The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union have made 2018 the European Year of Cultural Heritage with the aim of: promoting cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and social cohesion; reinforcing the contribution that the European cultural heritage can make to society and the economy through its capacity to support the cultural and creative sectors, including small and medium-sized enterprises; contributing to the enhancement of the cultural heritage as an important factor in relations between the European Union and other countries, based on the interests and requests of partner countries and on Europe’s expertise in the field of cultural heritage.

Within this framework, the Fondazione Giorgio Cini and the University of Oxford Bodleian Libraries have organised an international symposium entitled Preserving the Past for the Future, to be held on the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore on 23 October 2018.

The meeting will discuss the topic of the political, cultural and technical challenges constantly faced by public and private institutions responsible for protecting the heritage, also taking into account the role that international cooperation can play in solving these kinds of issues.
The theme of how digital technologies can preserve and enhance the great European cultural heritage will also be considered.
The Symposium will be divided into thematic sessions involving institutions and individuals from various world regions with different cultural traditions (India, China, America and Europe). The aim is to outline a global perspective on the topic, through comparative analysis and sharing knowledge and experiences.

Supported by the Helen Hamlyn Trust, the symposium will be conducted in English. Speakers include Vint Cerf (Google), James Cuno (The J. Paul Getty Trust), Peter Frankopan (Univeristy of Oxford), Pasquale Gagliardi (Fondazione Giorgio Cini), Jack Lohman (Royal BC Museum), Adam Lowe (Factum Arte), Da Dong Ma (Shanghai Gui Yin), Richard Ovenden (Bodleian Libraries), Shobita Punja (The Helen Hamlyn Trust), Sarah Thomas (Harvard Library), Ana Luiza Thompson-Flores (Unesco), Guo Xiaoling (Beijing Capital Museum).