Newsletter Issue Number:
AICCM National Newsletter No 150 June 2020
Author:
Jonathan Kemp

The Journal of the Institute of Conservation is seeking full articles and shorter notices for a special issue of the Journal to celebrate emerging conservators.

With current thinking dominated by themes such as resilience, containment and emergence, the Journal of the Institute of Conservation has made a call for submissions for a special issue entitled Emerging conservators, creative solutions, due for publication in October 2021.

Conservators’ contributions to cultural heritage are vital, but are affected by a global environment of change, resource constraints, and changing ideas of what heritage is and how we might look after it. This special issue of the Journal invites those emerging into the profession—including current students and recent graduates—to express their responses to the challenges of today and tomorrow, both intellectually and emotionally.

Themes for articles could include but are not limited to:

  • the key questions and challenges for the profession in the 21st century
  • if you could change something about the profession what would it be and what impact would you hope that to have?
  • in the face of contemporary economic, cultural and environmental concerns, do conservators need to be more ideological?
  • should access to cultural heritage be a legally enshrined human right, with preservation at its core?
  • should conservation do more to embrace those who are culturally disenfranchised? If so, how might we share conservation decision-making?
  • is advocacy for sustainability in the preservation of cultural heritage part of a conservator’s training and professional role?
  • are current environmental standards for preservation still appropriate and proportionate?
  • are there more sustainable and ethically sourced alternatives to some of the materials and infrastructure in current use?
  • how relevant are standards and codes of ethics in a rapidly changing world?
  • what models of co-operation—economic and social—might improve the profession?
  • how to serve a community which may be outside our own experience and knowledge.

All those directly and indirectly involved in the preservation of cultural heritage and who identify as emerging professionals are encouraged to contribute to this special issue. The Journal seeks to represent the diversity of views of those involved in the practice, theory, and politics of conservation and welcomes scholarly treatments, research and case studies that encompass themes relevant to the issue. We will support you to develop your article through the peer review process and

consideration will also be given to articles that take the form of a conversation or an opinion piece.

We invite potential authors to submit a short (100–250 word) Expression of Interest/synopsis for consideration by the Editorial Panel to journal@icon.org.uk by 30 June 2020 although later EOI submissions will also be considered.

https://icon.org.uk/news/call-for-submissions-for-a-special-issue-of-the-journal-of-the-institute-of-conservation

Dr Jonathan Kemp

Editor, Journal of the Institute of Conservation

https://icon.org.uk/what-is-conservation/publications/journal-of-the-institute-of-conservation-18