International Conference: Between Material and Decision

Rīgas pieminekļu aģentūra, in collaboration with the Latvian Academy of Art and the Institute of Restoration and Material Research of the Latvian Academy of Art, will hold the international conference “Between Material and Decision: Research, Restoration and Preservation of Cultural Heritage” on 26 and 27 November. The conference will take place at the Latvian Academy of Art, Kalpaka Boulevard 13, building k-2. Working languages: Latvian and English.

The preservation of cultural heritage is closely linked to understanding the materials from which monuments, works of art and other historical objects are made. The ageing of materials is an inevitable process affected by environmental pollution, climatic conditions, storage environments, routine care and restoration methods used in the past. Preserving cultural heritage for future generations requires well-informed and carefully considered decisions.

The conference will focus on the preservation process as a whole—from studying materials and their history, and identifying and analysing processes of degradation, to selecting preservation strategies and planning and carrying out restoration work. Discussions will also address the preservation of authenticity, restoration ethics and professional decision-making.

The conference is envisioned as an interdisciplinary platform bringing together conservators, restorers, art and architectural historians, materials scientists, museum specialists and other professionals working in the field of cultural heritage.

Paper topics and abstracts (up to 4,000 characters) must be submitted by 25 October. Contact: Agnese Strautiņa, email: conference@lma.lv.