Annual Conference

Join us at “Museums in Divided Times: How to foster Dialogue, Caring and a Sense of Belonging?”, the next ICOM – CECA (Committee for Education and Cultural Action) Annual Conference, that will be held in Jakarta – Indonesia, from 10 to 14 November 2026!

The Conference will focus on museum education activities that

  • Bridge social fragmentation by implementing inclusive, empathy-based educational strategies.
  • Cultivate safe spaces for critical dialogue, allowing diverse communities to exchange perspectives and reconcile differences.
  • Strengthen a sense of collective ownership of cultural heritage amidst global and local polarization.
  • Leverage humanist narratives and innovative pedagogy to engage marginalized or underrepresented audiences.

The event is organized by the Musee ID, in collaboration with the Jakarta Provincial Government, and also The Good News From Indonesia.

Topics

The theme “Museums in Divided Times: How to foster Dialogue, Caring and a Sense of Belonging?”covers the following topics:

  • Museums as Agents of Social Cohesion: Strategies for healing societal rifts and fostering reconciliation through cultural programming.
  • Inclusive Pedagogies in a Polarized World: Developing educational frameworks that accommodate diverse cognitive, physical, and cultural backgrounds.
  • The Power of Storytelling: Using personal and collective narratives to dismantle stereotypes and humanize “the other.”
  • Digital Empathy & Connectivity: Exploring how digital platforms can be used to build understanding and care rather than echo chambers.
  • Community-Led Curating & Programming: Transforming museums from top-down authorities into participatory platforms that empower local voices.
  • Heritage & Identity in Global Transition: Navigating the role of museums in maintaining a sense of belonging amidst migration, urbanization, and rapid social change.

Conference structure

The Conference includes:

  • Key note speeches
  • Presentations: Research papers (20′), Thematic papers (15′), Market of ideas (7′), Posters (in printed format)
  • CECA Special Interest Groups (SIG) Workshops
  • Awards presentations and ceremony (Research Award, Best Practice Award, Young Members Network Award)
  • Educational visits to museums
  • Cultural Performances
  • Day trip to museums, monuments and sites of Jakarta

Languages

The Conference official languages are English and Indonesian, therefore bilingual interpretation will only be provided during keynote speeches, research / thematic papers, market of ideas and the awards presentations – ceremony. In this respect, speakers using the French or Spanish language for their presentation, must ensure that all their slides are in English, or with English translation, and that the text included on each slide is as detailed as possible.

Workshops could be implemented in English, French or Spanish.

Educational visits will be held only in English.

Presentations – Important dates

ICOM members who wish to make a presentation at the Jakarta Conference (research / thematic papers, market of ideas, workshops, posters), must fill in and submit the on line application form hosted on this site.

  • Submission of papers deadline: 1st of June
  • Notification of presenters shortlisted for the Conference: 1st of July
  • Deadline for confirmation / registration of shortlisted presenters: 15th of September

CECA Awards – Important dates

  • Best Practice Award
  • Research Award
  • Young Members’ Award
  • Submission deadline for the Award: 4th of May
  • Nomination of winners: 10th of July

Venues and Visits

The Conference will be held exclusively on site. Part of the presentations might be offered on line or might be recorded and visible on YouTube.

Day 0: Arrival & Pre-Registration (09/11)
Participants are expected to arrive in Jakarta. To ensure a seamless start to the conference proceedings, a Pre-Registration Session will be held at:
Venue: Grand Theater, Taman Ismail Marzuki (Jakarta Arts and Culture Center)
Time: 10:30 – 17:00 WIB

Day 1: Grand Opening & Plenary Sessions (10/11)
The conference officially commences at the Grand Theater, Taman Ismail Marzuki (Jakarta Arts and Culture Center). This day is dedicated to welcome addresses, keynote speeches, speakers’ presentations and the CECA awards ceremony, within Jakarta’s premier cultural and performing arts landmark.

Day 2: Living Heritage & Parallel Sessions (11/11)
The conference shifts to the historic heart of the city: Jakarta Old Town (Kota Tua). Parallel sessions, together with guided tours at the collections, will be hosted simultaneously within four iconic heritage institutions:

  • Museum Bank Indonesia
  • Jakarta History Museum (Museum Fatahillah)
  • Museum of Fine Arts and Ceramics
  • Wayang (Puppet) Museum

Note for Participants: All four venues are situated within the same historical compound, within a 1 to 3-minute walking distance of each other. This proximity allows participants the flexibility to move freely between venues and attend different presentations throughout the day. This decentralized format offers an immersive dialogue within Indonesia’s living heritage, blending academic discourse with architectural grandeur.

Day 3: Immersive Education & Cultural Integration (12/11)
Morning Session: Focused on pedagogical excellence through educational site visits and interactive workshops at selected museums across Jakarta.
Afternoon Session: Hosted at Museum Bahari (Maritime Museum), light lunches while featuring poster discussions, cultural workshops, and live performances.
Evening: A Closing Dinner will be held at Museum Bahari, celebrating the city’s rich maritime legacy.

Day 4: Cultural Excursions (13/11)
Participants may select one of the following curated thematic tours, included in the registration fee. Instructions for the advanced booking procedure will be announced in due time:

  • Option 1: Onrust–Cipir–Kelor Archaeological Islands
  • Option 2: South Jakarta Heritage Tour
  • Option 3: Indonesia Miniature Park (TMII)

Day 5: Departure & Optional Post-Conference Seminar (14/11)
The official ICOM-CECA conference concludes. Participants may depart at their convenience or join an optional post-conference seminar at Museum Bahari Jakarta.

Registration

Those interested in attending the Conference as participants (ICOM members, Non ICOM members, Students) must fill in and submit the relevant online application form hosted on this site. Registration fee will also be paid via this site.

Registration fee

Early bird Late November
ICOM members 200 € 300 € 350 €
Non ICOM members 300 € 350 € 400 €
Students 120 € 200 € 250 €

The Conference Registration fee include

  • A welcome lunch at the Taman Ismail Marzuki Park on the first day, (10/11)
  • Coffee breaks and light lunches (11 – 12 Nov)
  • Conference material and Merchandise
  • Guided tours at museums
  • Educational Visit, Cultural Performance day and Dinner
  • Day Trip and light lunches (13/11)

As flight tickets and accommodation are not included in the registration fee, presenters and participants will have to cover their own expenses.

Contact

For any queries regarding the event, please contact:
cecaconference[at]gmail.com

The coordinators will get back to you as quickly as possible on working days.