Before the conclusion of the project on 31 January 2026 and final reporting in March, a final event was organised at the Archaeological Society at Athens, from 14 to 16 January 2026: the ANCHISE Final Forum.

This event was an opportunity to look at the project’s main achievements as well as its legacy, as ANCHISE actions were always planned with the aim of having long standing results. ICOM, as consortium partner, has been actively involved throughout the project, from its early stages in February 2023 to its conclusion, three years later, contributing to demonstrations, discussions, and publications. This article presents the project from ICOM’s perspective and gives a voice to its members, to share their experiences and insights on the project.

 

The ANCHISE Final Forum brought together a wide range of stakeholders, representative of the ANCHISE community and its collaborative spirit. Over three days, this event fostered interdisciplinary discussions addressing the main challenges, achievements and future opportunities shared by the professional communities involved in the project. While the first day focused primarily on the technological tools developed within ANCHISE and on users’ experiences, the second day explored issues related to data management, while the final day was dedicated to the project’s legacy, with particular attention to policy perspectives, capacity building and professional recommendations.

Throughout these discussions, the voice of museum professionals was consistently represented, thanks to the active involvement of participants from several ICOM National Committees as well as from the ICOM Secretariat (Heritage Protection Department).

At the opening of the Forum, Elisabeth Bargue (ICOM Greece) delivered an introductory speech, highlighting the committee’s participation in ANCHISE as a continuation of its commitment to combat the illicit trafficking of cultural property. She also mentioned the recent publication of the ICOM Red List of Greek Cultural Objects at Risk (2025) as part of the ICOM Greece’s constant efforts in this field.

© ANCHISE

Reflecting on the experience, she underlined that:

“ANCHISE’s activities have highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and continuous feedback, confirming ICOM’s role as a catalyst between technological research and museological practice. It is therefore with great pride that ICOM Greece participated in this important project.” – Elisabeth Bargue, member of ICOM Greece

You can read the full article here.