As part of the celebrations for the 50th Anniversary of the International Hydrological Programme (IHP), the Global Network of Water Museums (WAMU-NET) is pleased to invite you to a high-level side event at UNESCO Headquarters. This event is one of two coordinated activities by WAMU-NET and marks an important moment for the global water heritage community.
Side Event: The Voices of Water. Valuing ancient water cultures and hydro-technologies for a shared future
12 June, 14:00 – 15:30, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris
Exhibition Opening on Ancient Water Cultures at UNESCO HQ
Organized in collaboration with ADASA (Brazil), this exhibition will present global good practices in sustainable water management through museums and interpretive centres – including the forthcoming MINA Water Memorial in Brasília, a landmark museum designed by the iconic architect Oscar Niemeyer. The announcement of the MINA Water Memorial will also be marked during an official coffee break offered by ADASA.
Building on WAMU-NET’s video-installation “The Voices of Water”, which premiered at the 10th WWF in Indonesia, the side event will highlight why ancient water cultures and hydro-technologies (AHTs) can inspire innovative adaptation strategies to climate change and biodiversity loss, and shared solutions with local communities.
During the side event, we will also launch the latest Special Issue of the Blue Papers on ‘Ancient Hydro-Technologies’ edited by Carola Hein, Zuzanna Sliwinska & Matteo D’Agostino, and present the Water Film Prize “Back to our Future” co-organised by Let’s Talk About Water and the Global Network of Water Museums.
The exhibition will be functional announce the 6th Conference of WAMU-NET in Brasilia and the roadmap to build the International Water Memorial designed by the architect Oscar Niemeyer.
Watch the WAMU-NET's video for 50th Anniversary of UNESCO - IHP, Paris 2025