Cultural heritage is no longer just an object of conservation — it has become a space for living and interaction. Historic buildings and ensembles are increasingly being repurposed: they now house universities, hotels, restaurants, artist residencies, and educational centres. Dysfunctional structures that have lost their original purpose are being reintegrated into urban landscapes, gaining new social significance. This raises critical questions: How can we preserve authenticity without turning heritage into mere scenery? And is it possible to enhance heritage’s societal value by infusing it with new meaning? Museums have the potential to become focal points — frameworks for interpreting space and bridging the past, present, and future. They act as mediators between heritage and modernity, creating a cultural context where transformation doesn’t erase authenticity but makes it accessible, relatable, and vibrant. At its core, living heritage is about strengthening social bonds, shaping identity, and fostering new ideas. The true potential of heritage as a sustainable and inspiring cultural resource lies in the synthesis of historical substance and contemporary life.
How can museums effectively mediate between a site’s historical value and its modern use?
Where do we draw the line between heritage adaptation and commercialization?
What community engagement models can transform heritage into a tool for social cohesion?
Speakers: Yaroslava Bylinkina, Director, Archaeology Museum of Saint Petersburg Anna Gromova, Chairperson of the Supervisory Board, Foundation for Assistance to the Revival of Traditions of Mercy and Charity "Elizabeth-Sergius Enlightenment Society" Kirill Kondratiev, Director, Zaraysk Kremlin Museum-Reserve Natalia Shashkova, Director, Shchusev Museum of Architecture Paulo José Nascimento Lima, Director, Lasar Segall Museum (Brazil) Abdulla Mohammed Al Sulaiti, Deputy Director for Research and Collections, National Museum of Qatar (Qatar)