Call for papers – Conservation Philosophies: Global or Local?

We are pleased to invite you to consider contributing to our 2010 conference which we will be running in collaboration with the University of York on  the crucial theme of Conservation Philosophies. 

A three day conference jointly organised by the Centre for Conservation Studies, University of York and ICOMOS-UK
3-5 June 2010, King’s Manor, York, UK

 Is there such a thing as a global conservation philosophy for cultural heritage? Should there be? Or should cultural heritage conservation reflect cultural diversity? The Conference will consider these thoughts through exploring conjunctions and differences between conservation philosophies and principles in UK, India and China. 

Agra Fort, India, photo: M & G Therin-Weise

These aspirations were translated into an Australian national framework by the Burra Charter, the Australian National Charter, 1979. The idea of universality was strengthened by the 1972 World Heritage Convention with its concept of outstanding universal value for properties that might be seen part of the ‘world heritage of mankind as a whole’, which thus translated universal ideas to places perceived to be of universal value. 

In recent years the China Principles, 2002, and the INTACH Charter for the Conservation of Unprotected Architectural Heritage and Sites in India, 2004, have developed conservation guidance related to specific cultural traditions. Do these still somehow reflect the idea of an over-arching conservation philosophy that can be seen to be global? Or are they stand alone documents whose similarities merely reflect the interchange of ideas between east and west? 

The Conference will consider these thoughts through exploring conjunctions and differences between conservation philosophies and principles in UK, India and China. Contributions on the following themes are welcomed:

• Are coincidences in conservation ideas between east and west the result of direct contact and exchange of ideas between conservation professionals in the 19th and 20th centuries?

• Are coincidences of outcome influenced more by changing overarching philosophies – the westernisation of the east (colonialism) and the easternisation of the west?

• Is there an over-arching conservation philosophy which brings east and west together at a global level and within which regional and national principles, policies and practice can be developed, or are there fundamental dichotomies and irreconcilable differences?

• At a practical level, is there potential for international agreement on methods of, and standards for,conservation interventions at cultural heritage sites? 

Abstracts for proposed papers (15 minutes) on these themes will be accepted until Friday 5th March 2010

York Minster, UK

Instructions for Submitting an Abstract (please read carefully) 

• Abstracts must be received in ICOMOS-UK by 5th March 2010

• Text of 300-500 words in English

• The page with the abstracts must contain AT THE TOP the title of the proposed paper, the name of the author(s), and contact information (institutional affiliation, mailing address, phone number and email address)

• A committee from ICOMOS-UK and the University of York will evaluate all abstracts. Authors selected for paper presentations will be notified by 22th March 2010. Final written and electronic papers must be received by ICOMOS-UK by 3rd May.

• ICOMOS-UK will accept electronic (Microsoft Word or Adobe pdf files only) abstracts sent by email to camillamassara@icomos-uk.org

• For specific queries on the themes please contact:

Navin Piplani, Director, Centre for Conservation Studies, University of York: np515@york.ac.uk

Camilla Massara, Events Co-ordinator, ICOMOS-UK: camillamassara@icomos-uk.org

 

Indian Strings and Dances

All exhibition films are now available to watch on: http://www.youtube.com/user/RolfKillius

Rolf Killius

The Sutton Subrang Dance Ensemble, Photo: Rolf Killius

The Museum of Croydon and the London Sitar Ensemble hosted a major exhibition in the Croydon NOW gallery of the Museum of Croydon, and other public display areas at Croydon Clocktower, from April to July 2009. The exhibition showcased the outputs of the ‘String and Dance Festival’ Project which was run by London Sitar Ensemble. The core exhibition comprised of oral history interviews (video), musical instruments and associated objects from the Community Groups involved and other donors (potentially the Horniman Museum), photographs and videos showing musical performances and dances from the Indian Sub-Continent as performed in the UK, costumes and associated musical instruments of all eight classical Indian dances and three folk dance genres from western India. Within the musical instruments display the emphasis was on string instruments like the sitar, sarangi, violin, veena, sarod, santoor and the supporting instruments like drums and cymbals.

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Heritage and the Olympics

The 11th Cambridge Heritage Seminar
April 24th 2010

CALL FOR PAPERS

The 11th Cambridge Heritage conference seeks to examine the Olympics as a global and a local phenomenon affecting heritage by addressing two themes:  (1) the Olympics as heritage and (2) the impact of the Olympics on cultural heritage. Every four years the Olympics goes beyond just being a sporting event, offering a local and a global stage where countries can promote and showcase themselves to the world.  Cultural heritage is intimately entangled in the games, both in terms of the Olympics as historic, but also in how the event impacts the cultural heritage of the host country.

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Planning and World Heritage

  • Wednesday 24 February 2010 – Museum of Iron, Coalbrookdale, Telford
  • Tuesday 2 March 2010 – Civic Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne

A 1-day event aimed at people involved in the planning system within World Heritage Sites, including Planners, Conservation Officers, WHS Co-ordinators and Councillors.

The event, which is being held at two alternative venues, has been organised jointly by the Local Authority World Heritage Forum (LAWHF), English Heritage and ICOMOS-UK.

The Telford event will be chaired by Gillian Clarke, Secretary of LAWHF and the Newcastle upon Tyne event by Susan Denyer, Secretary of ICOMOS-UK.

For more information please e-mail jbl.telshrops@blueyonder.co.uk or telephone Jonathan Lloyd on 01952 587615

Download the programme and booking form