Conservation Ethics Today: Are our Conservation-Restoration Theories and Practice ready for the 21st Century?

The conference is focused on the relationships between theory and practice of conservation-restoration in the field of heritage preservation, considering the positions and developments of the 20th Century for the challenges of the 21th Century.

Particular attention is directed to architectural heritage, its surroundings and its fittings, such as architectural surfaces and wall paintings, stuccos, decorative elements in stone, majolica, ceramic etc. Contributes and discussions tackle with experience and perspectives of conservation-restoration especially in European heritage preservation. This is due to the conference’s involvement into the EYCH European Year of Cultural Heritage program 2018. A critical look from outside Europe is welcomed and expected to provide important input and fresh perceptions.

Ethics of conservation concern the issue of relationship between objects and actors, i.e. between our heritage and the professionals dealing with heritage preservation. Ethical principles as basis for developing appropriate methods and techniques of conservation-restoration are required. These applied ethics are closely connected with the professional ethics of conservator-restorers and of all other specialists involved in the preservation of architectural heritage. The conference will pay attention to improve interdisciplinary cooperation between conservator-restorers, architects, craftsmen, art historians, building archaeologists, conservation scientists and all others active in this field. With reference to every day practice, the debate will deal with the specific professional profiles and tasks of all these specialists and try to increase the quality of communication and co-operation.