On 23 April, 2013, Ambassador Bosse Hedberg attended the launch of the Conference ”Meet, See, Do”, organized by the Foundation “Cultural Heritage without Borders” and the network of Balkan Museum Network, a platform for museums to meet and exchange information and ideas. It is facilitated by the Swedish Government. Participants from 10 countries of the region now had an opportunity to discuss issues of common concern and share experiences in running modern museum activities. In his introduction, Ambassador Hedberg warmly welcomed the basic idea with ‘Meet See Do’ which is to establish a forum for museum professionals from across the western Balkans. He also recalled that museums across the world share the same issues and challenges, and finding common ground can help them develop.
He welcomed the cooperation and preparations between the CHwB, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and the BM Network which made this conference possible.
He noted that CHwB was created 18 years ago – as a mainly Swedish government supported Foundation – in the spirit of the 1954 Hague Convention – a centerpiece of International Humanitarian Law – for the protection of cultural heritage threatened by conflict and natural disasters.
Its aim is to promote confidence, economic growth and fight poverty. In a region as devastated by conflict as the Western Balkans, cultural heritage obviously has a given place in the further development of the state and a society based on peace and human rights.
He stated that both on a bilateral basis and as a member of the European Union, Sweden continues to concentrate large political and financial efforts to help BiH move forward – preferably in some pace with its neighbours – on the road towards an EU membership, a process which we are convinced would alleviate many of the current problems facing this country and the region.
In this context, he added, a central feature is to promote regional cooperation and crossborder contacts which – given your history and politics – is of the greatest importance for stability and development. In this respect, cultural heritage has a unique importance of its own.
‘In many ways, today`s conference is conceived to reply to those challenges and to meet those criteria, thus the themes of “Access and Inclusion”; “Interpretation & Communication”, “Cultural Tourism”, “Project management” and “Museology”.
Obviously, museums play an important role in every society. Museums are places where understanding through dialogue can assist in peace- and confidence building. But they are also places that can do the opposite’, said ambassador Hedberg.
He further noted: ‘Meet See Do’ is part of a commitment to create places were complex – and even disputed -matters can be explored in a spirit of mutual respect. They are also places that can spark creativity, tourism, learning and pride.
I therefore warmly welcome the basic idea with ‘Meet See Do’ which is to establish a forum for museum professionals from across the western Balkans to explore, share and learn together how to make museums active players for their communities and visitors. Museums across the world share the same issues and challenges, and finding common ground can help them develop.
‘Meet See Do’ is facilitated through the Balkan Museum Network which has been developing since 2006. In recent years efforts have been made to broaden involvement by extending invitations to more and more institutions.
This is why it is wonderful that so many people from across the region are here today.’
(source: swedenabroad)
