Wang Jingli

wangjingli0715@163.com

A CEREMONY was held Thursday in Hall 13 of the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center in Bao’an District to officially kick off the Second UNESCO High-Level Forum on Museums during the 17th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF).

The two-day forum, titled “Facing Post-Pandemic Challenges Through Innovation and Inclusiveness,” was organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and sponsored by Shenzhen-based Zhizheng Art Museum.

The event, which wraps up Friday, is also being held simultaneously online via Zoom and YouTube, according to the organizers.

As the world is facing enormous challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the forum is in line with UNESCO’s ongoing efforts to support museums and will discuss the future of this vital sector. It aims to raise awareness on museums’ importance in societies and their vulnerability to pandemics, conflicts and crises.

The event’s organizers will hold discussions on issues such as ensuring the future and sustainability of museums, promoting inclusion and access to culture and assisting museums in emergency and crisis situations.

Wu Fuqing, curator of Zhizheng Art Museum, said that guests from key global museums have been invited to join the event to discuss the status quo of museums since the pandemic started and analyze challenges museums are facing so as to promote the development of museums and future cooperation.

Audrey Azoulay, director-general of UNESCO, and Ernesto Ottone Ramirez, assistant director-general for culture of UNESCO, joined the event via video links, along with over 1,000 representatives from the African Union, International Center for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property, and International Council of Museums.

This is Shenzhen’s second time to hold UNESCO’s High-Level Forum on Museums since its inauguration in the city in 2016.