Conference Focuses on Challenges of Protecting & Promoting Cultural Heritage

On Friday 16 October 2026, to mark the opening of the European Heritage Days, Luxembourg’s Ministry of Culture hosted the Heritage Sector Conference at LUCA – Luxembourg Centre for Architecture, in the presence of Minister of Culture, Eric Thill.

According to the Ministry of Culture, the morning of discussions brought together representatives of cultural institutions, associations, municipalities and professional organisations to discuss the current and future challenges involved in protecting and promoting Luxembourg’s cultural heritage. The sector conference format continues the participatory process launched with the first Cultural Assizes and the development of the Kulturentwécklungsplang 2018–2028, helping to sustain a culture of dialogue and public debate on cultural policy issues.

In his opening address, Minister Thill recalled that cultural heritage, whether archaeological, architectural, movable or intangible, is an essential element of the country’s identity and history.

“Protecting heritage is not simply a matter of conservation; it is also a question of the future. We need to consider how we can preserve and promote our heritage in the face of current challenges so that we can pass it on to future generations. We must find a balance between preserving cultural heritage and meeting the needs of a constantly evolving society. This balance can only be achieved through dialogue and mutual understanding,” the minister emphasised.

The subsequent discussions were structured around presentations and thematic panel discussions, through which participants and members of the public were able to explore the main areas of heritage policy: preventive archaeology, the preservation of architectural heritage and the protection of movable heritage.

A presentation by Oliver Martin, Deputy Director and Head of the Cultural Heritage and Built Culture Division at the Federal Office of Culture in Bern, Switzerland, provided the starting point for the discussions, exploring the sector’s main current challenges and opportunities.

The two panel discussions, devoted respectively to preventive archaeology and architectural heritage, addressed, among other things, the challenge of reconciling construction projects with efforts to preserve archaeological remains, as well as opportunities to preserve and promote the built heritage in response to housing needs and urban development. Participants and members of the public also shared relevant observations on the legislative framework and its implications, particularly the Valletta Convention and the Law of 25 February 2022 on Cultural Heritage.

Representatives of the Ministry of Culture and the National Museum of Archaeology, History and Art then presented the efforts made and progress achieved by their respective institutions in protecting movable heritage since the aforementioned law came into force.

In closing the conference, Minister Thill stressed the importance of continuing the dialogue in order to assess the measures already undertaken, identify ongoing challenges and prepare the next steps in cultural heritage protection policy.

The European Heritage Days take place from Friday 16 to Sunday 18 October. Further information can be found at https://journeesdupatrimoine.lu.