News & Events

We warmly invite you to the launch of the UNESCO Chair on Critical Heritage Studies and the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage at the University of Antwerp. Monday, 12 October 2026, 17:30-19:30, Stadscampus, room S.C.002, Prinsstraat 13, Antwerp

The evening will bring together the Chair’s partners for a programme of lectures and discussion.

PROGRAMME

Welcome & Introduction

Prof. dr. Inge Bertels  |  Dean, Faculty of Design Sciences, University of Antwerp

Reinhilde Weyns  |  Chairperson, Flemish UNESCO Commission

Lecture on Reflexive Heritage Work

Prof. dr. Marc Jacobs  |  Co-Chair, University of Antwerp and Vrije Universiteit Brussel

The Work and Future of the UNESCO Chair

Prof. dr. Sophie Elpers  |  Chairholder, University of Antwerp and Meertens Institute, Amsterdam

Panel Discussion

Hildegunn Bjørgen  |  Arts and Culture Norway, National Focal Point

Frank Hemeltjen  |  Dutch Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage

María Claudia López  |  Former Secretary of Culture of Bogotá, Former Vice Minister of Culture of Colombia, Facilitator

Valentina Zingari  |  Scientific Director of Associazione Giochi Antichi APS (AGA), Facilitator

Moderated by Jorijn Neyrinck  |  Director of FLAME

​

The Chair is partner in the capacity-building workshop Safeguarding Living Heritage in Urban Contexts, organized by FLAME.

The workshop builds upon UNESCO’s recent Guidance Note on Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage in Urban Contexts and related international capacity-building initiatives developed under the framework of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The Chair is co-organizer of the online lecture series on intangible cultural heritage in the polycrisis. Hosted and organized by EKW-EE, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich), the series is primarily designed for students but is open to anyone with an interest in the topic. The link for participation is available via the QR code.