During the II National Museums Meeting, titled "Open Museums, Secure Heritage: Protecting to Share," Anxo M. Lorenzo, the director general of Culture, highlighted the critical importance of collaboration among museums in safeguarding the heritage and history of all. The event, held in Almería, brought together representatives from across Spain to discuss the pressing issue of theft in museum facilities.
Lorenzo, representing the Consellería de Cultura, Lingua e Xuventude, stressed the necessity of a united approach among cultural facility managers to address new risks and evaluate current needs following recent thefts in both national and international infrastructures. He stated, "This is not about creating alarm, but rather about proactively understanding the needs and concerns regarding the protection of our assets."
In this context, Lorenzo outlined a new roadmap initiated by the Galician Government aimed at ensuring security within the Galician System of Museum Centres. The proposed recommendations, presented to management officials, are based on five key lines of action that may be expanded. These include the need for risk assessments focused on individual items, integrating security into daily procedures for staff, and preparing collections to facilitate identification and recovery.
This initiative also encompasses the establishment of a museum alert and response network, efforts to reduce criminal benefits, and adapting exhibitions to the level of threat. Whenever compatible with conservation, the use of discreet identifiers, radio frequency tags, or forensic markers is proposed to detect removal or verify the identity of items. Additionally, the plan includes various meetings and the establishment of a stable information channel.
