Valencia will be the centre of global cultural heritage 2023

Professionals from the world’s top museums will gather in Valencia in September 2023 on the occasion of the 20th world conference of the International Council of Museums – Committee for Conservation, ICOM-CC. The choice of Valencia to host this major event is acknowledgment of the city’s efforts to protect its cultural heritage, as well as its excellent museum offerings, which include a wide variety of high-quality nationally and internationally renowned galleries. 

The ICOM-CC conference, which is held every three years, is the most important global event in the sphere of cultural heritage. Under the slogan ‘Working Towards a Sustainable Past’, the upcoming edition will focus on how to achieve more efficient and eco-friendly conservation. Over 1000 professionals, research staff, businesses and museums from around the world will meet in Valencia to discuss this and other challenges facing the industry today. 

The Palau de les Arts Performing Arts Centre and the Universitat Politècnica de València will be the venues for ICOM-CC 2023. The performing arts centre designed by Santiago Calatrava will host the plenary sessions, where all the participants will gather. And the university's Vera Campus will be the site for the subject-specific sessions, which are more specialized. 

This gathering will undoubtedly spotlight the city’s museum offerings, which include such gems as IVAM (Valencian Institute of Modern Art), recognized as one of the finest exponents of national and international art; the Museum of Fine Arts, the second largest art museum in Spain; and the National Museum of Ceramics in Marqués de Dos Aguas Palace, instantly recognizable by its spectacular baroque façade. Other museums further explore specific aspects of the city's cultural and historical heritage, including the Silk Museum and the Fallas Museum, or offer surprising curiosities, like L’Iber – The Tin Soldier Museum. And venues such as the Centre del Carme cultural centre and Bombas Gens Centre d’Art go far beyond their art exhibitions, with cultural and educational activities and even a restaurant awarded two Michelin stars. 

Valencia is a major cultural centre that well deserves to become the global museum and cultural heritage capital for a few days.