Mission

The challenges of increasing water scarcity, resource depletion, pollution, melting glaciers, and the disrupted patterns of floods and droughts caused by climate change cannot be resolved through ‘technocratic approaches’ alone. In recent decades, one-dimensional development models have conceived water mainly as a ‘tool’ to support economic growth at all costs, often ignoring the environmental consequences. The heavy impact of such models is evidenced by the dramatic pollution of freshwater ecosystems and the resulting loss of biodiversity worldwide. In highly anthropized contexts, the natural hydrological cycle has become increasingly ‘invisible’ to the public, leaving the natural and cultural heritage related to water more vulnerable than ever. Today, there is an urgent need to promote innovative and holistic perspectives to overcome narrow technical responses that have proven inadequate. In this context, museums play a vital role in paving the way for a profound paradigm change in how we perceive and manage water.

The mission of WAMU+NET is to reach global audiences through museums to foster new perceptions of water and build visions for more sustainable and farsighted water management. The network is rooted in an ethical perspective that aims to inform, connect, and mobilize institutions and citizens to turn the ideal of building a "New Culture of Water " into reality. This commitment promises to re-energize the unique relationship that humanity has shared with water as the most precious source of all life. To this end, WAMU+NET develops diverse projects to reconnect people with both the tangible and intangible heritage of water, encompassing its ecological, social, artistic, and spiritual dimensions. The Global Network is an independent non-profit NGO based in Venice, Italy, governed by a democratic General Assembly. Coordinated by a Management Board, a President, and an Executive Director, WAMU+NET now includes 130+ institutional members across 40 countries, reaching an average audience of 30 million visitors annually.