Welcome to the 20th ICOM-CC Triennial Conference

18-22 September 2023

València, Spain

Conference Theme

WORKING TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE PAST

Sustainability can be understood in many ways. We often think of it in ecological and economic terms, which are indeed relevant to our field and are already altering how we work. However, we must also consider sustainability from other vantage points, such as cultural sustainability, institutional sustainability, and even professional sustainability. In 2000, a satirical US journal warned that ‘We may be running out of past’. Well into the digital age two decades later, that warning should perhaps be taken more seriously. Is the past – and its material symbols – at risk of becoming an unsustainable commodity? If the past, and its manifestations and associated values, becomes less relevant to today’s society, what are the implications for those entrusted with caring for cultural heritage? And what are the consequences, if future generations are unaware of our shared past and unable to draw inspiration from it?

Join us as we explore these and other important issues, such as how conservation can become greener, more efficient and how it might remake itself to become a more sustainable undertaking all around. The 20th ICOM-CC Triennial Conference is a unique venue and opportunity for sharing and discussing ideas, findings and achievements on this crucial topic.

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The spirit of the Conference

Since March 2020 when the Universitat Politècnica de València of Valencia, Spain submitted its candidacy to host the 20th ICOM-CC Triennial Conference, the world has gone through major changes and events. The response to combatting and mitigating Covid-19 has altered our lives. While online meetings have dominated the past two years, we feel that good, old fashioned, direct contact is more effective when it comes to exchanging views and ideas, forging ties with colleagues and building links that will broaden the scope and quality of our professional network.

The 20th ICOM-CC Triennial Conference to be held in Valencia in September 2023 will be in-person. The Conference aims at being a big post-pandemic conservation event, where a large number of professionals from all over the world will get the chance to actually mingle safely together, share experiences and learn from others in the most efficient way there is: through first-person contact. The main theme of the Conference, sustainabilitity, is both fascinating and particularly timely. The fact that Valencia is such a beautiful, exciting, sustainable and culturally-active city is just the icing on the cake. We aim at making a truly memorable Conference: do not miss it.

The spirit of the Conference

Kate Seymour

ICOM-CC Chair

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ICOM-CC Message from the Chair

20th ICOM-CC Triennial Conference, September 2023

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the 20th ICOM-CC Triennial Conference. We will be hosted by our partners Universitat Politècnica de València in the stunning city of Valencia, Spain.

The 20th Triennial Conference of the International Council of Museums Committee for Conservation (ICOM-CC), will attract around 160 international speakers and about 900 delegates, including conservators, scientists, historians and art historians, curators, librarians, archivists, students, collection manages and directors from the world’s leading cultural heritage institutions and the private sector.

We look forward to welcoming you to Valencia, where we will discuss current issues in conservation, collection care and related museum management. Our conference will cover a broad range of topics that are the focus of our twenty Working Groups, including sustainability from many vantage points. This will be an exciting chance to meet and debate in-person in a beautiful campus surrounding and in a city full of amazing collections.

Sincerely