Museums are no longer just guardians of paintings and artifacts, they are increasingly being called to the frontlines of protecting heritage hidden beneath the waves. On 10 June 2025, UNESCO will host an international online round table under the title: “Museums as Key Custodians of Underwater Cultural Heritage: Innovative Approaches, Good Practices and Accessibility.”
Timed to coincide with the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice and held within the framework of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, the 90-minute event will bring together museum leaders, maritime archaeologists, and heritage experts to explore how museums can bridge the gap between submerged histories and public understanding.
The session, scheduled from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM (CET), will be livestreamed with simultaneous interpretation in English and French. Participation is free but registration is mandatory via https://bit.ly/45iylT4.
Making the Invisible Visible
Buried under oceans, lakes, and rivers, underwater cultural heritage (UCH) includes shipwrecks, ancient ports, and sunken cities, priceless remnants of human history. Yet much of it remains unseen by the public.
“This round table is about more than protection, it’s about access, interpretation, and inclusion,” UNESCO officials note in the event’s concept paper. The goal is not only to spotlight museums’ role in preserving this unique heritage, but to promote participatory, community-based models that link maritime memory with contemporary identity.
Speakers will examine how museums, especially those in coastal and island nations, are using technology, collaboration with local communities, and new curatorial approaches to make underwater heritage more accessible, both physically and intellectually.
Policy Meets Practice
The event draws upon two complementary UNESCO instruments: the 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, which offers a legal framework for safeguarding submerged sites; and the 2015 Recommendation on Museums, which reimagines museums as agents of education, sustainability, and social cohesion.
According to organizers, the round table will directly contribute to the development of new UNESCO Guidelines for presenting underwater cultural heritage to the public, following up on findings from the 2019 evaluation of the 2001 Convention.
From mass tourism and climate change to digital access and inclusive storytelling, the round table will touch on global issues with local relevance, especially for African and coastal communities where heritage remains at risk or under-recognized.
A Broader Cultural Mission
Organized with support from the Culture for Causes Network, the event reflects UNESCO’s growing emphasis on cultural institutions as engines for sustainable development.
Experts will also discuss how museums are contributing to the 2030 Agenda, from promoting lifelong learning and environmental awareness to preserving community identity in an age of rapid change.
With heritage professionals tuning in from around the globe, the June 10 event promises not only to exchange best practices
