The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promotes peace and prosperity and seeks to combat poverty, inequality and climate change. Culture and museums must play a leading role in this process of change towards a better and more sustainable world. But how can they do so? What are the real opportunities and responsibilities of cultural and, in particular, museum institutions?
Since 2015, environmental sustainability has become an increasingly pressing issue due to global warming, the scarcity and misuse of natural resources, soil degradation and water pollution. In this context, the relationship between culture and sustainability has become strategic, as highlighted by the Council of the European Union, UNESCO, ICOM (International Council of Museums) and numerous other organisations, which emphasise the fundamental contribution of culture to building sustainable societies and a sustainable future.
Museums preserve not only collections, but also an infinite wealth of knowledge, values and stories documenting scientific discoveries, mistakes, theoretical developments and even conflict resolution. Making art and anthropological and scientific artefacts accessible to the public and local communities enables knowledge to be transmitted and aesthetic and practical experiences to be shared. Scientific research has increasingly demonstrated that such activities can improve quality of life, reduce interpersonal conflict and promote social well-being.
Museums can also have a direct and indirect impact across a wide range of areas, from reducing their carbon footprint through their own processes to developing new reference protocols for administrative and conservation practices, as well as managing resources for educational and training purposes.
The international conference Museums in Sustainability: Necessity and Opportunity, organised with the involvement of ICOM-ICAMT (International Committee for Architecture and Museum Techniques), aims to raise awareness of and explore these objectives.
Its primary purpose is to examine the current state of the sector and the opportunities offered by the transition towards sustainability, a process that has been underway for more than a decade but remains difficult to implement holistically. Sustainability goals can often appear abstract and complex to integrate into everyday management practices. Even the most virtuous institutions tend to embrace pioneering and significant projects without undertaking a comprehensive assessment of the opportunities available to them or adequately engaging their internal resources and networks.
During the conference, a practical methodology for museum self-assessment and strategic guidance will also be presented. Developed by Display & Design as part of an orientation project, the methodology is intended to support museum leadership and staff in recognising and unlocking their own potential for sustainability.
9:45 - 10:15 — Institutional Greetings
10:15 - 11:30 — Leadership for Change
The conference opened with a session moderated by Maddalena d’Alfonso, member of ICOM-ICAMT and founder of Md’A Design Agency and Display & Design ETS. The session explored the role of leadership in the sustainable transformation of museums, featuring contributions from two experts in museum management, who shared their experiences and reflections on the future of museums and their role in the contemporary context.
Moderator: Maddalena d'Alfonso
Speakers:
11:30 - 13:00 — Environmental Impact: The Benefits of Change
The second session of the conference, moderated by Fortunato d’Amico, curator, art critic and lecturer at Politecnico di Milano, explored the relationship between museums and their surrounding territories, with a particular focus on environmental impact. The speakers addressed the relationship between art, artistic practices and places from a broad perspective, presenting approaches and solutions aimed at sustainability, reducing ecological footprints while enhancing the visitor experience.
Moderator: Fortunato d'Amico
Speakers:
13:00 - 13:30 — Presentation: “A Sustainability Booklet”
A participatory workshop guiding museum teams in the practical implementation of sustainability strategies through a toolkit comprising a toolbook and five canvases. Tailored to each institution, the programme encourages self-assessment and project development across four key areas — relationships, environment, techniques and market — with the aim of strengthening the role of museums as drivers of sustainable development.
Presented by Costanza Profumo
13:30 - 14:30 — Lunch Break
14:30 - 16:30 — Future Scenarios: Museum Design in the Context of Sustainability
The third session, moderated by architect Alessandro Colombo, lecturer at Politecnico di Milano, Politecnico di Torino and NABA, presented examples of sustainable exhibitions and display design. Ralph Appelbaum Associates presented international museum projects, while Md’A Design Agency focused on curatorial practices and exhibition design for temporary exhibitions.
Both approaches emphasise local engagement as a means of sharing knowledge and creating a strong connection between museums and their host communities.
Moderator: Alessandro Colombo
Speakers:
16:30 - 18:30 — Sustainability: A New Paradigm for the Public
The fourth session explored sustainability as a new paradigm for museum audiences. Moderated by Veronica Rodenigo, journalist for Il Giornale dell’Arte and Il Giornale dell’Architettura, the discussion offered insights into how cultural institutions are rethinking their role and impact on audiences in response to contemporary environmental and social challenges, proposing new approaches to address them effectively.
Moderator: Veronica Rodenigo
Speakers: