Welcome to the WORKLAB General Conference 2026 |
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Theme: USE IT OR LOSE IT > Sustainable and Creative Use of Industrial and Labour Heritage – Sites and Buildings
The Technical Museum of Slovenia (TMS) is honored to host and organize the 2026 Worklab General Conference, taking place from 3–5 June 2026 in Ljubljana and Bistra. In professional collaboration with the Slovenian Museum Association, ICOMOS Slovenia, and TICCIH Slovenia, this year’s event addresses the urgent challenges and creative potentials of preserving industrial sites.
The conference addresses the “Use It or Lose It” dilemma: balancing strict conservation with the practical necessity of giving industrial sites a new life. Hosted in the historic setting of Bistra and the creative hub of Center Rog, this event serves as a platform to exchange innovative ideas on how to transform “silent” industrial monuments into vibrant spaces for future generations.
We welcome contributions from researchers, museum professionals, architects, and practitioners working with labour and industrial heritage. Topics include:
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1. Built Heritage of Labour and Industrial History: Preservation and reuse of industrial sites, worker housing, and factory workshops. Exploring the impact of gentrification on working-class neighbourhoods.
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2. Museum and Heritage Practices Beyond Museum Walls: Creative activities in public spaces, such as city walks, labour history tours, and community-based outreach projects.
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3. “Heritagization” of Labour History: Processes of transforming labour-related sites and landscapes into recognized heritage, including intangible traditions like collective protests and strikes.
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4. Digital Documentation and Sustainability: Innovative use of 3D scanning, surveying, and digital data for documenting and preserving industrial heritage.
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5. Museums and Industrial Heritage Sites in Historic Buildings: Sustainable, visitor-oriented uses of historic industrial buildings as museum spaces where the building itself is part of the experience.
Worklab is an international network of museums and institutions dedicated to the preservation, research, and presentation of the history of work, industrial heritage, and the labour movement. Our association connects experts from around the world who strive to ensure that the culture of work remains a living part of our shared heritage.
The primary mission of the Worklab organization is to foster cooperation among professionals dealing with the heritage of work and the working class. We believe that the history of work processes and the lives of workers (co)shape our present; therefore, we support:
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Knowledge Exchange: Connecting curators, historians, and researchers.
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Professional Development: Organizing conferences and workshops on contemporary museum challenges.
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Preserving Memory: Ensuring the collection and interpretation of both tangible and intangible work heritage.
Location: Center Rog, Ljubljana
Trubarjeva cesta 72, 1000 Ljubljana
| 17:00 | Welcome Reception & Opening Remarks Official welcome to the Worklab General Conference 2026. |
| 18:00 – 19:00 | Guided Tour: Center Rog Exploring the creative hub in a repurposed historic bicycle factory. |
| 19:00 – 20:30 | Industrial Heritage Walking Tour A guided walk through the industrial history of Ljubljana’s city centre. |
Location: Technical Museum of Slovenia, Bistra near Vrhnika
| 08:00 | Organized Transport to Bistra Departure from Ljubljana (Meeting point to be confirmed). |
| 08:30 – 09:00 | Registration & Morning Coffee |
| 09:00 – 10:00 | Official Opening & Keynote Speech Welcome notes and introduction to the conference theme. |
| 10:00 – 11:00 | Session I: Presentations |
| 11:00 – 11:30 | Coffee Break & Networking |
| 11:30 – 13:00 | Session II: Presentations |
| 13:00 – 14:30 | Networking Lunch Held at the museum premises. |
| 14:30 – 15:30 | Session III: Presentations |
| 15:30 – 16:00 | Afternoon Coffee Break |
| 16:00 – 17:30 | Guided Tour: Technical Museum of Slovenia A deep dive into Slovenia’s industrial and technical heritage. |
| 17:45 | Organized Transport to Ljubljana Estimated arrival at 18:15. |
Location: Faculty of Architecture, University of Ljubljana
Zoisova cesta 12, Ljubljana (A historic building designed by Jože Plečnik).
| 08:30 – 09:00 | Welcome Remarks & Keynote Speech Opening the final day of the conference. |
| 09:00 – 10:30 | Session IV: Presentations |
| 10:30 – 11:00 | Coffee Break & Networking |
| 11:00 – 12:30 | Session V: Presentations |
| 12:30 – 13:30 | General Discussion & Conclusions Closing ceremony and final remarks of Worklab 2026. |
Recommended Hotel: B&B Hotel Ljubljana Park
Location: Trubarjeva cesta 11, 1000 Ljubljana
Ideally situated in the city center, right across the street from the conference venue at Center Rog.
We are pleased to offer a special promotional rate for Worklab attendees.
Booking Instructions for Special Rate
Promotional Code: CONF26
Validity: The code is active for bookings between June 2nd and June 6th, 2026.
To book your room at the special rate, please follow these steps:
- Visit the hotel’s official website: B&B Hotel Ljubljana Park.
- Select your desired Arrival and Departure dates, and the number of persons.
- On the right side of the booking page, locate the field for the discount code. Enter CONF26 and make sure to select or check the box for CORPORATE CODE.
4. Select your preferred room type and complete your reservation.
Conference Registration
Registration for the Worklab General Conference 2026 is now OPEN. To register, please click the link below:
Online Registration Form: https://forms.gle/zGXchGd2va2mkuh27
Please note the important deadlines below to take advantage of the early registration benefits.
| Registration Type | Deadline | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Early Bird Registration | Until May 4, 2026 | No Fee / Free |
| Regular Registration | From May 5, 2026 onwards | 150€ |
What is included in the registration:
- Admission to all conference sessions and keynote speeches.
- Guided tours of Center Rog and the Technical Museum of Slovenia.
- Industrial Heritage Walking Tour of Ljubljana’s city centre.
- Organized transport from Ljubljana to Bistra and back (Day 2).
- Coffee breaks and networking lunches as per the programme.
Travel & Practical Info
To help you plan your trip and stay in our capital, we recommend exploring the official tourist portal Visit Ljubljana.
- How to get to Ljubljana: Detailed information on flights, train connections, and bus travel can be found here:
How to reach Ljubljana. - General Travel Information: For local transport (Urbana card), currency, climate, and other useful tips, please visit:
Useful Travel Information.
Quick Tip: Ljubljana is a very walkable city. Most conference venues and hotels in the center are within a 10-15 minute walk (except for the visit to Bistra on Day 2, for which organized transport will be provided). For longer distances, you can use the local “LPP” bus service or the city’s free Wi-Fi network.
