In the second half of 2025, the international project “Strengthening Peaceful and Resilient Communities in Museums and Libraries” took place, bringing together museums and libraries as significant promoters of societal resilience, peace, and social cohesion. As part of the initiative, an international conference was held in Lviv, Ukraine, along with a series of four webinars, gathering professionals from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Moldova, Georgia, and Ukraine. The events were organized by the Latvian Museums Association, the Latvian Librarians Association, and the Latvian National Commission for UNESCO, with support from UNESCO’s Participation Programme.
On 28 May, the international conference “Localizing the Sustainable Development Goals in Museums and Libraries III” was held in Lviv, highlighting the essential role of museums and libraries in strengthening communities, especially in times of crisis and conflict. The venue of the conference—the Lviv Cultural Center—and UNESCO’s support served as a clear expression of solidarity with Ukraine.
Baiba Moļņika, Secretary-General of the Latvian National Commission for UNESCO, emphasized:
“Libraries and museums are places where people can find answers to questions that affect their well-being. Their staff act as messengers who help raise awareness of the role of culture in building peaceful and resilient societies—in line with the idea of UNESCO’s Constitution that peace must be built in the minds of people.”
During the conference, particular attention was also paid to the protection of cultural heritage in crisis situations, the importance of international cooperation, and the vital role of non-governmental organizations in fostering social dialogue.
The conference recording is available here:
The conference concluding document, summarizing the key insights of participants, is available here.
From 16 September to 4 November 2025, a four-part online webinar series “Strengthening Peaceful and Resilient Communities in Museums and Libraries” was held online. The webinar series brought together museum and library professionals from various countries, encouraging in-depth discussion on the role of museums and libraries in promoting peace, social resilience, and inclusive communities. Discussions and practical examples were based on the methodology of the handbook “Localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Museums and Libraries”, developed in the previous phase of the project in 2023 with UNESCO support by Henry McGhie (Curating Tomorrow) in collaboration with museum and library professionals from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Moldova, and Georgia.
The webinars were held in English and moderated by Dr. Diana Walters and Henry McGhie. Dr Diana Walters, a UK-based museum and heritage specialist, researcher, prison chaplain, and activist in the fields of peace and social justice, shared more than 35 years of international experience. Henry McGhie provided a structured perspective on the practical integration of the Sustainable Development Goals into the everyday work of museums and libraries.
The first webinar, “Building Peaceful, Resilient Communities: A Core Component of Sustainable Development,” highlighted the importance of peace as an essential precondition for sustainable development, emphasizing that peace is not merely the absence of violence, but an active process that must be nurtured daily.
The webinar recording is available here:
The second webinar, “Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: Working with SDG 16,” introduced participants to the opportunities offered by Sustainable Development Goal 16 to systematically plan, implement, and evaluate the contributions of museums and libraries to the promotion of peace and resilience.
The webinar recording is available here:
The third webinar, “Museums, Libraries and Peaceful Communities: Practical Examples,” presented concrete case studies and experience stories demonstrating how participatory non-formal education and lifelong learning approaches help build trust, dialogue, and community cohesion.
The webinar recording is available here:
The final webinar, “How to Promote Peace in Times of Conflict,” focused on the importance of language and communication, empathy, and active listening practices, highlighting the role of museums and libraries as safe spaces in complex and uncertain times.
The webinar recording is available here:
The conference and webinar series are part of a long-term regional cooperation that began in 2020, when museum and library professionals from the Baltic states joined forces to strengthen the role of these institutions in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals. This cooperation has continued through international conferences, experience-sharing events, and the inclusion of new partners. In 2022, museums and libraries from Moldova and Georgia joined the partnership, followed by those from Ukraine in 2024. In the 2025 activities, partners agreed to place special emphasis on peace as a central principle of the 2030 Agenda and on peacebuilding as one of the region’s most significant challenges
Both the conference and the webinar series confirmed that museums and libraries are not merely custodians of knowledge, but active participants in society that foster dialogue, trust, and peace. The experience stories of participating countries and the professional solidarity demonstrated strengthened the conviction that a solid foundation is being built for continued cooperation and sustainable development in the region.
Contact information:
Inga Surgunte
Latvian Museum Association
E: inga.surgunte@skaidrs.org
T: +37129953235
