Seven decades of cooperation between Romania and UNESCO were celebrated on Monday, September 28, at the Bucharest National Opera, during the UNESCO 70 – ROMANIA GALA, organized by the National Commission of Romania for UNESCO under the High Patronage of the President of Romania.

The Gala was the main event of the anniversary program “UNESCO 70 Romania – Celebrating the Past, Building the Future Together”. It brought together representatives of public institutions, the diplomatic, academic and cultural communities, public figures, members of Romania’s UNESCO community, and partners of the National Commission.

Through music, film, contemporary art, exhibitions, and moments dedicated to education, science and heritage, the event celebrated Romania’s journey within UNESCO and highlighted the themes at the heart of the Organization’s mission: education, culture, science, dialogue and cooperation for peace.

The anniversary offered both an opportunity to reflect on Romania’s contribution to multilateral cooperation within UNESCO and a chance to reaffirm the values of the Organization.

“In July 1956, Romania became a Member State of UNESCO. Seventy years later, we come together not simply to mark a date in the calendar, but to celebrate a lasting choice: the belief that peace is built in the minds of people through education, science, culture and communication. We are marking these seven decades at a time when Romania has an increasingly strong presence within UNESCO, but also when multilateral cooperation is being tested. This is precisely why it is so important to reaffirm these values together during this anniversary year,” said Ligia Deca, Secretary General of the National Commission of Romania for UNESCO.

The official messages delivered during the Gala emphasized UNESCO’s importance as a platform for cooperation and dialogue, as well as Romania’s contribution to the Organization’s agenda.

A message from the President of Romania, Nicușor Dan, was delivered during the Gala by Valentin-Sorin Costreie, Presidential Adviser for Education and Research. The President highlighted the priorities for the next stage of Romania’s cooperation with UNESCO:

“Beyond the prestige of our internationally recognized sites and traditions, UNESCO is, above all, about responsibility. It means taking concrete action. It means our duty to provide young people with an education system that prepares them for a changing world. It means protecting heritage from climate change and today’s crises, having the courage to invest more in science and knowledge, and defending cultural diversity and freedom of expression without compromise. For this reason, 70 years of cooperation are not simply a moment to look back, but a starting point for a new stage.”

Minister of Foreign Affairs Oana Țoiu highlighted Romania’s role within UNESCO:

“Today, UNESCO’s role as a platform for cooperation and a space for dialogue is more relevant than ever. Romania has a strong voice in this dialogue. For the first time, through Ambassador Simona-Mirela Miculescu, Romania held the Presidency of the UNESCO General Conference from 2023 to 2025, and we continue to serve as a full member of the Executive Board. These responsibilities reflect the trust placed in us by the international community and our contribution to a more ambitious global agenda in education, science and culture.”

Minister of Education and Research Mihai Dimian spoke about the role of education in a rapidly changing world, including the impact of technological development and artificial intelligence:

“In a world where information moves faster than ever, where technology is changing professions and ways of learning, and where artificial intelligence is forcing us to rethink what knowledge means, education is not becoming less important, but more important. Education also gives us confidence that we can leave behind something better than what we inherited. This is why the UNESCO 70 anniversary is also an invitation to all of us to look to the future with responsibility.”

Minister of Culture Demeter András highlighted Romania’s contribution to the world’s natural, scientific and cultural heritage, as well as the responsibilities that come with UNESCO membership:

“Today we celebrate seventy years since Romania took on this responsibility by joining UNESCO. Seventy years in which Romania has had a visible and active presence as a Member State and has made a substantial contribution to the world’s natural, scientific and cultural heritage. For seven decades, Romania has contributed important values to the heritage of humanity, participated in educational and scientific research networks, and served as an international bridge through cultural diplomacy.”

Romania’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Simona-Mirela Miculescu, highlighted Romania’s contribution to strengthening UNESCO during its Presidency of the General Conference:

“I am proud that one of the main legacies of the Romanian Presidency was helping transform UNESCO’s archives from silent witnesses of history into a body of knowledge accessible to the world, by mobilizing a major financial contribution from one of UNESCO’s Member States for the digitization of this universal memory. We wanted UNESCO’s past to be able to speak to the future.”

In a video message delivered for the UNESCO 70 Gala, Khaled El-Enany, Director-General of UNESCO, said:

“As we celebrate these 70 years, let us look to the future together, placing younger generations at the heart of our cooperation.”

The Gala program brought together artistic performances and projects reflecting UNESCO’s values.

The Romanian Youth Orchestra, conducted by Constantin Grigore and joined by soprano Mihaela Hotea and tenor Andrei Mihalcea, provided the main cultural performance of the evening. The selected repertoire and the artists’ performances offered the audience an exceptional musical experience and were warmly received. The artistic program was presented by Artexim, co-organizer of the event.

The audience also watched the film “When Music Becomes a Language of Peace”, produced by Romanian Television, a partner of the National Commission of Romania for UNESCO. In 2026, both institutions mark seven decades of activity, offering a symbolic opportunity to celebrate the continuity of a partnership dedicated to culture, education and the promotion of UNESCO values.

The heritage dimension of the Gala was represented by the launch of the philatelic issue “Romania – Where Tradition Inspires the Future”, produced by Romfilatelia, and by the opening of the contemporary art exhibition “Măiastra”, created by Relu and Marijana Bițulescu and inspired by the work of Constantin Brâncuși.

Education and science were highlighted through the exhibition “A Bridge Between Generations – 70 Years of Education and Science”, developed together with UNESCO schools, centers and chairs in Romania, as well as through screenings of the documentaries “Journey through Geoparks” and “UNESCO Romania 70.”

The films and exhibitions featured in the anniversary program can also be viewed and explored on the website of the National Commission of Romania for UNESCO, giving the public an opportunity to rediscover the projects and events dedicated to 70 years of cooperation between Romania and UNESCO.

The UNESCO 70 – ROMANIA GALA was made possible through a broad institutional partnership.

The National Commission of Romania for UNESCO thanks the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Research, the Ministry of Culture, Artexim, the Bucharest National Opera, Romanian Television and Romanian Radio Broadcasting Company, as co-organizers, for their contribution to the event.

The Commission also thanks its partners, Hermann Oberth German School, Romfilatelia and Valvis Holding Distributions S.R.L., as well as its media partners: Radio România Muzical, TVR CULTURAL, Radio France Internationale (RFI), the Union of Professional Journalists of Romania (UZPR), and AGERPRES.

“Celebrating the Past, Building the Future Together” remains the message that defines the 70th anniversary of cooperation between Romania and UNESCO, connecting the legacy built over the decades with our responsibility toward future generations. (Iulia Jugănaru, project coordinator for the National Commission of Romania for UNESCO)