Chairs/Organizers: Cecilia Winter, Ellen Pearlstein, Thiago Sevilhano Puglieri, Marie Desrochers
In recent decades, museums have transformed significantly
by embracing intangible aspects and enhancing community involvement. This shift
is a departure from traditional practices that solely focused on tangible
artifacts, favoring a more comprehensive approach to cultural heritage. Within
curatorial and educational departments, there's a growing emphasis on community
engagement to challenge prevailing narratives, amplify marginalized voices, and
build collaborative partnerships with historically misrepresented or excluded
However, this dialogue
has been less extensive in Conservation, Collection Care, and Conservation
Science. The preservation of tangible artifacts still heavily relies on Western
frameworks, perpetuating colonial legacies and reinforcing power imbalances.
Urgent action is needed to develop inclusive strategies that respect diverse
knowledge systems, involve local communities, and prioritize community agency and self-determination of the communities from which the
Adopting non-traditional knowledge sharing and conservation
training methods can address these gaps in cultural heritage preservation.
Traditional conservation knowledge often restricts access to those with formal
training, perpetuating exclusivity. Alternative approaches like
training-the-trainer models, microcredentials, field services, and professional
development opportunities empower communities and collection stewards to
sustainably care for their heritage in culturally appropriate ways. Community-focused
conservation can bolster cultural and environmental resilience in a changing
This panel seeks to explore how Conservation, Collection
Care, and Conservation Science can engage respectfully with communities. It
aims to evaluate conservation practices, collection care procedures, and
analytical techniques considering intangible values and communicate technical
findings inclusively. Additionally, innovative models of knowledge sharing and
conservation training will be discussed, emphasizing community empowerment in
preserving their cultural heritage.
This joint session combines the previous sessions "Embracing Tangible Dimensions" and "Sharing Knowledge and Empowering Communities."