Conference "Culture and War"
Event overview
8 May 2025 at the University of Tartu Narva College (Raekoja plats 2).
War not only destroys lives and cities—it also leaves a lasting mark on culture. How does armed conflict affect cultural heritage? What experiences and strategies exist for protecting heritage during and after war?
At this conference, organised by Narva Museum, experts from Estonia and Ukraine will share their insights, discussing both international and local examples of heritage preservation and documentation.
CONFERENCE PROGRAM
10:00–10:45 Gathering and registration
10:45–11:00 Welcome speech
11:00–11:30“Museum Work and Mission in Modern-Day Wartime Ukraine” – Juri Savtchuk (PhD, National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War, Ukraine)
11:30–12:00“Memorialization of Casualties of the Russian-Ukrainian War: A Review of the Project Performance of the Multimedia Martyrology ‘Children’” – Iryna Kotsabiuk, National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War (Ukraine)
12:00–12:15 Coffee break
12:15–12:45“War and Culture” – Maria Smorževskihh-Smirnova (PhD), SA Narva Museum
12:45–13:15“Virtual Tours as a Tool for Cultural Heritage Preservation” – Julia Khlystun (PhD), Narva Museum
13:15–14:15 Lunch break
14:15–14:45“Narva Museum during World War II” – Zurab Jänes, Narva Museum
14:45–15:15“Avoiding the Inevitable: Can Heritage Be Protected from Catastrophe?” – Linda Lainvoo, Kriisikindlus OÜ
15:15–15:45“Not All Is Lost – The Story of Narva's Wooden Baroque Remnants” – Hannes Vinnal (PhD), EKA, TU Institute of History and Archaeology
15:45–16:00 Break
16:00–17:00 Public discussion. The discussion will feature Maria Smorževskihh-Smirnova (PhD, Member of the Management Board at the Narva Museum Foundation), Linda Lainvoo (expert, Kriisikindlus OÜ), Madis Tuuder (heritage protection expert), and Anu Viltrop (Executive Director of the Estonian Museum Association).
The conference will be moderated by historian Kaarel Vanamölder (PhD).
Simultaneous English translation will be provided. The conference can also be followed live on Narva Museum's YouTube channel.
We look forward to reflect together on how culture can endure – even in the most difficult times.
