Day Two of ICOM Dubai 2025 highlights curatorial dialogue and collaboration

- Day Two of ICOM Dubai 2025 highlights curatorial education, dialogue, and global collaboration

Hala Badri: Mohammed bin Rashid taught us that greatness is not granted but earned through determination, passion, and responsibility 

- “Under Latifa bint Mohammed’s leadership, this journey of inspiration and action began, guided by an ambitious vision rooted in the belief that culture is a force that shapes the future”
- “Dubai continues to shape the future with confidence, through innovative ideas that redefine museum practice and inform global cultural policy with renewed perspectives”
- Rakan Al Touq, in his keynote address, outlines the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s key projects and advancements in the museum sector
- Second day’s events explore how museums adapt to global shifts in societal values, cultural norms, and demographic changes 

On the second day of the 27th General Conference of the International Council of Museums (ICOM Dubai 2025), cultural leaders from around the world continued to gather at the Dubai World Trade Centre to engage in powerful discussions about the evolving role of museums in an era of rapid transformation. ICOM Dubai 2025 is taking place for the first time in the Middle East and South Asia region under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The second day of the conference opened with welcoming remarks delivered by Her Excellency Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and Chairperson of the ICOM Dubai 2025 Organising Committee. She affirmed that Dubai’s successful bid to host this landmark global event was the culmination of a long journey of belief, vision, and dedicated work, led by the people of this nation, who were shaped by the school of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, a school that taught us that greatness is not granted but earned through determination, passion, and responsibility.

She said: “Under the leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture, this journey of inspiration and action began, guided by an ambitious vision rooted in the belief that culture is a force that shapes the future, and creativity a bridge that carries us toward a brighter, more humane world.”

Badri noted that the road to ICOM Dubai 2025 became an inspiring milestone that demonstrated what can be achieved when vision and willpower align. “Throughout this journey,” she added, “we defined the conference themes and its scientific and knowledge-led programme— Intangible Heritage, New Technologies, and Youth Power. Through this combination, we aimed to open a window for the world to explore the role of museums in preserving intangible heritage as the living memory of communities; the spirit embedded in people, stories, customs, and crafts; and the source of a nation’s evolving identity.”

Badri emphasised that Dubai continues to shape the future with confidence, through innovative ideas that redefine museum practice and inform global cultural policy with renewed perspectives. She highlighted Dubai’s commitment to reinforcing ICOM’s sustainable legacy grounded in inclusivity and openness, while setting new professional standards that strengthen the position of museums as cultural institutions, educational destinations, and knowledge centres that offer new ways to understand identity, heritage, and place.

His Excellency Rakan bin Ibrahim Al Touq, Assistant Minister of Culture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, delivered a keynote address in which he said: “We live today in societies that are changing rapidly, witnessing a growing cultural awareness and unprecedented connectivity. In this landscape, museums have the power to offer the intellectual space to analyse and reinterpret historical narratives, allowing us to derive new concepts relevant to our social and cultural present.”

He outlined the Kingdom’s key projects and advancements in the museum sector, adding: “In Saudi Arabia, we are building an integrated ecosystem that connects national and specialised museums so they become vital anchors in the country’s cultural landscape. Our responsibility goes beyond preserving heritage; it extends to engaging communities in telling its story and shaping its meaning. We aim to transform the concept of the museum from a repository of objects into a cultural and civic beacon that fosters participation and innovation.” Al Touq stressed that today’s museums must be designed for societies and a world in constant transformation, requiring new methods of exchange and contemporary approaches to meaning-making.

Kamini Sawhney, Artistic Director - Public Arts Project, BLRHubba, presented the ‘Whose Museum Is It Anway?’  keynote, in which she discussed how museums can strengthen public trust by re-examining the nature of their relationship with the communities they serve. 

The second day’s events, focused on adapting to social shifts, explored how museums reflect and adapt in response to global shifts in societal values, cultural norms, and demographic changes within communities. The day witnessed a number of dialogues, including an engaging conversation under the theme ‘Reframing Power: Whose Stories do Museums Tell?’ that took place between writer, editor, lecturer, and artist Farid Rakun; and Dr. Natalie McGuire, Curator of Social History and Community Engagement – Barbados Museum & Historical Society. The discussion was moderated by Sultan Sooud Al Qasemi, Founder of Barjeel Art Foundation. The speakers highlighted how communities across the Global South are developing their own approaches to interpretation and shared practices, discussing the redistribution of authority within cultural institutions and the creation of new models that more accurately reflect local contexts.

