Heritage Conservation and Social Engagement / / edited by Renata F. Peters, Iris L.F. den Boer, and 2 others.

• TeilnehmendeR: den Boer, Iris L. F.,; Peters, Renata F.,
• Place / Publishing House: London, England : : UCL Press,, 2020.
• Year of Publication: 2020
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (xiv, 183 pages)

Heritage Conservation and Social Engagement explores different kinds of engagement, participation, access, and creative use of resources motivated by the practice of conservation, and offers ethical and practical perspectives from which to approach cultural heritage projects. The chapters are structured around the themes of engagement and participation, with an emphasis on the value of cross-disciplinary collaborations and the adoption of more encompassing approaches to conservation decision-making. The authors explore the complexities of these collaborations, which are often influenced by the colonial baggage of museums and whose effectiveness vary according to context, objectives, methods and resources available. Given the variable nature of the factors involved, providing evidence for the beneficial impacts of engagement is not always a straightforward task. For a strong body of evidence to be formed, it is essential that conservators continue to create spaces to debate methods that may open new frontiers. Efforts to promote inclusion and engagement through museum collections and the broader heritage sector are becoming even more socially relevant, as in recent years we have observed a rise in intolerance towards minority groups in traditionally democratic societies. The heritage sector is responding strongly, however, as it has the tools to help fight prejudices that are invariably based on misinformation or manipulation of facts. This book joins these efforts, in the knowledge that nothing can be done without dialogue and engagement.

Table of Contents

Cover -- Half title Page -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of contents -- List of figures -- List of tables -- Notes on contributors -- Preface -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- Note -- 1 Conservation and engagement: transforming and being transformed Introduction Contemporary conservation Conservation and participation Implicit ideas of truth and neutrality Artist's intention Reversibility Minimum intervention Condition Visibility and neutrality Transforming and being transformed Action and reflection -- Conclusions -- Notes -- References -- 2 Conservation and collaboration: a discussion -- Introduction -- A brief history of conservation and Indigenous concerns Codes of ethics Changing priorities in conservation and museums in response to stakeholders Relationships between the conservation field as a whole and community stakeholders The preservation of heritage Collaboration in heritage preservation: three examples -- Conclusion -- Notes -- References -- 3 The role of conservation education in reconciliation: the example of the Iraqi Institute for the Conservation of Antiquities and Heritage Introduction The Iraqi Institute in context The Iraqi Institute The ideas behind the Iraqi Institute Educational programmes 2009-14 Year 1 (Introductory): Preventive Conservation for Archaeology and Museums Year 2 (Advanced): Laboratory Conservation for Archaeology and Museums Didactic method Formal curriculum review Developing the heritage preservation community in Iraq Education and reconciliation 2014-16 Nimrud Rescue Project, 2017 -- Conclusion and thoughts -- Acknowledgements -- Notes -- References -- 4 Community involvement in built heritage conservation: the case study of the Birzeit Historic Centre Project, Palestine Introduction Social dynamics in local development and the role of heritage conservation Benefits of community involvement on the sustainability of conservation State of the practice of community involvement in built heritage conservation Birzeit, Palestine: a case study and evaluation Description of the case study Evaluation Effectiveness Efficiency Relevance -- Impact -- Critical issues -- Notes References -- 5 Putting sustainability into practice: the use of locally available materials in conservation Introduction Standards in preventive conservation Responding to local needs: appropriate solutions for conservation Planning models for sustainability Standards in the real world: the use of non-specific conservation materials Developing a methodology for selecting locally accessible storage materials Cost-benefit analysis Re-evaluating testing techniques Response and review Keeping things in perspective -- Conclusions -- Acknowledgements -- Notes -- References.