Beyond All Borders: First ICOMOS Scientific Symposium of the Americas

A Diverse and Comprehensive Scientific Program

The ICOMOS Scientific Symposium of the Americas opened on 17 November with a virtual session on the role of cultural and natural heritage in regional development, featuring experts from Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, and Peru. Over the following two days, the Centro Estatal de las Artes (CEART) hosted three concurrent in-person conference tracks, with over 40 scientific papers presented on subjects such as:

• Urban heritage and historic centers
• Cultural and sacred landscapes
• Community participation and resilience
• Transborder and shared heritage
• Public policy and cultural governance
• Gastronomy, identity, and foodscapes
• Indigenous and Afro-descendant cultural expressions
• Climate-related risks and heritage vulnerability
• Memory, territory, and postcolonial perspectives

Keynote speakers included Douglas C. Comer (ICOMOS USA), Ripkema Donovan (University of South Dakota), Juan Luís Isaza Londoño (ICOMOS Colombia), and Leonardo Castriota (ICOMOS Vice President for the Americas).

Launch of a Hemispheric Research Initiative

One of the most anticipated moments of the symposium was the formal launch of the project “The Construction of National Heritages in the Americas,” developed within the ICOMOS University Forum for Latin America. Presented by Forum Coordinator Leonardo Castriota, the project will advance a comparative, transnational examination of how narratives of national heritage have shaped political identities across the continent.
A follow-up session scheduled for 11 December 2025 will involve senior researchers and graduate students in defining the next steps of this collaborative endeavor.

A Major Proposal: The “Culture & Climate in the Americas” Manifesto-Letter

During the symposium, the National Committees of ICOMOS in the Americas also advanced a major new continental initiative: the development of the “Culture & Climate in the Americas” Manifesto-Letter .
This proposal calls for the creation of an Inter-American Working Group, bringing together committees from North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, with the goal of producing a unified hemispheric position on cultural heritage and the climate crisis.

According to the document, the Manifesto-Letter aims to:

• Recognize the specificities, vulnerabilities, and capacities of the diverse regions of the Americas.
• Establish guiding principles for a continental stance linking cultural heritage and climate change.
• Map institutional strengths and weaknesses, enabling more integrated and effective public policies.
• Engage global agendas and multilateral environmental processes, ensuring the Americas speak with a coherent, culturally grounded voice.
• Identify and mobilize funding mechanisms to support long-term, decentralized programs for adaptation and resilience

The proposal emphasizes that culture — in its material and intangible dimensions — is indispensable to confronting climate emergencies, strengthening community resilience, and safeguarding the knowledge systems that sustain life in the Americas.
The Manifesto-Letter is expected to be finalized and formally presented at the 2026 ICOMOS General Assembly in Malaysia, representing a collective contribution of the Americas to the global debate on climate change and heritage protection.

Engaging with Local Heritage Through Field Visits

Participants explored several emblematic sites in Ensenada, including:

• The Historic Center of Ensenada
• El Barrio del Keki, a community rich in local memory
• The Regional Museum of Ensenada
• The historic Hotel Rivera

These visits highlighted community-led practices, urban transformations, cultural identities, and the challenges of preserving heritage in fast-changing coastal regions.

Cross-Border Closing Day in San Diego

The final day of the event took place at the Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center in San Diego — an iconic space of social struggle and cultural affirmation. Delegates held a closing session outlining strategic priorities for future inter-American cooperation, particularly regarding cultural rights, cross-border heritage protection, and climate resilience.

Celebrating 60 Years of ICOMOS Mexico

The event also served as a platform to celebrate the 60th anniversary of ICOMOS Mexico, with a commemorative symposium session highlighting the country’s contributions to heritage science, legislation, and community engagement.

A New Standard for Collaboration in the Americas

The first ICOMOS Scientific Symposium of the Americas set an unprecedented benchmark for collaborative, interdisciplinary, and cross-border research. It reaffirmed ICOMOS’ commitment to promoting shared heritage, continental solidarity, and sustainable, culturally grounded approaches to the challenges facing the region.