From 22 to 26 September 2025, ICCROM, together with APOYOnline, the International Institute for Conservation (IIC), and the University of Valencia, gathered civil society organizations and hundreds of museum professionals, archivists, policymakers, researchers, and cultural leaders online for the global conference “Collections 2030 and Beyond: Activating Heritage Collections for Sustainable Development through Cross-Sector Partnerships.”
This week-long event explored how heritage collections can be mobilized as active agents of change, driving progress across the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Framed around the five interconnected pillars of sustainable development – People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership – the Conference offered a platform for participants to discuss innovative practices, share lessons learned, and identify opportunities for intersectoral collaboration.
Collections at the Core of the Sustainable Development Pillars
Key takeaways from the conference demonstrate the vital role of collections in driving transformative change:
Day 1 – People: Collections that put marginalized voices at the centre support wellbeing, dialogue and resilience.
Day 2 – Planet: Collections are valuable resources for tracking environmental changes and inspiring youth-led climate action.
Day 3 – Prosperity: Collections fuel creativity, employability, and local economies, especially through partnerships with the cultural and creative industries.
Day 4 – Peace: In post-conflict societies, collections serve as tools for dialogue, trust, and healing, contributing to SDG 16.
Day 5 – Partnership: Sustainable collections thrive on collaboration across communities, governments, civil society, and the private sector.
Conference Output – Collections 2030 and Beyond
What’s Next: Collections 2030 and Beyond
As the world passes the midpoint of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, participants underscored the urgent need to activate collections as living resources for education, resilience, and inclusive growth. Through presentations, partner-matching sessions, and case studies, the conference highlighted how cross-sector alliances enhance the social, environmental, and economic value of heritage.
Supported by partners including the International Council of Museums (ICOM), IFLA, Museumssenteret i Hordaland, the Canadian Conservation Institute, the National Library of New Zealand, the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage, and The National Archives, the initiative reaffirmed ICCROM’s mission to empower professionals and institutions worldwide to harness heritage for a more sustainable, equitable, and peaceful future.
Catch up on the conference!
Watch the recordings on our YouTube channel
Discover more about the programme and outcomes: www.ocm-collections2030.org