Events
November 11, 2025
ICOM General Conference 2025
The 27th ICOM (International Council of Museums) General Conference, the world’s leading gathering for museum professionals, is happening November 11- 17 in Dubai. This year's conference is dedicated to The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities.
“The ICOM Conference is an incredible opportunity for the world’s leading museum professionals to come together to shape the future of museums, The event brings together thousands of museum leaders, curators, researchers and policymakers from over 130 countries, fostering learning and collaboration across borders. I’m thrilled to be attending this year along with Javier Jimenez, Managing Partner, and Elisa Bailey Aiano, Senior Consultant.”
— Gail Lord, Co-founder and Partner, Lord Cultural Resources
Join them at their sessions below:
Strategic Planning for Your Museum Building Project
Thursday, November 13
“I am honoured to be one of four mentors in this session for young museum professionals, along with Dr. Charalampos Chaitas, Dr Anne-Marie Gilis and Dr. Carol Scott,” says Gail Lord. “Museums are always evolving – expanding, upgrading and reimagining their spaces, but success takes strategy. This session introduces key tools for planning museum buildings: visioning, designing for people and heritage, and adapting to changing communities. Learn how to guide projects from idea to opening, and ensure your museum’s spaces are built for the future. Bring your stories, questions, and ideas to share, and I will see you there!”
Session B: Resilience, Resistance and Recovery
November 12, 16:30 – 18:00
Speakers to be finalized soon
“This session explores the powerful role of sound and song as tools of resistance, resilience and remembrance across continents and histories,” says Elisa Bailey. “From concentration camps and partisan movements to a singing revolution and resilience in the face of genocide, presenters reveal how music and performance have carried voices of protest, preserved cultural identity and fostered solidarity in the face of oppression. Together, these stories show how music continues to connect people – past and present – through acts of courage, creativity and hope.”
Session C: Re-curation, Rethinking, Reimagining
November 13, 14:30 – 16:00
Records and Rebels: Sound and Music as Memory, Provocation and Hope
“From the soundtracks of the Civil Rights movement to the musical heritage of post-Communist Europe, music has always been a force for change, whether on the front lines or as a backdrop,” says Elisa Bailey Aiano. “My presentation explores how artists and curators use music to express memory and amplify stories of rights, resistance and hope in exhibitions, theatre and other cultural spaces.”