Writer and researcher Saira Ansari moderated the ‘The Interconnectivity of Life: Opening the Museum to Multi-Species Perspectives’ panel discussion, which witnessed the participation of Merkerem Assegued Bantiwalu, Curator and General Director – Zoma Museum; Takashi Kudo, Communication Director – teamLab; and Dr. Neha Vora, Professor of Anthropology - American University of Sharjah.

A roundtable discussion, ‘The Revision of the ICOM Code of Ethics,’ also took place between a distinguished group of museum experts and specialists, including Sally Yerkovish, Head - Revision of the International Council of Museums’ ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums; Julie Higashi, Board Member - International Council of Museums Japan; Bruno Brulon Soares, Member of the Scientific Advisory Council - Museum of Civilisations of Europe & the Mediterranean; Léontine Meijer-van Mensch, Director- City Museum of Rotterdam; Luisa De Peña Diaz, Founding Director – Dominican Resistance Memorial Museum; and Dr. Kathrin Pabst, Co-Founder and First Chair – ICOM’s International Committee. During the session, participants discussed the importance of updating the Charter to keep pace with the cultural and social transformations shaping the world today. They also reaffirmed ICOM’s vision for museums that are more human-centred and responsible, institutions that contribute to building communities grounded in dialogue and mutual respect.

The ‘Nature as a Collaborator: The Power of Restoration’ forum, chaired by Marjan Faraidooni, Chief of the Education and Culture Division - Expo City Dubai, featured Adib Dada, Regenerative Advisor, Architect and Forest Maker – theOtherDada; Dr Debra A. Reid, Chief of the Education and Culture Division – The Henry Ford Museum; and Nupur Prothi, Senior Expert Climate. 

Also taking place on Day 2 were four mentoring sessions: ‘Museum Leadership & Strategic Planning’ (hosted by Gail Lord, Co-Founder and Partner – Lord Cultural Resources; Dr Charalampos Chaitas, Senior Advisor to Governments and International Institutions; Dr Anne-Marie Gilis, Cultural Advisor and Academic; and Dr Carol Ann Scott, Director – ICOM-IMREC), ‘Collections, Conservation & Cultural Heritage’ (presented by Chao Tayiana Maina, Historian and Digital Heritage Specialist – African digital Heritage; Kate Seymour, Director - Art Conservation Education; and Brandie Macdonald, Executive Director - Indiana University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology), ‘Visitor Experience: Technology, Accessibility, Communication’ (given by Manal Ataya, Museums Advisor – Sharjah Museums Authority; Dr Luciana Menezes de Carvalho, Museologist – Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro; Dr Ana Maria Theresa P. Labrador, Honorary Senior Fellow - Grimwade Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation, The University of Melbourne; and Maria Cristina Vannini, Founder and Managing Director - SOLUZIONIMUSEALI Integrated Museum Solutions), and Education, Programming, Outreach & Youth (hosted by Arthur G Affleck III, President and CEO – Association of Children’s Museums, and Matha Ikabongo, Administrator – Livingstone Museum).

Two masterclasses were also offered, ‘Reverse Mentoring: Empowering Youth for a Museums & Heritage’ (presented by the Singapore National Heritage Board Youth Panel and witnessed the participation of Arthur Tan, Rozanne Low, Jeremy How, Rais Raiyan, Lim XingYi, and Harrick Koh) and ‘Visitor Experience: A DIY Toolkit for Museums & Cultural Districts’ (hosted by David van der Leer). In addition, two curated networking events were organised in Dubai (Ishara Art Foundation, EXPO City, Museum of the Future, Alserkal Initiatives, Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mohamed Bin Zayed Initiative) and in Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation, Al Mawrid Center for the Study of Arab Art, and New York University Abu Dhabi).

In parallel with the conference sessions, the Museum Fair continued to offer delegates immersive cultural and sensory experiences, while Emirati heritage came to life through activations such as live Talli embroidery demonstrations by SMCCU, traditional artisan showcases by Turath Centre, and henna application by Dr Azra. Visitors enjoyed coffee tastings with Khalid Al Mulla and explored DIY crafts at the keychain-making booth by Ahlan w Sahlh, and a standout highlight was the scent-making experience curated by Mona Hadad, where delegates created their own bespoke perfumes. Culinary delights also took centre stage, with Chef Amna and Chef Faisal serving up sweet and savoury Emirati canapés that blended food with cultural storytelling.
For more information, visit: dubai2025.icom.museum