Facilitated by Inga Surgunte (Latvian Academy of Culture), Henry McGhie (Curating Tomorrow), and José Luiz Pederzoli Jr. (ICCROM), the training ‘Unlocking potential: Museums, the SDGs, and the path to wellbeing’ offered a deep dive into how museums can actively contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, with a special emphasis on wellbeing.
On 10 & 17 September and 1 & 8 October 2025, participants of the NEMO training explored the intersection of museum work and SDGs. The programme encouraged reflection on how museums support community health, staff wellbeing, and broader societal challenges. Participants were guided to identify their own SDG-related aspirations, develop actionable plans, and discover practical tools through ICCROM’s ‘Our Collections Matter’ Toolkit.
The workshop sessions emphasised inclusivity, environmental responsibility, and the power of cultural institutions to ‘do more good and do less harm.’ Through interactive exchanges, participants gained clarity, structure, and renewed motivation. As one participant shared, ‘I didn’t know before that we were already working with the SDGs — I will now highlight this in our activities.’
Others reflected on the impact: ‘The exchange with colleagues from different museums all over Europe was so fruitful and helped change my perspective.’ The training not only equipped attendees with methodologies and arguments to justify their projects, but also fostered a sense of community and shared purpose.
The third edition of the online workshop empowered museum professionals to champion sustainable development through their collections, programming, and partnerships – helping them unlock the full potential of museums as catalysts for wellbeing.
