This seminar brought together representatives of regional museums and libraries in Blagoevgrad, Gotse Delchev, Montana and Varshets, as well as experts in the field of education, local government, schools and NGOs. Guest speakers were Torleif Hamre from the Eidsvoll 1814 Museum and Ellen Lange from the National Science and Technology Museum in Norway, as well as Lillian Hort and Evgenia Khoroltseva from the Norwegian Academy of Human Rights.

The Norwegian experts and experts from the Partners – Bulgaria Foundation conducted a two-day program that addressed topics showing the new role of museums inhuman rights education of  young people’. Good practices from Norway and other countries were discussed, as well as the work of museums with young people in the country. Examples of the work of historical museums, museums of art and galleries, museums of science and technology and public monuments  were discussed. Museums contribute to human rights education by involving participants as active bearers of the ideas underlying human rights. The new role of museums changes the understanding of them from a physical home to significant objects, a small part of which find a place in the public exposition to institutions that contribute to the progress of society. The creation of mini- and virtual museums, public facilities and traveling collections creates new opportunities to rethink their role in the 21st century and brings them closer to people, transcending the boundaries of one community and state.

The seminar was held on 27 and 28 September 2021 as a continuation of a series of online seminars from 2020 as part of the project “Increasing democratic competence and understanding of human rights among young people”, implemented by the Partners Bulgaria Foundation in partnership with the Academy of Human Rights, Norway and with the financial support provided by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway under the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area through the Active Citizens Fund.