The Dominican Republic will host the 12th Ibero-American Meeting of Museums in Santo Domingo from September 14 to 16, cultural authorities announced.
The Ministry of Culture and the General Directorate of Museums revealed details of the conference during a presentation at the Museum of Modern Art in Santo Domingo. The event will bring together more than 70 museum professionals from 22 member countries under the theme of shared heritage and common futures.
Santo Domingo is the capital of the Dominican Republic, and its historic central district features some of the oldest European structures in the Americas. The Museum of Modern Art serves as one of the principal public cultural institutions in the Caribbean nation.
Regional Museum Cooperation
Federico Fondeur, director of the Museum of Modern Art, highlighted the role of the Ibermuseums program as a crucial platform for coordination among institutions across the region. Fondeur noted that Ibermuseums has established itself as the leading body for preservation, consultation, and communication among Spanish-speaking museums.
Joan Ferrer, director general of Museums, explained that each meeting gathers cultural policy makers, museum directors, industry professionals, and researchers. He said participants work together to set cooperation agendas and tackle major challenges facing the sector.
Ferrer said holding the twelfth edition in Santo Domingo is a significant milestone for the country. He noted that the Dominican Republic will serve as the center of regional museum discussions throughout the three-day gathering.
Conference Venue and Key Topics
The in-person conference sessions will take place at the Indotel Center, located in the historic Colonial City neighborhood of Santo Domingo. The Colonial City is recognized globally for its preserved historic architecture and cultural landmark sites.
Ferrer announced a key development for this year's edition, noting that Panama has joined as a new member of the Intergovernmental Council that governs the cooperation program.
To broaden international access, organizers will offer partial online streaming of the sessions. The conference will also feature simultaneous translation between Spanish and Portuguese for virtual and attending delegates.
Discussions will focus on several critical topics affecting modern cultural institutions. Panelists will address diversity and the social appropriation of heritage, the application of artificial intelligence to museum storytelling, and the protection of biocultural territories against climate risks.
History of the Ibermuseums Network
Established in 2007, Ibermuseums is an intergovernmental cooperation program aimed at strengthening museum institutions throughout Ibero-America. The region includes nations across the Americas and the Iberian Peninsula where Spanish and Portuguese are primary languages.
The Ibermuseums network currently unites 22 countries and focuses on developing public policies, training sector professionals, and protecting cultural heritage. Its initiatives support more than 10,000 museum institutions across member nations.
Organizers confirmed that additional conference details will be announced shortly. The Ministry of Culture and the General Directorate of Museums plan to publish the complete event schedule and the final list of confirmed international speakers in the coming days.
