MuseumNext has unveiled its lineup of speakers and events for its annual European conference, this year taking place across Dublin, Ireland.

Starting on Monday 18 April and concluding on Wednesday 20 April, the conference, which looks at the future of museums, is in its eighth edition.

The opening day highlights the city of Dublin, kicking off with an introductory talk on the National Gallery’s wide-ranging collection of works on paper.

In what is sure to be a highlight, BRC Imagination Arts’ Christian Lachel will be hosting a panel discussion with the brand home directors and curator/archivists from Irish Distillers and Guinness, with lessons on how these brands have shaped the public perception of Dublin and Ireland as a whole.

During the day there will be tours of the Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane, the Temple Bar Gallery + Studio and the Library and Archive Collections at the National Gallery of Ireland among others as delegates are given the opportunity to explore the culture on offer within Dublin.

Jenny Siung, head of education at Chester Beatty library will conclude the first day’s events at Dublin Castle with The Creative Museum – a talk on how can museums tap into the creativity of their communities and maker culture to face challenges and improve as institutions.

Day two moves to MuseumNext 2016’s home of Mansion House, with a talk from Susan Evans McClure kicking off the day. McClure, who is director of the Smithsonian Food History Programs at the National Museum of American History, will discuss why it is crucial for museums to define why millennial audiences are important to institutions and how to reach them.

Sessions through the day also include a talk on museums and community by Tate Modern’s Synthia Griffin and Science Gallery Dublin’s Lynn Scarff, while the recently-opened Museum of Tomorrow’s audience development director, Alexandre Fernandes, will discuss the project ahead of the upcoming Olympic Games in the museum’s home of Rio, Brazil.

Engagement and communications consultant Eleanor Appleby will conclude the day’s events before a specially-curated evening for MuseumNext delegates takes place at Science Gallery Dublin.

The final day of talks will start with In Conversation with David Fleming. Fleming, who is director of National Museums Liverpool, will be interviewed on-stage, speaking on his experiences in the field and discussing the future of the sector.

Michael John Gorman, CEO of Science Gallery International, will then discuss the challenges and opportunities of going global, and what it will mean for Science Gallery, which is planning additional galleries in London, Bengaluru and Melbourne.

MuseumNext will end in traditional Dublin style, with two connoisseurs of Dublin’s nightlife taking delegates to the best pubs in the city.

For more information on MuseumNext, click here.