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22 September

15:00-16:30 

Culture for Sustainability: Memory institutions’ contribution for implementing Sustainable Development Goals
Online roundtable discussion

A discussion organised by cooperation partners The Council of the Baltic Sea States, which will set out the conference’s central issues.
Programme and registration


DAY 1 – 23 September

9:30-10:00 Welcome

10:00-12:00 

Localising the SDGs

Agenda 2030 might seem inspiring, but also difficult for local actors to relate to because of its global scale. The first session of the conference will explore what localising the SDGs actually means and how it can help both regionally and by sector. Panellists will report on progress with the Global goals, in Europe and in the Baltic States – from a general overview to the specifics of the museum and library sectors.

Keynote: Museums and the SDGs: local actions for global agendas
Henry McGhie, Curating Tomorrow

Agenda 2030 in the Baltic Sea Region – where we are and where we are going
Ugis Zanders, Council of the Baltic Sea States Secretariat (CBSS)

The Impact of Value Created by Culture on Approaching the Sustainable Development Goals: Case of the Baltic States
Asta Mikalauskiene, Ilona Kiausiene, Vilnius University, Kaunas Faculty, Institute of Social Sciences and Applied Informatics

Affirmation, responsibility, opportunity: libraries and the SDGs
Stephen Wyber, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)

SDGs: challenges and opportunities for museums in European and Baltic contexts
Elizabeth Rosenberg, The Network of European Museum Organisations (NEMO)

Towards sustainable development in the heritage sector: Priorities, trends and challenges for Latvian museums
Elina Vikmane, Latvian Academy of Culture

12:00-13:00 LUNCH

13:00 – 14:30

Ask your museum! Ask your library!

Museums and libraries are striving to take on the role of experts in sustainable development for their local communities. In this session, museums and libraries from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will share their experiences in acting as localisers of the SDGs. The presentations will be followed by a workshop.

Backup stories – community platform at Kaunas picture gallery
Auksė Petrulienė, National M. K. Čiurlionis Art Museum

Latvian Library for the Blind – Provider of accessible information for people with print disabilities
Ieva Jēkabsone, Latvian Library for the Blind

Museum gardens as places for growing and introducing heritage plants
Anneli Banner, Estonian Open Air Museum

Quality education – the experience of Lithuanian public libraries
Jolita Steponaitienė, Lithuanian Librarians’ Association

A public event programme as part of the European Social Fund project Complex health promotion and disease prevention measures 
Ilze Sirmā, Pauls Stradiņš Medicine History Museum, Latvia

The World Meets in the National Library’s intercultural programme for young people aged between 8-16 from developing countries 
Margus Veimann, The National Library of Estonia

14:30-15:00 BREAK

15:00-16:00 Workshops: Using the Targets to work with the SDGs

Workshops will enable colleagues from Baltic museums and libraries to meet and discuss the different dimensions of sustainable development and the options for museums and libraries to engage with them by using SDG Targets. Workshops will continue exploring the projects and topics of the preceding presentations and will be facilitated by the respective presenters.


DAY 2 – 24 September

9:50-10:00 Welcome

10:00 – 12:00

Planning, assessing and communicating work with the SDGs

How do we know that our efforts have reached significant results? How do we let our stakeholders and audiences know? These questions often arise in professional discussions on the SDGs. This session will offer a list of tools, models and frameworks that can help museums and libraries answer these crucial questions.

Keynote: Libraries – advocates for the Sustainable Development Goals
Barbara Lison, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)

Why European Structural and Investment Funds? Why a Guide for Library Applicants? 
Giuseppe Vitiello, European Bureau of Library, Information and Documentation Associations (EBLIDA)

Mainstreaming the Sustainable Development Goals in Museums: a framework for planning and action 
Henry McGhie, Curating Tomorrow 

SDG Storytelling – Demonstrating Contribution through Evidence
Kristīne Pabērza-Ramiresa, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)

Wheel Chart of Sustainability – a tool for development 
Leena Marsio, Antti Huntus, Finnish Heritage Agency

The Ki Books – Your How-To Guides for Sustainability
Caitlin Southwick, Ki Culture

12:00-13:00 LUNCH

13:00-14:30 Workshops on the presented tools and frameworks

14:30-15:00 BREAK

15:00-16:00

Cross-sectoral cooperation and advocacy

In the concluding panel, representatives from Baltic libraries, museums and NGOs which collaborate within the heritage field, as well as representatives of state institutions will discuss the best ways these sectors can cooperate to support SDG implementation. We anticipate the outcome of the discussion will be feasible strategies and steps to be taken in this regard.

Facilitator of the discussion: Uldis Zariņš, Deputy State Secretary for Cultural Policy

Agnese Vilde, Deputy Director of International Organisations and Human Rights Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia

Ieva Petkutė, head of the Dementia Lithuania association, graduate of the Global Brain Health Institute, researcher/creative director at the NGO Socialiniai meno projektai, leader of local and international arts, health and wellbeing initiatives focused on accessibility and inclusivity

Māra Jēkabsone, president of the Library Association of Latvia

Mirjam Rääbis, Estonian National Heritage Board, Director of the Museums Field

16:00-16:15

Conference wrap-up: What have we learned? How far have we got with localisation?