Dialogues for the New Century

Dialogues for the New Century

Events and discussions addressing the conservation of cultural heritage in a changing world.
The IIC regularly initiates presentations and dialogues that explore emerging issues in the modern world and the relationship of those issues to the preservation of cultural heritage. These events are also offered to raise awareness of heritage conservation among relevant professions and the public sector. Each event benefits from a variety of expertise, in a broad spectrum of disciplines, contributing unique perspectives on a specific topic. The events are open to all but also targeted to create productive collaborations among a variety of stakeholders. Edited transcripts can be found below for each event.

Do you have ideas for new events in this series?

We are always looking for new themes, ideas and speakers in the Dialogues for the New Century initiative. If you would like to see an idea or topic explored please let us know. Contact IIC over here.

Project Lingua

Translations of the transcripts from each these events are now available in a growing number of languages through the IIC project Lingua.
Join the LINGUAS!
Dialogues for the New Century provides thought provoking, valuable and pertinent information to the preservation field and IIC wants to be sure this resource is as available to as many colleagues across the world as possible. If you are fluent in a language other than English consider joining Project Lingua. Professionals from many countries across the globe are volunteering their time and skills to translate event transcriptions into the world’s diverse languages. And we always need more help! Become a LINGUA… make a difference! Contact IIC, get involved and GetConnected!

Rising Tide/Melting Ice: The preservation of world archaeological heritage in a time of climate change - an on-line dialogue

Rising tide cover

Global weather patterns are changing and with these changes come significant threats to the preservation of world archaeological heritage. An increasing number of coastal sites are vulnerable to inundation and ruin by rising sea levels. And as temperatures rise in some parts of the world those archaeological remains which have laid frozen in the permafrost, in a state of spectacular preservation, are beginning to thaw and rot.

18 Jan 2012
London

Under Lock and Key? Collection readiness and response in times of conflict

Under lock and key cover

Recent events around the world have once again focused attention on the vulnerability of heritage sites and collections during times of conflict and unrest. IIC has asked five international colleagues to comment on the need to both plan and implement measures which assure the safety of cultural heritage.

10 Feb 2011 to 15 Mar 2011

Between Home and History: Managing the interface between preservation and development of living historic places

Between home and history cover

At the IIC congress in Istanbul the last event in the IIC initiative Dialogues for the New Century explored the conflicts that emerge when pressures of development, gentrification or regeneration challenge our desire to preserve places of historic value that are also home to living communities.

21 Sep 2010

The Plus/Minus Dilemma: The Way Forward in Environmental Guidelines

Plus/Minus cover

For over four decades the environmental guidelines for museums and archives have been defined within narrow parameters. While many factors influenced what became standards, the narrowest range of conditions and the greatest insistence on them, came when energy was relatively cheap, global climate considerations were not yet mainstream discussions, and the technology of HVAC systems was focused more on control than efficiency.

13 May 2010

Conservation in Crisis

Conservation in crisis cover

A discussion between Anna Somers Cocks, Founder and Editorial Director of The Art Newspaper and Samuel Jones of DEMOS and co-author of It's A Material World: Caring for the Public Realm, on the looming crisis in the field of conservation.

28 Jan 2010

Before the Unthinkable Happens Again

Before the unthinkable cover

An international roundtable discussion on the need for seismic mitigation research and applications for cultural heritage.

22 Jul 2009

Climate Change and Museum Collections

Climate change cover image

The changing climate of our earth has implications that go well beyond the dramatic effects of storms and rising sea levels, shifts in migratory patterns and habitats, or the potential for increased health risks from pollutants. Weather patterns and temperature variations also affect the long term preservation of the world’s cultural treasures which we enjoy and which inspire us every day.

17 Sep 2008