On October 10 and 11, 2026, we inaugurated the latest edition of the Heritage Academy. During the first session of the postgraduate program organized by the ICC and the Krakow University of Economics, participants visited, among other places, the Wawel Royal Castle and took part in the first lectures and workshops.
The goal of the Heritage Academy is to prepare students for professional work in cultural institutions and for the responsible management of tangible and intangible heritage resources. The postgraduate program combines theoretical and practical knowledge, and classes are led by experts representing Poland’s leading cultural institutions—specialists in the fields of museology, collection management, exhibition organization, art conservation, and historic preservation.
Contemporary Challenges in Heritage Management
The program for the 21st edition of the Heritage Academy addresses the current challenges facing the cultural sector. Topics covered include the use of artificial intelligence tools in the operations of cultural institutions, the protection of cultural property during crises and armed conflicts, as well as the legal aspects of the restitution of works of art lost or illegally removed from Poland and other European countries.
Participants learn about the principles governing the operation of cultural institutions and methods for managing them. An important part of the program consists of study visits to museums, galleries and cultural centers; field workshops at historic sites; and a field trip dedicated to cultural heritage management. The program is complemented by open lectures, seminars, tutorials and fieldwork.
Over 20 Years of Training Experts
The Heritage Academy has been in operation since 2001. Over the course of its 20 sessions to date, more than 450 people have participated in the program, developing their skills in the preservation, management and promotion of cultural heritage. Among the graduates are, among others, directors of cultural institutions, historic preservationists, museum professionals and specialists involved in heritage conservation in Poland and abroad.
The program is designed for individuals working in cultural institutions, museums, public administration and historic preservation agencies, as well as for tour operators, teachers, owners of historic properties and investors. The 21st edition of the Heritage Academy marks another step in building a community that combines expert knowledge with a practical approach to the preservation and management of cultural heritage.
More about the Academy of Heritage.