Cultural Heritage Experts Gather in Albania for Capacity Building Symposium

A two-day Capacity Building Symposium for the Cultural Heritage Sector was held on September 25-26, in Tirana, Albania. The event, part of the EU4Culture Programme, brought together over 50 professionals from various fields in cultural heritage, including conservation, business planning and cultural heritage management as well as disaster risk management. 

The symposium aimed to share insights and best practices gathered throughout the EU4Culture project, foster networking opportunities, and influence policy in the cultural heritage sector. Site managers, caretakers, and conservators met to explore improvements in governance, disaster resilience, business models, and conservation at sites restored under the EU4Culture programme.

Notable speakers included Mr. Hubert Perr, Head of Cooperation of the EU  Delegation to Albania,  Ms. Lira Pipa, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Economy, Culture, and Innovation, and Ms. Sabine Kania, Head of Office for UNOPS Albania and Kosovo.

Key topics covered during the symposium included: ethics and professionalism in cultural heritage management; development of cultural heritage management and conservation plans; legislation and regulation in the cultural heritage sector; disaster risk management for cultural heritage sites; visitor management and interpretation strategies; capacity building and education in the field and many others

A significant focus of the symposium was on the cultural heritage management and business plans developed under EU4Culture. Participants discussed how these plans can bring improvements to the governance, business models, and conservation practices at various cultural heritage sites in Albania.

This event underscored the ongoing commitment to preserving and promoting cultural heritage in Albania and the broader region, with a focus on sustainable practices and international collaboration.