZIGRIGORIOUCitizens Engagement & Awareness-raising, Jury Member & Chair of the Selection Committee, European Heritage Awards/Europa Nostra Awards (Greece)
Martin EFREMOVSKIBoard Member of the National Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites - ICOMOS, North Macedonia
Nadja LJILJANIĆDeputy Mayor of Podgorica (Montenegro) (invited)
Andrew POTTSHeritage and Climate Action Advisor, Europa Nostra, Preserving Legacies Programme of the National Geographic Society (USA)
Vesna MARJANOVIĆSecretary General, Europa Nostra Serbia and Council member, Europa Nostra
Lydia CARRASFounder and President, ELLINIKI ETAIRIA and Spokesperson of the Europa Nostra Heritage Hub in Athens (video message)
Patrick CALLEJAExecutive President, Din -Art Helwa - National Trust of Malta
Vedran KOSOVIĆSociety of Friends of Dubrovnik Antiquities
Veron TARAExecutive Director, EDUCO - Recipient of Small Grants Scheme project "HeritageReady: Emergency Planning for Cultural Preservation", KOSOVO*
Aleksandra KAPETANOVIĆExpeditio, Center for sustainable spatial development, Kotor (Montenegro)
Angela ATZORITeam Leader for Cultural Heritage, Directorate General for Education and Culture, European Commission
Jacek PURCHLAPresident of the Society of Friends of Kraków History and Heritage, Vice President of Europa Nostra and Chair of the European Heritage Awards Jury
Elena BIANCHIProgramme Manager, Europa Nostra, speaking also on behalf of Le Dimore del Quartetto, Coordinator of the MERITA Project
Marta KOSEuropean Commissioner for EU Enlargement (invited)
Gala-Alexa AMAGATProject Manager, ALIPH Foundation
Jermina STANOJEVResearch Coordinator, KU Leuven, Expert of the European Commission, IPA Cultural Cooperation Advisor
Johann SATTLEREU Ambassador to Montenegro (invited)
Predrag ZENOVIĆMontenegro's Chief Negotiator with the European Union
Amer KAPETANOVIĆSecretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (invited)
Marjan ŠARECMEP, European Parliament and Rapporteur for Montenegro (invited)
Julie HERVÉHead of Culture, EUROCITIES
Dejan CRNEKDeputy Mayor of Ljubljana and Chair of the Eurocities Culture Forum
Mato FRANKOVIĆMayor of Dubrovnik, Croatia (invited)
Vladimir JOKIĆMayor of Kotor, Montenegro (invited)
Mario KORDIĆMayor of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina (invited)
Jelena LazićChief City Architect, Municipality of Budva, Montenegro (invited)
Amra HADŽIMUHAMEDOVIĆDirector of the Centre for Cultural Heritage, International Forum Bosnia
Dušan MEDINBauro NGO, PhD candidate in Archeology, Assistant Professor University of Donja Gorica, Podgorica, Expert in cultural heritage project management
Lucija SILARepresentative of GO! 2025 - Nova Gorica/Gorizia - European Capital of Culture 2025 (online)
Milena IVKOVIĆPlacemaking Western Balkans
Monica REDONDO ALVAREZCulture and Cultural Heritage Division, Directorate General of Democracy and Human Dignity, Council of Europe (invited)
Siniša SEŠUMUNESCO Liaison Office in Sarajevo (invited)
Cristina LOGLIOVice-President, Europa Nostra
Manos VougioukasSecretary General of ECTN (invited)