Building Resilient Cultural Heritage
​Insights from the ARCHE Final Conference

By Unige Bagdi

The ARCHE (Alliance for Research on Cultural Heritage in Europe) conference was held in Brussels as part of the Horizon Europe project that has run from September 2022 to September 2025. ARCHE’s central aim is to build a pan-European framework for a holistic approach to research and innovation in cultural heritage. Through workshops, foresight analyses, and interdisciplinary expert groups, the project has developed a Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) to guide future initiatives. Together with the Joint Programming Initiative on Cultural Heritage and Global Change (JPI CH), ARCHE has laid the foundation for the forthcoming European Partnership for Resilient Cultural Heritage (RCH), a European Commission initiative under Cluster 2: Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society

The first day of the conference opened with an overview of ARCHE’s main achievements: mapping national, transnational, and EU-level cultural heritage research and innovation policies; expanding international networks; and formulating the SRIA. This was followed by a roundtable discussion exploring the legacy of ARCHE and JPI CH. Speakers included Pascal Liévaux (Chair of JPI CH), Katja Reppel (DG RTD), and Catherine Magnant (DG EAC). The conversation underlined that cultural heritage is more than a collection of valuable objects: it embodies identity, resilience, and a “tapestry of culture” that societies must preserve, especially in times of conflict. Participants also emphasized that collaborative, cross-sectoral, and transnational cooperation must remain the DNA of European research programs.

Of particular note was Pascal Liévaux’s call to create more opportunities for young researchers and cultural heritage professionals, ensuring that the next generation is meaningfully engaged in shaping the field. This point resonated throughout the discussion, as speakers recognized that the sustainability of the field also depends on empowering the next generation. By highlighting the need for the involvement of early-career professionals in research and innovation, they acknowledged that fresh perspectives, new skills, and youthful engagement are indispensable for shaping a resilient cultural heritage sector. For organizations dedicated to youth participation, this recognition is a significant step toward embedding young voices more firmly within European research agendas.

The second day featured parallel breakout sessions that encouraged active participation. A particularly stimulating session, led by Eva Stegmeijer from the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands, introduced participants to the “serious game.” This simulation raised awareness of climate-related risks to cultural heritage by presenting disaster scenarios such as coastal flooding. Working in small groups, participants assumed roles such as residents or officials and were tasked with deciding, under time pressure, which monuments to protect, digitize, adapt, or abandon. The exercise highlighted the difficult trade-offs inherent in cultural heritage management, sparking rich discussions on values, priorities, and the lived significance of heritage in times of crisis.

Overall,  the ARCHE conference not only showcased the outcomes of three years of collaborative work but also pointed toward future directions for resilient cultural heritage research in Europe. By combining policy insights, expert dialogue, and innovative participatory activities, the event reinforced the importance of collaboration, identity, and generational renewal. The recognition of young professionals as essential partners in the field was a clear signal that Europe’s cultural heritage agenda is looking forward as much as it is safeguarding the past.

Unige Bagdi
17.09.2025.