The 2nd International Conference of Narva Museum “Culture and Borders”

On 8 May 2026, Narva Museum will organise its 2nd international conference, which this time will focus on current issues related to the preservation and interpretation of cultural heritage in the contemporary world. The conference “Culture and Borders” will take place at the University of Tartu Narva College as part of the Europe Day programme.

The theme of the conference explores the interrelationship between culture and borders, which have historically developed in close interaction. Borders are not merely lines on a map. They can simultaneously represent limitation and opportunity, barrier and protection, separation and a space for dialogue.

The conference will address the significance of international cooperation in safeguarding cultural assets. The programme includes thematic presentations by experts as well as a panel discussion.

We will discuss how cultural objects cross state borders and the challenges associated with their movement and preservation. Particular attention will be given to combating the smuggling of cultural heritage and propaganda, as well as to the role of cultural institutions in shaping perceptions of borders in the past, present, and future. Ukrainian colleagues will share their experience in rescuing museum collections and cooperating with European museums under wartime conditions.

Presentations will be delivered in Estonian and English. Simultaneous interpretation into Russian, Estonian, and English will be provided for participants and attendees.

The conference will be of interest to all those engaged with cultural heritage and its role in a changing world.

Participation in the conference is free, but prior registration is required.

THE CONFERENCE PROGRAM

9.30–10.00 Coffee-break

10.00 Welcome speech

10.10–10.40 Culture as a Border Guardian: Interwar Narva
Zurab Jänes, Narva Museum Head of Collections
The presentation examines the role of Narva museums in shaping memory and cultural boundaries between 1918 and 1940. The focus is on the appropriation of imperial heritage and identity formation through museum practices.
Presentation in Estonian.

10.40–11.10 The Image of the Border between the Red Empire and Europe (Based on Material from Estonian Newspapers in the early 1930s)
Evgeny Zavadskiy, PhD student at the University of Tartu
Estonian press had unique content about events on the Estonian-Soviet border. These publications covered a variety of events, from typical shipments (grain exports from the USSR in a period of mass famine, etc.) to the actions of Soviet spies, the GPU, and the Red Army. Among other things, journalists described the practices of crisis communication between the two sides and the responses (including forceful ones) to challenges and provocations from the USSR. The newspapers examined here interpret these events in a broader European context and cite similar examples from other countries (Latvia, Poland, Romania). Journalists also face the problem of Soviet propaganda in Estonia.
Presentation in English.

11.10–11.40 MTA as a Guardian of Culture: The Role of the Tax and Customs Board in Supervising Cultural Goods at the External Border of the European Union
Ants Kutti, Head of Narva Customs Office
The presentation examines the role of the Tax and Customs Board in supervising cultural goods at the external border of the European Union, highlighting the importance of this work in protecting cultural heritage. It provides an overview of the main legal frameworks regulating the movement of cultural goods across the border. It also explains the applicable sanctions and their impact, as well as cooperation with the Heritage Board. The presentation includes examples of interesting and unexpected discoveries made during customs inspections. Overall, it offers a practical and comprehensive overview of the everyday role of customs in safeguarding cultural heritage.
Presentation in Estonian.

11.40–12.00 Coffee-break

12.00–12.30 Borders and Culture: the Mission and Practices of Narva Museum
Maria Smorževskihh-Smirnova (PhD), Head of SA Narva Muuseum
The presentation examines the role of Narva Museum as a cultural institution operating at the intersection of two value systems and, in today’s context, at the edge of the free European world. It focuses on an understanding of culture as an active participant in societal dialogue rather than a neutral observer. Drawing on examples of exhibitions and public programmes, the talk explores how the museum shapes a value framework and engages with contested memory in a border city. Particular attention is given to the museum’s role in rethinking Narva’s identity within the contemporary geopolitical context.
Presentation in Estonian.

12.30–13.00 Culture and History without Borders – Lessons learned from Swedish Experiences
Helene Rånlund , Co-founder and Chair of the national committee Blue Shield Sweden, Former Director General of the National Swedish Museums of Military History
Cooperations can be shaped in many ways depending on circumstances and stipulated conditions – due to actual borders. The experiences from cooperation can also be affected by expectations from the partners involved – because of invisible boundaries. The ongoing war in Europe, the aggression against Ukraine, has been the starting point of many new cooperations and networks within the culture and cultural heritage sector. Some reflections will be shared from the Swedish experiences of co-producing exhibitions during on-going armed conflict and also post-war conditions in Europe.
Presentation in English.

13.00–13.30 International Exhibition Activity during Wartime: Preservation and Transformation of Narratives
Yulia Lytvynets, Director of the National Art Museum of Ukraine
Since 2022, museums in Ukraine have dismantled their permanent exhibitions. A significant part of the Museum Fund has been relocated to safer locations. International exhibition activity has thus become not only a means of preservation, but also a tool for promoting Ukrainian art. The project “In the Eye of the Storm. Ukrainian Modernism, 1900–1930s”, which has already been presented in Madrid, Cologne, Vienna, Brussels, London, and Łódź, demonstrates a rethinking of the place of Ukrainian art within the global context.
Presentation in English.

13.30–14.30 Lunch break

14.30–15.00 Archaeology without borders: social media as a bridge between science and the public
Dr Monika Reppo, research fellow at TLU archaeological research collection, UT & EKA guest lecturer, member of board of the Estonian Association of Archaeologists and member of the Estonian Young Academy of Sciences.
An estimated 74% of the global population uses the internet, and most of the users also have access to social media. It can be argued that social media improves the accessibility of science, develops citizen science, and offers researchers a direct route to inform and engage the public. On the other hand, researchers posting on social media are limited by algorithms, information overload, and the general fragmentation of information. Using personal and professional examples of scientific communication in archaeology, this paper examines how to cross the boundary between the academic world and the public using social media, and the challenges and opportunities this can bring. Presentation in Estonian.

15.00–15.30 Museum without Borders: Digital Heritage and New Audiences
Agnes Aljas, research secretary of the Estonian National Museum, PhD student at the University of Tartu
The presentation explores how digital heritage has enabled museums to operate in new, so-called borderless spaces. Drawing on practical examples, it examines the tensions, choices, and opportunities brought about by digital environments, as well as the conditions under which digital heritage becomes meaningful for different users. Presentation in Estonian.

15.30–16.00 Hazardous Cultural Heritage: Environmental Threats from Shipwrecks – Whose Problem Is It and Who Should Be Responsible? The Case of HMS Cassandra
Ivar Treffner, maritime archaeology researcher at the Estonian Maritime Museum, PhD student at the University of Tartu
As is well known, ships are subject to the law of the flag state. However, after sinking, the situation is not always so straightforward. Who owns the wrecks of sunken state vessels, and who is responsible for the fuel contained within them? Many such wrecks have been underwater for over 100 years, and the question is not whether they will collapse, but when. This could result in large amounts of environmentally hazardous fuel being released into the sea, causing significant pollution. The case of HMS Cassandra is a good example of international cooperation and the responsibility of the flag state.
Presentation in Estonian.

16.00–16.30 Picasso in the Crosshairs: Art Against Dictatorship
Nadia Hernández Henche and Carlos Alonso, Spanish art historians and curators
Pablo Picasso’s work became a symbol of freedom during Franco’s dictatorship. At the time of his 90th birthday, the artist came under attack: he was publicly denounced, galleries showing his work were destroyed, and bookshops that supported him were set on fire. These attacks were directed more broadly – against critical thinking and democratic values. Artists from around the world came together to support Picasso and to speak out against repression.
Presentation in English.

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