GreenMuseumMeeting, Tunis 2024

From 22 to 27 June 2024, our first major network meeting on sustainability in the field of cultural heritage took place in Tunisia. This event, organised as part of the ‘GreenMuseumHub: Sustainable Futures for Museums and Heritage Sites’ project, brought together experts and researchers from three universities, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg in Germany, Helwan University in Egypt and La Manouba University in Tunisia, as well as non-university stakeholders.

Opening of the network meeting - forum on 22 June 2024

The kick-off event took place on 22 June in the form of a forum that brought together teachers and researchers from the participating universities as well as other cultural stakeholders. The focus was on sharing knowledge and experiences on the sustainable orientation of museums and cultural heritage sites. This first meeting provided an excellent platform for interdisciplinary dialogue between the partner institutions and helped to discuss and develop innovative approaches for sustainable work in museums. Each participant presented their institution and sustainability goals and/or projects.

Network meeting participants and deepening relationships

The diverse group of experts from Egypt, Germany and Tunisia consisted of project managers, coordinators, directors and employees of renowned museums such as the smac, the Deutsches Hygiene-Museum Dresden, the Museum der Alltagskultur Waldenbuch, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation in Cairo and the Alexandria National Museum. The Tunisian hosts, in particular the partners from La Manouba University, welcomed us with extraordinary hospitality, which played a decisive role in enabling us to get to know each other better and network more closely during the joint activities.

Continuation of the meeting with excursions and visits

The following days of the meeting were characterised by excursions to various important cultural sites and museums in Tunisia. On 23 June, the participants visited Dougga and Testour, which are rich in cultural heritage and historical significance. On 24 June, the participants continued their visits to the National Museum of Bardo and the Coin Museum, focusing on the importance of the preservation and sustainable presentation of cultural heritage.
This was followed on 25 June by an excursion to the archaeological site of Carthage and the Centre for Arab and Mediterranean Music, highlighting the diverse cultural expressions and the importance of their preservation. These visits provided participants with valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with the sustainable management of such important sites.

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Closure of the network meeting

26 June marked the end of the network meeting with a final visit to the National Military Museum. This final excursion gave the participants the opportunity to round off the meeting with reflective talks and discussions about the insights and experiences gained during the week.

Conclusion

The ‘GreenMuseumHub’ network meeting in Tunisia was a successful platform for international exchange and cooperation on sustainability in the museum and cultural heritage sector. The combination of academic discussions and hands-on visits enabled participants to gain in-depth knowledge and new perspectives that can contribute to the promotion of sustainable practices in museums and cultural heritage sites worldwide. Thanks to the warm hospitality of the Tunisian partners, not only was the exchange of expertise promoted, but also personal familiarisation was intensified, which will lead to a stronger partnership.