Past Annual Conferences

Annual Conferences Since 1968

(the years that were also an ICOM General Conference are given in bold).

  • 2024 : Annual Conference CECA, held in Athens, Greece, from 18 to 22 November 2024.
    ► Programme <Read>
    ► <https://icomceca24.gr/>
    ► Souvenir photo album: “Excursion to the Greek Olive and Olive Oil Museum” – <Here>

    The general theme is “Delicate topics – Challenging audiences”.
    We’re going to focus on museum education activities that attempt to discuss complex and sensitive topics, activities that try to shed light on unknown aspects of cultural heritage and misinterpreted historical events, activities that aim at attracting new audiences or to welcome historically marginalized groups.
    The aim of this conference is to promote exchange of ideas, expertise and best practices among museum education professionals from different cultural backgrounds and also to promote critical thinking regarding the difficulties encountered when exploring cultural heritage and artistic creation for the benefit of varied audiences.The theme covers the following topics:

    • Museum education as a tool for discussing complex issues:
      Being a refugee, religious conflicts, poverty, multiple identities, traumatic memories, human rights, health issues, marginalized communities, endangered cultural heritage, natural environment at risk, challenges and threats of the virtual world, etc.
    • Museum education as a vehicle for alternative interpretations:
      Shedding light on hidden, unknown or misinterpreted aspects of material and intangible heritage or artistic creation, challenging mainstream interpretations and encouraging new glances on past and present historical events.
    • Catering for the underserved communities and audiences:
      Museum education initiatives that ensure accessibility and inclusivity, in the framework of a constantly changing social and cultural landscape. Innovative activities and educational material for historically underserved and marginalized audience groups (the elderly, people with disabilities, the mentally ill, the imprisoned, religious / ethnic or cultural minorities, immigrants, refugees, drug addicts, students requiring particular treatment, etc.).

    ► The conference programme includes

    • Key note speeches
    • Presentations: Research papers (20′), Thematic papers(15′), Market of ideas (7′), Posters (in printed and digital format)
    • CECA Special Interest Groups Workshops
    • Other workshops
    • Awards presentations and ceremony (Research Award, Best Practice Award, Young Members Network Award)
    • Educational visits to museums with interactive activities
    • Archaeological heritage day trip outside Athens (November 22nd, optional – additional charge)

    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.

    The conference official languages are Greek and English. Bilingual interpretation will be provided during the presentations sessions.
    Workshops and educational visits will be held mostly in English.

    ► Terms and conditions of participation (awards, applications, registrations)

    >> Entering the CECA Awards

    • Best Practice Award
      Submission deadline for the BP Award: 17th of May
      BP jury: 31st of May
      Information about BP winners: 3rd of June
    • Research Award
      Submission deadline for the Research Award: 29th of May
      Information of candidates on necessary modifications: 19th of July
      Information on the winners of the Research Award: 11th of June
    • Young Members’ Award
      Submission deadline for the Young Members’ Award: 2nd of July
      Information on the winners of the Young Members’ Award: 24th of July

    ► Submission of presentation papers

    Submission of papers deadline (thematic/research papers, market of ideas, workshops, posters): 15th of June
    Notification of presenters shortlisted for the conference: 7th of July
    Deadline for confirmation on behalf of shortlisted presenters: 20th of August.

    Thank you for your interest in participating at the CECA 2024 Conference, through a presentation (research / thematic papers, market of ideas, workshops, posters).

    Applications must be filled in and submitted digitally, via the Athens CECA conference website, which is currently under construction but will soon be available to you, together with all the necessary information concerning your application.
    Registration fees will be paid via the above-mentioned website.

    ► Conference registration

    Those interested in attending the Conference, as participants, should fill in and submit the relevant digital registration form, which will shortly be hosted on the Athens CECA conference website.

    Registration fees will also be paid via the above-mentioned website.

    ► Conference registration fees

    • ICOM members
      Early bird registration (until the 20th of August): 200 euros
      Late registration: 300 euros
      Registration in the last two weeks: 350 euros
    • Non ICOM members
      Early bird registration (until the 20th of August): 300 euros
      Late registration: 350 euros
      Registration in the last two weeks: 400 euros
    • Students
      Early bird registration (until the 20th of August): 120 euros
      Late registration: 200 euros
      Registration in the last two weeks: 250 euros

    Registration fees include

    • A welcome reception at the Benaki Museum at the end of the first day (Monday 18/11)
    • Coffee breaks and light lunches (from Monday 18/11 to Wednesday 20/11)
    • Conference material (bags, information material, publications, etc.)
    • Guided tours at museums (apart from the educational visits)
    • Other cultural events to be confirmed.

    Day trip (optional) Friday the 22nd of November 2024 :
    Registration fee: 30 euros
    Registration fee in the last two weeks: 50 euros
    The price of the day trip includes bus transport outside Athens (northern Peloponnese), guided tours at museums/sites and a light lunch.

