Connecting to the World's Collections: Making the Case for the Conservation and Preservation of our Cultural Heritage 28 Oct - 01 Nov, 2009 (Session 466)

This session will bring together an international group of cultural leaders, conservation and preservation specialists who work with museums and libraries, representatives of conservation training institutions and associations as well as cultural policymakers to engage in an open exchange of views on optimizing collection conservation. Given the results of such research initiatives as the Heritage Health Index report in the United States, which was funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and found that artifacts in America's collections are at risk and in need of immediate attention, there is a clear need for a call to action on this issue, at least in some parts of the world. Participants will thus consider a series of questions: What are the greatest risks to our collections and what strategies can be implemented to manage them? How can sufficient resources be secured to assure - at the very least - minimal conservation standards? What needs to be done in the area of effective emergency preparedness planning? What challenges and opportunities are presented by new technologies and digitization? How can cultural heritage institutions make a better case for conservation to policy makers and private donors to secure the funding they need for proper collection care? How can museums and libraries connect people to their collections to garner the public support they need to make better conservation and preservation a priority and a reality?

This session is being convened in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services in Washington, D.C.

The fee for this session is 3,300 EURO. The fee covers the cost of the program, accommodations, and meals. Limited scholarship funding may be available for those who are unable to pay the full fee (i.e. from developing countries or NGOs). Participants seeking scholarship assistance must submit an application for financial aid to our admissions office.