Heritage Reimagined: Annual Preservation Forum

Heritage Reimagined is Ancestra Trust’s flagship annual forum — a gathering of visionaries dedicated to protecting and reinterpreting our shared past.
This three-day international event brings together conservators, curators, scholars, architects, and cultural policymakers to exchange ideas, present research, and discuss the evolving landscape of heritage preservation.

The 2025 edition centers on the theme “Tradition and Technology: The Art of Balance.”
Through lectures, workshops, and exhibitions, participants will explore how innovation can serve preservation — ensuring that history remains both authentic and accessible in the digital age.

From ancient manuscripts to disappearing crafts, the Forum bridges the worlds of material culture, digital conservation, and community storytelling, highlighting the ethical and creative challenges of modern heritage work.

Day 1 - Opening Ceremony & Keynotes

• Welcome Address — Dr. Helena Kovács, Ancestra Trust
• Keynote 1: “Memory in the Age of Algorithms” — Prof. Darius Mihailov, University of Sofia
• Panel Discussion: The Future of Archives: Physical vs. Digital Authenticity
• Evening Networking Reception & Heritage Film Screening

Day 2 - Workshops & Interactive Sessions

• Digital Restoration: Techniques for 3D Documentation
• Community Heritage Labs: Involving the Next Generation
• Restoration Ethics: Beyond the Surface of Preservation
• Roundtable: The Role of AI in Cultural Conservation
• Curated Tour: Vienna’s Historic Conservation Sites

Day 3 - Presentations & Closing Events

• Innovations Showcase: Projects from European Conservation Institutes
• Collaborative Dialogue: Funding and Policy Strategies for Cultural Projects
• Closing Remarks: “Reimagining the Future of Heritage” — Ancestra Trust Board
• Farewell Gala: A Night at the Library — Classical performance and networking dinner