Call for Abstracts:
Young Professionals Forum
Emerging skills for heritage conservation
2 July 2020
DESCRIPTION
Young generations of professionals and researchers working in the field of Conservation of Cultural Heritage are apt to multidisciplinary methods, with a high technological and scientific content, as they are called to face a constantly evolving concept of heritage with important methodological implications.
The Young Professionals Forum offers a platform for sharing and exchange, to stimulate synergies among conservators, curators, art historians and scientists at an international level. The aims are to create networks which last in time, to value interdisciplinarity and single-professionals experiences in order to build a common vision.
The CCR - Centre for Conservation and Restoration “La Venaria Reale” is a unique context worldwide, located in the UNESCO structure of the Royal Palace of Venaria; it is equipped with state-of-the-art conservation studios where artworks from the major Italian and international institutions are studied and treated. Here, starting from 2006, the University of Turin has created one of the most complete and qualified degree courses for young restorers in Italy. The Young Professionals Forum is conceived as a recurring appointment taking place every two years, thought to create new synergies, share researches, experiences and ideas, and to exchange views with experts in the field. The Forum will consist of two days of presentations, moments of exchange, debates and networking, during which young professionals will have the chance to share and present their activities and researches, meeting established professionals, professors and researchers who will be involved in the different work sessions.
Given the extraordinary contingencies that we are experiencing, what was conceived, this year will not be feasible. However, the Centre considered it necessary to give a strong and clear message of hope and recovery by organizing an alternative event all digital and free that allows young professionals to get involved and create a community of young minds, core of the project.
SESSIONS
The digital format of Young Professionals Forum will be divided into 4 sessions, each of them dedicated to a theme considered crucial in the debate concerning conservation and transmission of Cultural Heritage. The different sessions, organised in cooperation with institutions of international significance, will include brief presentations which will be selected through this call.
Session 1- Conservation ethics and practice
The concept of “Cultural Heritage” is always broader and diversified: the theory and the professional ethics of conservation are therefore stimulated by new social and cultural contexts. A deep understanding of the nature of the artwork, of its values and meanings, generates questions regarding the purposes of conservation, the instruments which are available to us and the meaning of the profession. During a conservation treatment, themes such as reversibility and the opportunity of making an intervention recognizable, as well as the choice of how to present the artwork and the relation between “conservation” and “maintenance”, undergo frequent changes. The critical thought guiding the methodology and the technical applications chosen for the treatment are the themes of this session.
Session 2- Diagnostics and technologies applied to conservation
The development of scientific branches in the field of conservation produces evolving diagnostic plans. The need to further investigate the techniques, identify the materials and understand their behaviour is crucial for the protection of cultural heritage. This session aims to promote the adoption of innovative protocols in support of the conservation treatment and for conducting preventive conservation measures.
Session 3- Museum professions
The role of the conservator is based on the development of interdisciplinary skills: how can these be valued in professional practice and how can they contribute to the different fields of action such as management, conservation and dissemination of museum collections? The objective of this session is to identify consensus on the definition and to train professional figures in the field of conservation.
Session 4- History of conservation
The methods adopted in the past centuries to conduct conservative treatments on cultural heritage are the outcome of a specific culture and of different historical, geographical and cultural contexts. This session will collect studies and evidences that, starting from real case-studies, can represent the input for reflection and exchanges on how the conservative history of the artefact can influence the methodologies, which are currently used in different international contexts.
PROGRAMME
The Forum will last 1 day.
For the details click here.
WHO IS IT FOR?
The Forum has the aim of collecting/comparing experiences and studies made by young professionals or researchers who work in the field of conservation of Cultural Heritage. Particularly the present call is addressed to students who are about to graduate or have recently graduated, PhD students, researchers and professionals in the field of Cultural Heritage (conservators, restorers, art historians, architects, conservation scientists, registrars, etc.). The presented papers should illustrate case-studies, research projects in the humanistic/technical/scientific field, or conservation/fruition programmes in which the candidate has a prominent role.
APPLICATIONS
To take part to the Forum submit an abstract (consisting of no more than 700 words and 4 pictures - max 200 dpi) of your paper via Google Forms.
Download the abstract template here
Each candidate can submit one abstract indicating max. 2 sessions to which he/she intends to propose the paper.
All the submitted works must be original and unpublished.
The filling out procedure of the form requires uploading a video presentation of the candidate and almost one reference letter. The reference giver can be a professor/researcher/professional who has encouraged, collaborated or promoted the project of the young candidate (for instance a teacher, a university tutor, a curator, a conservator, a collector, a museum professional, etc.).
The abstracts and all the material produced must be in English.
- Deadline for the presentation of the abstract: 10th June 2020
- Notice of the selected abstracts: by 20th June 2020
At the end of the Forum, the selected authors will be asked to submit an article which will be published in the Young Professionals Forum proceedings in 2020.
The editorial guidelines and the information about the presentation will be communicated to the authors after the selection.
CRITERIA FOR THE SELECTION OF ABSTRACTS
The abstracts will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
1. Originality and innovative nature of the presented work;
2. Application to conservation practice;
3. Technical value;
4. Logical structure, good argumentation, clear writing style;
5. Proof of multidisciplinarity (i.e. conservation, science, history of art).
In case of abstracts obtaining the same score, priority of admission will be assessed by the Scientific Committee.
The Scientific Committee will be composed of:
Sara Abram - CCR, Organization and Development Director
Michela Cardinali - CCR, Conservation Laboratories Director and Head of the Advanced Training and Study School
Stefania De Blasi - CCR, Head of Documentation and Communication
Maria Beatrice Failla - UniTo, University of Turin, Associate Professor
Alberto Garlandini - ICOM, International Council of Museums, Vice President
Costanza Miliani - CNR, National Research Council of Italy, Director
Sarah Stannage - IIC, International Institute for Conservation, Executive Director
AWARDS
For each session, an award of 1,000 euros will be assigned by the Scientific Committee of the Forum to the most significant contributions in terms of content quality, originality, communication efficacy. Moreover, the preferences of the registered public will play a role in the evaluation. From 25th June to 30th June the registered public could vote his favourite abstract.
REGISTRATION
For this special edition of the Young Professionals Forum, participation is free, no fee is required for the registration.
INFORMATION
For further information, please write to: youproforum@centrorestaurovenaria.it