Cultural Heritage and International Platforms: Why North Africa Must Strengthen Its Professional Presence

From April 1 to 4, 2026, Heritage Istanbul will gather heritage professionals, museum directors, restoration experts, researchers, and cultural policymakers in Istanbul to address contemporary challenges in conservation, archaeology, museology, and heritage technologies.

Topics such as heritage protection in times of crisis, scientific analysis techniques, museum security, digital documentation, and post-conflict reconstruction are now central to international cultural strategies.

Within this global landscape, North Africa’s professional representation remains relatively limited.

A Structural and Professional Challenge

North Africa possesses an exceptional cultural heritage: ancient archaeological sites, historic medinas, desert ksour, Ottoman and colonial architecture, and vast cultural landscapes.

However, beyond the richness of its heritage assets, the core challenge today is structural and professional:

• Strengthening restoration and conservation professions

• Expanding specialized training programs

• Accessing advanced diagnostic and conservation technologies

• Digitizing archives and collections

• Building sustainable professional networks

The issue is not political—it is organizational and technical.

ALTAVA: An Independent Observational Participation

The Collectif ALTAVA, Sciences & Patrimoine, an independent organization based in Algeria, will attend Heritage Istanbul 2026 as an observer.

This participation follows a clear and practical objective:

• Studying cooperation models between institutions and experts

• Observing technological innovations applied to conservation

• Understanding the organizational formats of international heritage forums

• Identifying transferable practices relevant to the North African context

This is neither a diplomatic initiative nor a governmental mission. It is a strategic, independent professional observation effort.

Towards a North African Professional Heritage Network

Rather than framing the discussion at a geopolitical level, the approach can remain strictly professional.

There is an opportunity to foster a collaborative and non-political network of practitioners, researchers, conservators, architects, and heritage specialists across North Africa, focused on:

• Scientific documentation of heritage sites

• Preventive conservation strategies

• Digital heritage technologies

• Continuing professional training

• Knowledge exchange and shared best practices

Such a network would be built on expertise, standards, and professional cooperation—without institutional or political framing.

Cooperation Through Expertise

In the field of cultural heritage, cooperation is fundamentally driven by:

• Methodologies

• Standards

• Technologies

• Skills development

Participation in international platforms like Heritage Istanbul allows independent actors to strengthen local capacities, connect with global expertise, and contribute to a more structured professional ecosystem in North Africa.

The objective is simple: learning, adaptation, and long-term capacity building.