Join us on 7 March for the #Women4Heritage 2025 online event: Women in the lead. Building peace through heritage protection
On the occasion of 2025 International Women’s Day, Europa Nostra convenes the fifth annual gathering of its #Women4Heritage network on Friday 7 March 2025 (15:30-17:15 CET). This is an opportunity to highlight the contribution of women to the field of heritage and to address the challenges posed by persisting conflicts, threats and inequalities across Europe and the world.
This year, we turn the spotlight on the important effort and work that women dedicate in their effort to safeguard endangered heritage, particularly in conflict or frozen conflict zones where they play a leading role in fostering peace and reconciliation. Traditionally, women have been carriers of intangible heritage in communities and across generations. Today, female leaders, activists, professionals and volunteers are driving forward initiatives that protect heritage sites, champion sustainable practices, and secure vital funding for preservation. Their contributions extend far beyond conservation efforts. Women also play a crucial role in peacebuilding and cultural diplomacy, using heritage as a vital tool for dialogue, reconciliation, and social cohesion.
Whether through community engagement, grassroots activism, or diplomatic engagement, women are steering the sector of heritage protection as a key vehicle for achieving a more inclusive and peaceful future. However, this progress is not without its challenges. Women often face a lack of recognition for their contributions, limited access to funding, and unequal opportunities in the sector. Furthermore, vernacular and community heritage, which is often closely tied to the lives and histories of women, tends to receive lower levels of attention and support.
On the eve of International Women’s Day (IWD), Europa Nostra invites women who are heritage leaders, practitioners, innovators, communicators and volunteers of all ages and from all countries to join our #Women4Heritage online event. We will bring together women championing efforts to protect endangered tangible and intangible heritage and advance peacebuilding, serving as role models in the field. It will offer the audience the opportunity not only to listen to their inspiring stories, but to exchange with them directly during a challenging informal dialogue.
Together, we will share a powerful message in alignment with the theme of IWD 2025: “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”
Our rights matter. Our heritage matters. Our role matters.
Programme
- Welcome and opening remarks by Sneska Quaedvlieg Mihailovic, Secretary General of Europa Nostra
- Message from Lesia Voroniuk, Ukrainian Cultural Curator, Ph.D. in Political Science and Head of World Vyshyvanka Day NGO
- Address by Angela Atzori, Team Leader for Cultural Heritage, DG EAC, European Commission
- Inspirational testimonials
- Mathilde Augé, Executive Director, World Monuments Fund France
- Elke Selter, Director of Programs, ALIPH Foundation
- Tamar Sopromadze, Programme Assistant, Blue Shield Georgia
- Amra Hadžimuhamedović, Director, Centre for Cultural Heritage, International Forum Bosnia
- Q&A and Open Exchange with audience
- Closing remarks and wrap up by Sneska Quaedvlieg Mihailovic, Secretary General of Europa Nostra
This online gathering is free-of-charge but registration is compulsory. Due to limited capacity, we kindly ask you to register as soon as possible to secure your participation. You are welcome to extend this invitation to your colleagues. While we shine a spotlight on women, our male colleagues are also warmly welcome to join and contribute to our conversation!
We hope to see many of you virtually on 7 March to celebrate and champion together the transformational power of our #Women4Heritage movement. In the meantime, we also invite you to join our dedicated LinkedIn group and already meet and exchange with this network of extraordinary women who make a difference for culture and cultural heritage!
Since its launch, Europa Nostra has hosted four #Women4Heritage online gatherings between 2021 and 2024. The #Women4Heritage network and related activities are part of the network project Europa Nostra Heritage Agora (2025-2028), which is co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union.
