Global Museums Embrace Technology, Sustainable Practices for Heritage Preservation

Preventive conservation and sustainable heritage management are at the forefront of global museum practice today, with leading institutions employing advanced security, digital technologies, and public engagement initiatives to protect and promote cultural heritage, Xinhua reported.

At the symposium "One Hundred Years of National Palaces" in Istanbul this week, more than 100 experts from 27 countries presented 95 research papers, exchanging insights on conservation, restoration, and exhibition methods that showcase cutting-edge approaches shaping museums worldwide.

Wang Xudong, director of Beijing's Palace Museum, highlighted the museum's use of risk-based preventive conservation to safeguard the Forbidden City while advancing sustainable management of its nearly 2 million artifacts.

Serving as the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Forbidden City remains the world's largest and best-preserved historic palace complex.

Key measures include improved artifact storage, environmental monitoring of temperature, humidity, and light, and the installation of warning systems in exhibition halls. With more than 15 million visitors each year, the museum also manages visitor flow through timed reservations and capacity limits, and promotes sustainability through a zero-waste campaign.

Wang Guangyao, director of the Institute of Ceramics at the Palace Museum, explained how modern techniques are enhancing traditional ceramic preservation and restoration.

One approach uses advanced materials to replicate glaze, color, and decorative patterns without reheating the ceramics or altering the original artifact.

Another approach leverages digital technologies to virtually reconstruct objects from even small fragments. Through 3D modeling and digital imaging, researchers can recreate an artifact's original form and decoration, allowing both experts and the public to appreciate the complete object.

Building on such preservation practices, Istanbul's Topkapi Palace plans to open a new museum later this year, featuring the world's most extensive porcelain collection, with rare Chinese ceramics from the Yuan and Ming dynasties taking center stage. The collection, unveiled for the first time during the symposium held at the palace, demonstrates the practical application of modern conservation methods.

Experts also emphasized that public engagement plays a critical role in long-term preservation by increasing awareness, encouraging responsible behavior, and supporting funding for heritage protection.

Chiara Squarcina, scientific director of the Venice City Museums Foundation, highlighted the Museum of Palazzo Mocenigo as a model for innovative outreach to increase accessibility. Focused on Venice's traditions of textiles, costume, and perfume, the museum offers scheduled "backstage" tours into storage areas normally kept closed for conservation reasons. A digital catalogue of nearly 50,000 items further expands access, exemplifying the open-storage model that balances protection with visibility.

Asli Agirbas, a scholar of artificial intelligence and heritage preservation at Istanbul's Ozyegin University, also highlighted the growing role of modern technology in protecting cultural heritage. She said Türkiye is advancing a more proactive approach to museum security, with digital catalogues, AI-powered image analysis, and online inventory platforms enabling institutions to monitor their collections more efficiently and ensure both preservation and accessibility for future generations.