Check out the programme of the FRH Biennial Conference “The time is now: How to future-proof religious heritage together“.
You can download the programme here.
Thursday, 22 October 2026
Venue: Irish College Leuven, Janseniusstraat 1, 3000 Leuven, Belgium (View on Google Maps)
8.30 | Registrations
9.00 | Official institutional welcome:
– Patty Wageman, President of FRH
– EU Commission representative
– Peter De Wilde, CEO Flemish Heritage Agency
– Wouter Jaspers, Director PARCUM
1º SUB-THEME: From community-based to holistic: Different approaches to future-proofing religious heritage
09.30 | Keynote presentation by Luigi Bartolomei, professor in the Department of Architecture at the University of Bologna
10.00 | Presentation by Manuela Klauser, member of the TRANSARA research group at the University of Bonn
10.15 | Audience Q&A
10.30 | Coffee break
11.00 | Presentation by Dani Kranz, director of the Tikvah Institute in Berlin; and Sarah Ross, director of the European Center for Jewish Music at Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media
11.15 | Presentation by Karim Ettourki, Consultant of the KADOC Public Services and Sharing Expertise department; and Hajar El Hadji, policy officer at EMPACT
11.30| Abstract presentation
11.37| Abstract presentation
11.44 | Audience Q&A
11.55 | Summary by the moderator of the day
12.00 | Lunch at the Irish College Leuven
STUDY VISITS
13.30 | Bus departure to site visits. Participants will be divided into two groups. The first group will visit Site 1 first and then head to site 2, and vice versa.
Site 1 – Paul van Ostaijen Cultural Centre in Heverlee, Leuven
Former monastery transformed into a carbon neutral multifunctional space and cultural hotspot.
Site 2 – Saint-Michael’s and Saint Anna’s churches in Boutersem
Several churches of the municipality are currently exploring extended use possibilities as part of a municipal “church policy plan”. We will visit two of them: The Saint-Michael’s Church is home to the community project ‘Come and see’. Rooted in the Christian tradition, this project creates a place to pause, reflect, connect, and explore spirituality. St Anne’s Church has been converted into a community center and museum dedicated to local religious heritage. A place for cultural events, exhibitions, and social gatherings managed by the non-profit organisation Hannah Acteum.
18.00 | Conference dinner
After the study visits, both groups will meet at the Kabbeekklooster in Tienen. Due to its strategic location in the heart of the city, the redevelopment of the Kabbeekklooster site is one of the most important inner-city challenges for the city of Tienen in the coming years.
Friday, 23 October 2026
8.00 | OPTIONAL – Mass at the St John the Baptist’s Church, followed by a guided tour offered by the Bishops’ Conference of Belgium.
Venue: Irish College Leuven, Janseniusstraat 1, 3000 Leuven, Belgium (View on Google Maps)
9.30 | Coffee at Irish College Leuven
9.45 | Welcome by the moderator of the day
2º SUB-THEME: Policies and Instruments: Good Practices Across Europe
10:00 | Keynote presentation by Joanna Dorsser, Real Estate Director at the Diocese of Paris
10.30 | Presentation by Sara Vermeulen, policy officer at the Flemish Heritage Agency
10.45 | Audience Q&A
11.00 | Coffee break
11.30| Presentation by Judith Toebast, Programme manager of the Future of Religious Heritage Program at the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands
11.45 | Presentation by Dr Abdul-Azim Ahmed, Deputy Director of the Islam-UK Centre at Cardiff University
12.00 | Abstract presentation
12.07 | Abstract presentation
12.14 | Audience Q&A
12.25 | Summary by the Moderator of the Day
12.30 | Photo Competition Award Ceremony (2024-2025)
12.45 | Religious Heritage Innovator of the Year (2024-2025)
13.00 | Lunch at the Irish College Leuven
PARALLEL WORKSHOPS
14.00 – 16.15 | Conference participants will be divided into three groups and will rotate until they have attended both workshops and the poster exhibition.
Workshop 1 | Holistic approach
Workshop 2 | Policies and Instruments
Workshop 3 | Poster exhibition
CLOSING OF THE CONFERENCE
17.00 | Summary and conclusions of the conference
17.30 | Ending words
17.45 | End of the conference
18.00 | Reception and visit exhibition at KADOC
Saturday, 24 October 2026
9:30 & 11:00 | Festive events at PARCUM & KADOC
Conference participants that stay Saturday in Leuven are warmly invited to join the following events happening in town. Both activities can be combined. Please note that these activities are not guided by FRH, although our team will provide guidance on how to get to the venues and what to expect from each event.
PARCUM | Open door day & presentation at PARCUM (First slot: 9.30 | Second slot: 11:00)
Join this open door day to celebrate the completion of the restoration of Park Abbey, one of Leuven’s most remarkable heritage sites and home to PARCUM, a museum and centre of expertise for religious heritage in Flanders. Discover the remarkable transformation of this historic site, gain exclusive insights into the restoration process, and explore how PARCUM helps safeguard and promote religious heritage throughout Flanders. Join us for this special celebration where centuries of history meet a vibrant future.
KADOC | Visit & presentation at KADOC (First slot: 9.30 | Second slot: 11:00)
KADOC (Documentation and Research Centre on Religion, Culture and Society) is opening the doors of the its Chapel of Our Lady of Fever, a former Franciscan monastery church, sold in 1987 to the University of Leuven and since 1994 serving as venue for presentations and a meeting place for art and heritage. Apart from the visit, participants will learn more in depth about KADOC’s mission in the oldest university in Belgium.
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