IV International Conference | 2024

IV International Conference: Cultural Heritage as Protection of Cultural Borders

Participants
The conference was attended by representatives of state authorities, people's deputies, international organizations (including the ICOMOS National Committee), representatives of the Ukrainian Blue Shield, educational institutions, civil society, and business.

Organizers
The event was organized within the framework of the activities of VAOKS with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine.

Main Theme
This year's focus was on the role of cultural heritage as a tool for preserving identity, resilience, and cultural sovereignty in the face of full-scale war.

Key Topics
An important topic was the need to protect cultural heritage, which has become the target of Russian attacks — in particular, the appeal to UNESCO and the UNC ICOMOS statement regarding the shelling of the Derzhprom building in Kharkiv. Participants discussed ways to integrate digital solutions into heritage preservation processes, the development of legal instruments, intersectoral cooperation, and opportunities for international support.

Role of Business
The role of businesses involved in the restoration and protection of architectural heritage was particularly noted.

Discussion Panels
The conference also included discussion panels and public dialogues that facilitated the development of joint solutions between government agencies, experts, and public initiatives.

Summary
This event confirmed the importance of unity on the issue of cultural security and became a powerful voice of Ukraine on the international stage in the field of cultural heritage protection.