Conference design by ingeousstudios.com

CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS

More than Materials: Collaborative Approaches in Cultural Heritage Conservation

Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Material (AICCM)


National Conference
State Library of Queensland, Kurilpa (South Brisbane)
12-14 November 2025


Conference Overview

The 2025 AICCM National Conference will take place at Kurilpa (South Brisbane) on the unceded lands of the Turrbal and Yuggera/Jagera peoples who we acknowledge as the Original Custodians of this Country. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. We recognise First Nations enduring connection to lands, waters, culture, and community and extend that respect to all First Nations peoples.

Cultural heritage conservation is a complex field that involves many diverse communities. It is built on material expertise, context and the relationships that shape our work. Whether we analyse pigments, stabilise historic textiles, design exhibition displays, or work directly with communities to safeguard living traditions, we recognise that cultural materials are deeply connected to people, place, and knowledge systems.

As AICCM continues to learn and grow in its cultural responsibilities, this conference is an opportunity to bring together all aspects of our work – scientific, material, ethical, cultural and relational. It marks an important step in strengthening relationships with First Nations and all communities to embed cultural perspectives and build stronger, more culturally informed conservation practices together.

This event is being developed in collaboration with First Nations partners, including the Indigenous Art Centre Alliance Queensland (IACA) and Caroline Martin of Yalukit Marnang Consultancy. We are committed to creating space for respectful dialogue, community-led contributions, and shared learning. The conference will comprise a three-day hybrid event with presentations, PowerPoint Poster sessions, panel discussions, tours and events.

Call for Presentations and PowerPoint Posters

Proposals for conference presentations are now open and are due 16 May 2025. We invite proposals from members and colleagues across diverse conservation interests which contribute to the themes of this meeting.

Community-Led Approaches in Conservation

Collaborative methods that bring communities and professionals together:

  • Engaging communities in heritage decision-making
  • Bringing together old and new ways of knowing: from benchwork to policymaking
  • Ethical considerations in conservation interventions
  • Learning from collaborations with museum professionals, artists, and curators
Relational Responsibility in Conservation

Integrating knowledge, ethics, and cultural responsibility in conservation:

  • Building trust and relationships with First Nation communities
  • Respecting Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) in all conservation practices
  • Innovations which support First Nations communities in Galleries, Libraries, Archives, Museums, Community preservation, exhibition and collection management practices
  • Aligning conservation efforts with cultural continuation and shared heritage values
  • Addressing unconscious bias in conservation work
  • Strategies for valuing and recognizing diverse cultural perspectives
Material Knowledge & Technical Innovations in Conservation

Advancing our understanding of materials to improve conservation practice:

  • How material knowledge informs conservation decision-making
  • Integrating emerging technologies with traditional methods
  • Exploring scientific analysis and materials research
  • Innovations in treatment methodologies, preventive conservation and exhibitions
  • Mould and disaster response strategies
  • Responding practically to environmental, economic, social and cultural shifts in conservation practice

Submit your proposal by 16 May 2025 by email to:
secretariat@aiccm.org.au.

Presenters will be notified by the end of June 2025.

Papers & Presentations will be scheduled for approximately 15 minutes, followed by time for questions. There will be no hard copy posters, but instead we are inviting submissions for PowerPoint Posters – a three-slide PowerPoint presentation to be displayed as a slide show. These will also be available on the AICCM website. Three-minute poster pitch sessions will be scheduled in the auditorium as part of the conference programme if you wish to present your poster.

For any enquiries, please contact the secretariat

2025 AICCM CONFERENCE SUBMISSION TEMPLATE

  1. Type of Presentation or PowerPoint Poster:

    Is this a spoken Paper, PowerPoint Poster, or an idea for another type of presentation such as a panel discussion, performance or audio-visual/film.

  2. Title of Presentation or PowerPoint Poster:
  3. Author/s:
  4. Main author/speaker: (for correspondence)

    A brief biography/introduction to who you are:
    Where you work/affiliations:
    AICCM membership status:

  5. Contact email address:
  6. Abstract (250 words):

    Describe your topic, your principal findings and achievements, and summarise your points of discussion. Note that all presentations must respect Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) rights. Resources and guidelines can be provided through AICCM to support this.

  7. Email submission to: the secretariat by 16 May 2025

Call for Presentations: More than Materials

The Conference Committee is dedicated to creating a respectful, inclusive, and impactful event, guided by the following commitments:

  • Safe and Inclusive Environment: We are committed to ensuring a safe, supportive, and welcoming space for all participants. Any issues of discomfort will be addressed promptly and effectively.
  • Encouraging Non-First Nations Engagement: We encourage non-First Nations participants to engage and take initiative in discussions, sharing responsibility in addressing complex topics.
  • Respect for Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) rights: This includes appropriate attribution permissions, and adherence to protocols defined by communities. Resources and guidelines will be provided to support this.
  • Commitment to Continuous Learning: We are dedicated to ongoing education on cultural sensitivity, offering resources and sessions to deepen understanding of First Nations cultures and histories.
  • Transparent and Open Communication: We will maintain open communication with all attendees, clearly outlining our goals and commitments, and actively seek feedback to improve the conference experience.

The bespoke AICCM Conference design was created by the indigenous creative design and digital agency ingeous studios. It tells the story about connections of the AICCM with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities through inclusion, knowledge sharing and understanding within its work across cultural heritage conservation.

The stylised design represents the cultural institutions and communities which the AICCM works with to conserve and present cultural objects of significance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the country.