    For communicating with the Athens Conference Organizing Committee:
    cecaathens2024@gmail.com
    ►►► <https://icomceca24.gr/>

  • 2023 : Annual Conference CECA 20 to 24 November 2023. Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore.
    Proposed theme: “Museums: Shaping the Future of Education”.
    Conference programme <here>
    ► Photo album of CECA activities in Singapore <here>
  • 2022 : Annual Conference CECA 20-28 August – Prague Czechia
    During the 26th ICOM General Conference. The main theme was “The Power of Museums”.
    Full programme of CECA activities <here>
    ► Photo album of CECA activities in Prague <here>
    Video : Interview with Marie-Clarte O’Neill by National Museum Komenský <here>
    Marie-Clarte O’Neill, President of ICOM’s CECA, reflecting on the 26th General Conference, talking about museum education in society and the specific activities of the CECA.
  • 2021: Co-creation inside and outside the museum. From 25-10 to 29-10, Leuven, Belgium.
    Zélie Blampain and Elina Noris, two students from the University of Liège (Master’s degree in Museology) teamed up with Chloé Orrico from the Ecole du Louvre (Master’s degree in Cultural Mediation) to present a summary of this conference. <here>

M Leuven / videographer Jan Maes

Vidéos of 2 keynote speakers:   
Nina Simon over ‘The participatory museum’ | ICOM CECA-conferentie 2021
Pat Villeneuve over museumeducatie en edu-curation | ICOM CECA-conferentie 2021

  • 2019 : Roles of Museum Education: Supporting Self and Society –  Kyoto. Programme et calendrier https://hakubutsukan.wixsite.com/ceca.
    Summary of the annual CECA meeting in Kyoto. PDF.
  • 2018: Museums, Education and Cultural Action: Between Old and New Meanings (Tbilisi, Georgia). Minutes CECA General Assembly:  download the PDF file. http://www.ceca2018.ge
  • 2017: Relevance and the Role of Museums and Historic Houses. Tower of London AND Hampton court Palace, UK
  • 2016:  Museums and Cultural Landscapes. CECA Activities Beyond the Museum Walls (Milan, Italy)
  • 2015: Museum Education and Accessibility: Bridging the Gaps. WASHINGTON, D.C., USA [conference web site]
  • 2014: Squaring the Circle? Research, Museum, Public: A Common Engagement Towards Effective Communication (Alexandria, Egypt) 
  • 2013: Museums (memory+creativity) = social changes (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
  • 2012: Museums and Written Communication: Traditions and Innovation. (Yerevan, Armenia) [view programme]
  • 2011: Old Questions, New Answers: Quality Criteria for Museum Education (Zagreb, Croatia) [view programme]

Annual Conference 2011 Zagreb Croatia: Video Retrospective

  • 2010: (ICOM General Conference) Museums for Social Harmony (Shanghai, China)
  • 2009: Museum Education in a Global Context: Priorities and Processes (Reykjavík, Iceland)
  • 2008: Cultural Tourism: Trends and Strategies (Montreal, Canada) [view programme]
  • 2007: (ICOM General Conference) Heritage Learning Matters: Museums and Universal Heritage (Vienna, Austria)
  • 2006: Penser, Évaluer, Repenser (Rome, Italy)
  • 2005: Partenariats et éducation muséale (Banská Stivanica)
  • 2004: (Conférence générale de l’ICOM) Les musées et le patrimoine immatériel (Séoul)
  • 2003: L’éducation muséale face à la réalité muséale – mission possible! (Oaxaca)
  • 2002: L’éducation muséale comme produit. Pour qui? (Nairobi)
  • 2001: (Conférence générale de l’ICOM) Gérer le changement: les musées face aux défis économiques et sociaux (Barcelone)
  • 2000: La culture comme bien de consommation (Christchurch)
  • 1998: (Conférence générale de l’ICOM) Interprétation de la diversité naturelle et culturelle (Melbourne)
  • 1997: Évaluation de l’éducation muséale et de l’action culturelle – Théorie et pratique (Rio de Janeiro)
  • 1996: Nouvelles stratégies de la communication dans les musées (Vienne)
  • 1995: (Conférence générale de l’ICOM) Les musées et les communautés (Stavanger)
  • 1994: Les musées, l’éducation et les patrimoines naturel, social et culturel (Cuenca)
  • 1993: Intégration des musées dans une société; multiculturelle (Delhi-Calcutta)
  • 1992: (Conférence générale de l’ICOM) Les musées: y a-t-il des limites? (Québec)
  • 1991: Le musée et les besoins du public (Jerusalem)
  • 1990: L’éducation muséale et l’environnement (Gaborone/Botswana)
  • 1989: (Conférence générale de l’ICOM) Musées, générateurs de culture (La Haye)
  • 1988: Établir, développer et maintenir les services éducatifs des musées (Nauplie-Athènes)
  • 1987: Le patrimoine et l’action culturelle. Nouvelles techniques de communication (Paris)
  • 1986: (Conférence générale de l’ICOM) Les musées et l’avenir de notre patrimoine (Buenos Aires)
  • 1985: L’éducateur de musée et la recherche (Barcelone)
  • 1984: Le musée et le monde du travail (Düsseldorf)
  • 1983: (Conférence générale de l’ICOM) Les musées dans un monde en développement (Londres)
  • 1982: La diversité culturelle, les contraintes économiques et les nouveaux publics (Washington D.C.)
  • 1981: L’exposition comme outil didactique (Svendborg)
  • 1980 (Conférence générale de l’ICOM) Le patrimoine de l’humanité – Le rôle des musées (Mexico)
  • 1979: Comment motiver les visiteurs de musée? Le travail en équipe au musée II (Sesimbra)
  • 1978: Comment motiver les visiteurs de musée? Le travail en équipe au musée I (Rotterdam)
  • 1977: Musées et échange culturel (Moscou-Leningrad)
  • 1976: Musées et décentralisation (Umeå)
  • 1975: Musique au musée/Politique muséale régionale (Varsovie, Torun, Poznan)
  • 1974: Copenhague
  • 1973: Budapest
  • 1968: Le rôle des musées dans l’éducation et l’action culturelle (Moscou-Leningrad)