"How can new technologies support heritage in emergencies?”
April 10, 2019
“Cultural heritage provides a wayfinding sign that reorients people have the disorientation of disaster.” [quote from my talk].
Invited by UNESCO, I was glad to share thoughts about the role of and need for preservation strategies in humanitarian settings. I was joined by colleagues Olivier van Damme, Programme Specialist for Planning and Coordination, UNOSAT, Yves Ubelmann, President, ICONEM, Emma Cunliffe, Research Associate, Cultural Property Protection and Peace, Newcastle University and Martin Roeske, from Public Policy & Government Relations MENA at Google.
During this discussion, I talked about my experience with refugees, archiving digital and analog personal records.
Culture Summit Abu Dhabi took place from Sunday 7 April to Thursday 11 April 2019.
Culture Summit Abu Dhabi is a forum that convenes leaders from the fields of the arts, heritage, media, museums, public policy and technology, to identify ways in which culture can build bridges and promote positive change. In its 2019 edition, Culture Summit was attended by 450 delegates from 90 countries.
The Summit was organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi in collaboration with five global partners that curated and led on their specific area of expertise. These partners are the Royal Academy of Arts, UNESCO, Guggenheim, The Economist Events and Google.
Theme – Cultural Responsibility & New Technology
How can cultural agents be more engaged in addressing global challenges?
Can creativity and technology be harnessed for positive change?
Culture Summit Abu Dhabi 2019 addressed the theme of Cultural Responsibility and New Technology to reflect the urgency of our times. It brought together cultural leaders, practitioners and experts from art, museums, media, cultural heritage and technology to advocate a central and effective role for culture in global society. It showcased creative solutions by key participants in the cultural and creative industries, and generate new strategies and thinking on topics including cultural diversity, heritage protection, artistic freedom, public art and digital activation.
We seek answers, policy recommendations and ideas on cultural responsibility and society in the 21st Century.