Conferences
Rome Conference: “Beyond Brandi: 60 years after the Teoria del Restauro“.
On the 22 May, Rome, Italy.
On the 22nd of May 2023, at the auditorium of the Ara Pacis, Via Ripetta 190, Rome, from 9:00 to 16:30 the international conference “Beyond Brandi: 60 years after the Teoria del Restauro” was held. In the occasion of the General Assembly of E.C.C.O. – European Confederation of Conservators-restorers’ Organizations, – sixty years after the publication of the first edition of Cesare Brandi’s Theory of Restoration, the founding work of the “critical restoration”, ARI -Associazione Restauratori d’Italia – in collaboration with CHARTER– Cultural Heritage Skills Alliance – invites to reflect on the role of conservation-restoration in reference to the changed historical and social context.
Since 1963 much has changed, from the vocabulary to define the object of intervention, to the actual operational activity increasingly understood as an interactive process and not as an exclusive final act.
The profession of the conservator-restorer has been totally renewed through specific study courses, just as the legislation has evolved pursuing the objective of guaranteeing the protection and conservation of heritage.
The access to cultural heritage has been recognised as a universal right and the FARO Convention identifies it as a fundamental element for sustainable development, postulating community participation in the decision-making processes regarding heritage.
We are assisting a process of “democratization” of heritage transforming the idea of cultural goods as an expert domain into the concept of cultural heritage as a fundamental element of collective wellbeing.
In this cultural, social and regulatory backdrop of a system aimed not only at the protection but also at valorization, promotion and broad, interactive and participatory enjoyment of Europe’s cultural heritage, the question arises:
- Between the preservation of historical memory and its future transmission, how can the process of conservation and restoration foster the encounter between generations?
- What economic value can conservation in all its forms – preventive + remedial conservation, restoration and maintenance – generate in local communities? What new skills are required to maximize it?
- From theory to practice, what are the changes in “doing conservation-restoration”? How has the evolution of the theoretical premises modified the sector’s operational responses? (case studies)
These three themes were the focus of the day together with other aspects of sustainability like lifelong learning, social equity, legislation, with contributions of international and Italian experts and round table discussions.
“Ensuring high quality in safeguarding Cultural Heritage - The vital importance of protecting the title and regulating the professions of Conservation-restoration in Europe”
It is with great joy we share with you a collection of articles prepared by the national associations of E.C.C.O. on the topic “Ensuring high quality in safeguarding Cultural Heritage - The vital importance of protecting the title and regulating the professions of Conservation-restoration in Europe”. The publication contains the papers of E.C.C.O. national member associations that attended the presidents’ meeting and conference held in Athens by A.C.A.W.A.-Gr in May 2022.
This publication reflects the current educational level, legal context, and working environment of conservator-restorers across Europe experienced at the national level by our members.
Please find the publication in the following link https://eproceedings.epublishing.ekt.gr/index.php/SSAETTE
Some of the text is in Greek. You can click on PDF for the full text under the mention (Πλήρες τεύχος).
Or you can download from the list of individual articles.
Cherishing Heritage - Quality principles for intervention on cultural heritage
E.C.C.O.'s President Susan Corr was in Venice to speak in Panel 3 "Drivers of Quality", at the conference "Cherishing Heritage - Quality principles for intervention on cultural heritage" in Venice the 22nd and 23rd November 2019.
This version of the document "European quality principles for EU-funded interventions with potential impact upon cultural heritage" results from the discussions at the Venice conference in November 2018.
This document stems from the work of an expert group assembled by the ICOMOS, under the mandate of the European Commission and in the framework of the flagship EU Initiative of the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018, “Cherishing heritage: developing quality standards for EU-funded projects that have the potential to impact on cultural heritage”.
The main objective of the document is to provide guidance on quality principles for all stakeholders directly or indirectly engaged in EU-funded heritage conservation and management (i.e. European institutions, managing authorities, international organisations, civil society and local communities, private sector, and experts).