In 2025, we were fortunate to gather in person at the 9th Meet, See, Do conference. Ninety participants spent two inspiring days together at the welcoming City Museum Zagreb, which also supported the event financially. One participant reflected:
“The Meet, See, Do 2025 conference was a powerful reminder that cultural heritage work in the Balkans goes far beyond preservation. It is about building a shared future through dialogue, collaboration and care… What made this event truly special were the informal exchanges—the spontaneous conversations over coffee that sparked ideas, created connections and reminded us why we do this work.”
Just as in 2024, the Balkan Museum Network proudly welcomed 70 members this year—individuals, museums and civil society organisations dedicated to preserving and promoting cultural heritage. This continued growth reflects the relevance and impact of the Network’s work.
Sharing knowledge, skills and experiences remains at the heart of BMN’s mission. In 2025, we organised 10 webinars on diverse topics, offering space for members and partners to present their work and reflect on lessons learned. Recordings are available on our YouTube channel.
BMN also managed the second call of the Headley Southeast European Cultural Heritage Fund, supporting eight projects that will continue into 2026. These initiatives bring forward innovative approaches to safeguarding cultural heritage.
Following last year’s publication on inclusion and accessibility, BMN released a new collection in 2025: From Risk to Response: How the Heritage Sector Addresses Illicit Trafficking. The publication highlights 15 case studies, now available on the BMN website.
We were also delighted to support the Homeland Museum in Knjaževac by donating digitisation equipment through the European Horizon project SHIFT.
This year was marked by two awards. The Peace Broker Prize was awarded to Dr. Irena Ružin from Bitola, North Macedonia. BMN also revitalised the Best Museum Souvenir Award, highlighting outstanding and innovative museum souvenirs across the region.
Our strategic partnership with NEMO (the Network of European Museum Organisations) was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding, and we are pleased that this collaboration will continue for the next two years. BMN has also established a strategic partnership with Michele Culture Association to advance digitisation and address key issues shaping the future of cultural heritage.
Through our NEMO membership, BMN members also benefited from European training and capacity-building opportunities.
While the SHIFT and Aurora projects concluded this year, BMN continues its involvement in two Erasmus projects: iNCLUSION and Critical History Tour. You can already explore the online map of Critical History Tours and review research findings offering recommendations for more inclusive and accessible museum practice.
We remain committed to fundraising to sustain BMN as an active platform and to create opportunities for our members. We are especially pleased that three member museums will join BMN as partners in the new Creative Europe project Re-Mind, launching in early 2026.
Looking ahead, we hope to continue building a supportive, forward-thinking museum community—responding to your needs, strengthening connections, and championing innovation.
Happy 2026 to all of us.
We wish peace and dignity for all
