Speakers including National Museum of Ireland director Lynn Scarf will speak at this year’s Network of European Museum Organisations (NEMO) Annual Conference.

Taking place at the MUZA museum in Malta – this year’s European Capital of Culture – the 26th annual NEMO conference will run from 15-18 November. It will feature more than 150 participants, with representatives from European national museum organisations, museum experts and stakeholders from Europe's culture sector in attendance.

Among the events on tap, the European Commissioner for education, culture, multilingualism and youth, Tibor Navracisics, will participate in a discussion during the conference's opening session. Meanwhile, Marie Briguglio professor at the Department of Economics at the University of Malta, will deliver the opening keynote. There will also be a series of talks from guests, including Annemies Broekgaarden, head of the education department at Rijksmuseum Amsterdam.

The main point of focus for the conference will be the crossover impact of museums on society. Within the conference, NEMO will look to "show how much museums already demonstrate impact and value within their local communities", as well as promoting an "integrated, holistic and transversal approach to cultural heritage".

A focus on youth engagement will also pervade proceedings as this year’s conference will take place in the framework of the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018.

"NEMO, being a proud member of the EYCH2018 stakeholders committee, sees it as its core task to use this event to promote the Year to the European museum sector and involve, support and activate the museums across Europe," said NEMO in a statement.