Conservators’ contributions to cultural heritage are vital, but are affected by a global environment of change, resource constraints, and changing ideas of what heritage is and how we might look after it. This special issue of the journal invites those emerging into the profession - including current students and recent graduates – to express their responses to the challenges of today and tomorrow, both intellectually and emotionally.
Themes for articles could include but are not limited to:
- serving a broad community which may be outside our own experience and knowledge
- the key questions and challenges for the profession in the 21st century
- if you could change something about the conservation profession what would it be and what impact would you hope that to have?
- in the face of contemporary economic, cultural and environmental concerns, do conservators need to be more ideological?
- should access to cultural heritage be a legally enshrined human right, with preservation at its core?
- should conservation do more to embrace those who are culturally disenfranchised? If so how might we share conservation decision-making?
- is advocacy for sustainability in the preservation of cultural heritage part of a conservator's training and professional role?
- are current environmental standards for preservation still appropriate and proportionate?
- are there more sustainable and ethically sourced alternatives to some of the materials and infrastructure in current use?
- should conservation be more partisan, declaring why at this moment preserving this part of cultural heritage is of value to this particular culture?
- how relevant are standards and codes of ethics in a rapidly changing world?
- what models of co-operation - economic and social - might improve the profession?
All those directly and indirectly involved in the preservation of cultural heritage and who identify as emerging professionals are encouraged to contribute to this special issue of the Journal. The Journal. seeks to represent the diversity of views of those involved in the practice, theory, and politics of conservation and welcomes scholarly treatments, research and case studies that encompass themes relevant to the special issue. We will support you to develop your article through the peer review process.
Consideration will also be given to articles that take the form of a conversation or an opinion piece.
Potential authors are invited to submit a short (100-250 word) Expression of Interest/synopsis for consideration by the Editorial Panel to [email protected] by 30th June 2020.
