Luiss Guido Carli University and the American Academy in Rome have joined forces to embark on an intellectual journey, in the company of esteemed scholars, visionaries, and artists to explore the delicate balance between preserving the past and navigating the complexities of a rapidly evolving future. Together with Aliza Wong we have identified a theme for the first event to encapsulate the essence of the mission of our collaboration: to cherish the treasures of history while actively engaging in the vision of a future that is sustainable, inclusive, and informed.

Mark Thatcher offered an interesting parallel between the invention of tradition and the creation of national identities, whereas Lorenzo Casini discussed the paradox of cultural heritage between protection and promotion. Sara Petrilli Jones and Lucrezia Cippitelli went on to discuss the different cultural perspectives on heritage: in Japan, for instance, the authenticity of cultural heritage lies in the process of construction and reconstruction of pieces of arts. Sofia Ranchordas concluded the meeting with an illustration of the opportunities offered by AI to get access to cultural heritage. A big thank to Rachel Donadio for moderating such a lively debate.