UNESCO’s exhibition, “The Submerged Memory”, dedicated to Chile’s underwater cultural heritage, has taken to the streets of Santiago through a widespread public awareness campaign. Hundreds of digital screens and bus stops across the Chilean capital now display striking visuals from the exhibition, aiming to highlight the rich underwater heritage of Chile and the urgent need for its protection.
A Collaborative Effort to Preserve Underwater Heritage
This initiative is a joint effort between UNESCO, the Research Centre in Maritime Archaeology of the Southeast Pacific (ARQMAR), and the Millennium Nucleus Ocean, Heritage, and Culture (OHC), in partnership with the outdoor advertising company JCDecaux. The photographic exhibition showcases stunning underwater explorations, offering a rare glimpse into Chile’s submerged archaeological treasures.
The project was promoted by UNESCO’s Secretariat of the 2001 Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage and implemented by ARQMAR and OHC, with funding from the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).
Raising Awareness and Encouraging Action
“The Submerged Memory” was first unveiled in October 2023 at Chile’s National Congress in Valparaíso, aiming to educate parliamentarians about UNESCO’s 2001 Convention on Underwater Cultural Heritage and encourage Chile to ratify the agreement, as the country has yet to do so.
From May to October 2024, the exhibition was hosted at the Natural History Museum of Valparaíso, attracting over 30,000 visitors. Now, in addition to its public display in Santiago, the exhibition is also available online, ensuring wider accessibility for anyone interested in learning more about this vital aspect of Chile’s cultural legacy.