Empowering Local Voices: IIC Virtual Hubs Champion Community-Led Conservation and Diverse Knowledge Integration

By Marina Herriges, Editor for Reframing Conservation Through Sustainability

The IIC Lima Congress 2024 provided a fantastic opportunity for in-person discussions while also engaging with diverse regions across the globe through the IIC Virtual Hubs. These sessions showcased the challenges, innovations, and ongoing efforts to make conservation practices more inclusive, sustainable, and culturally sensitive. A key theme throughout was the importance of decolonizing conservation, especially within African museums and heritage sites. Colonial legacies have often imposed foreign methodologies that are disconnected from traditional conservation practices, a reality in many areas of the global south. By emphasizing local expertise and 

culturally relevant approaches, the IIC Virtual Hubs called for a shift towards empowering communities to lead their own conservation efforts, integrating indigenous knowledge, and adapting training programs to fit regional needs. The discussions also touched on broader issues, including sustainable environmental management in museums, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the adoption of innovative conservation technologies. Below is a summary of the discussions across the different hubs, each highlighting their unique challenges and progress towards sustainable solutions. 

IIC Europe Virtual Hub

Led by Lisa Swedberg, Zoe Gkinini FIIC, Lee Bilson FIIC, and Digital Engagement Volunteers (DEVs) Tatiana Valderrama Gutierrez and Jelena Zagora, the Europe Virtual Hub kicked off the online programme on September 23. The Hub offered a platform for discussions on sustainability in museums, particularly focusing on climate control and reducing carbon footprints. Tatiana emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to achieve these goals. Sonia Bujok, co-author of Reconsidering museums’ climate and seasonal adjustment for brittle materials, shared her experience of translating complex scientific concepts into practical conservation knowledge, stressing the need for conservators and scientists to collaborate effectively.

Zoe Gkinini highlighted that all the papers presented were interconnected and supported an interdisciplinary approach, stressing that collaboration between conservators and professionals from other fields is key to advancing sustainability in conservation. Jane Henderson, co-author of Dissociation and loss: A challenge for sustainable conservation, spoke about how conservation training influences decision-making, emphasizing ethical considerations in the profession. She noted that conservation is increasingly driven by societal values, urging conservators to consider the broader impacts of their work.

The conversation also addressed the challenges in museum environmental systems. Robert Pearce explained how the air handling systems, originally designed for comfort, led to temperature and humidity fluctuations that negatively impacted storage conditions at the National Museum Cardiff. The discussion explored how improvements could balance energy 

efficiency and conservation needs, highlighting the need for careful adjustments in future systems to support both comfort and conservation requirements.

IIC Asia-Pacific Virtual Hub

The Asia-Pacific Virtual Hub was co-chaired by Karma Yeshey, Sanira Gani, and Sreekumar Menon FIIC with Sarai Eli Landa Rojas and Namrata Patel as DEVs. The first topic focused on the cultural sensitivity of handling ritual objects in museums. Richard Mulholland from Northumbria University shared his institution's approach to a Tibetan ritual object collection, which had been acquired privately and not through typical museum processes. Due to the sensitivity surrounding repatriation and decolonization, the university developed a unique policy, opting to temporarily accept the collection and engage with stakeholders to ensure respect for its cultural significance.

The conversation then moved to the conservation of photographs, especially in areas with limited resources in hot and humid climates. Bertrand Lavéndrine highlighted energy-efficient methods such as using sealed storage cabinets to maintain proper humidity without relying on continuous power. 

The discussion continued, focusing on murals and painted surfaces with Moupi Mukhopadhyay, one of the authors of the paper, Improving Sustainability for the Conservation of the Eravimangalam Subramanyaswamy Temple: Virtual Reconstruction and Greener Formulations as a Means of Involving the Community, discussing non-organic binders used in murals, which minimize the risk of paint removal. For the authors, there is significant importance in having professional conservators work in situ with local communities contributing to treating unpainted surfaces. The hub also discussed future conservation projects aimed at reducing carbon footprints globally.

IIC Central and North America Virtual Hub

Fiona Graham, Rebecca Latourell FIIC, and Robert Waller FIIC, supported by the DEVs Joffre Omar Chaiña Flores and Miriam-Helen Rudd, co-chaired the Central and North America Virtual Hub, bringing their knowledge and experience to the session. 

The discussion began with Emma Richardson, co-author of the paper Interrogating Pollutants in Collecting Institutions During the Implementation of HVAC Energy-Saving Strategies: Lessons Learned and Practical Implications for Optimizing Sustainable Environmental Control, explaining the biggest obstacles institutions face in implementing sustainable practices.  

Emma identified two primary barriers: first, a hesitance within institutions to deviate from traditional environmental standards (e.g., 20°C and 50% humidity), as many fear that adjusting these parameters could compromise the preservation of collections. Emma stressed that sustainable practices do not mean compromising preservation but understanding a collection’s specific needs and finding flexible solutions. The second barrier is the lack of time and resources for proper research, testing, and collaboration with facilities teams to ensure effective, sustainable changes.

MaryJo Lelyveld added that historic buildings often have more flexibility with environmental conditions, as the objects inside are more resilient to variability. However, MaryJo echoed concern about limited budgets for implementing sustainable practices and called for more external funding for heritage conservation.

The conversation then shifted to the use of substitutes and replicas in art conservation. Isobel Griffin and Lorraine Maule, co-authors of Nothing Lasts Forever? Considering Lifespans in a Contemporary Collection, explained how substitutes are communicated to the public, noting that decisions are usually kept discreet unless necessary. They discussed how substitutes, including replicas of artworks, are used to preserve originals. Isobel added that discussions around the longevity of materials, particularly ephemeral, are becoming more common, with curators acknowledging that some materials may not last indefinitely. They mentioned that the National Galleries of Scotland is working towards developing a sustainable approach to art conservation, including a manifesto for engaging with artists and ensuring mutual understanding of sustainability goals.

IIC Pan-Africa Virtual Hub

Representing Pan-Africa, Ogechukwu Okpalanozie FIIC, Freda Nkirote M’Mbogori and Oscar Umwamzisiwemuremyi, co-chaired the session with the support of Nat Ulloa and Ahmed Shayo (DEVs).

The discussion on decolonization within the context of conservation and museums in Africa focused on the legacy of colonial practices and the need to adapt conservation efforts to local contexts. The co-chairs highlighted the challenges African communities face in embracing modern conservation practices, which are often perceived as foreign and colonial. This perception is rooted in the colonial history of museums and the preservation of African artifacts, where African cultural heritage was often objectified and removed from its original context.

A key point in the conversation is that conservation is not an alien concept to African cultures. African societies have long engaged in practices of preservation and care for cultural objects, but the institutionalized approach introduced during colonialism has disconnected these traditional practices from modern conservation efforts. The discussion suggested that conservation is not inherently foreign, but rather the way it is practiced and institutionalized has been influenced by colonial frameworks.

The importance of decolonizing conservation training was strongly emphasized. Muriel Verbeeck, co-author of Conservation as a Tool for Cultural Rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: The ‘We Have Gaps’ Project mentioned that the participation of the local community can be a positive example of a decolonized approach. This initiative offered training and awareness-building efforts in the Congo, focusing on conservation practices that are rooted in local knowledge and materials and not based on imported European models. According to their research, the project aimed to empower local communities, showing that conservation can be driven from within, rather than being imposed from outside. This shift helps to address the historical imbalance created by colonialism, where African cultural heritage was often managed by foreign institutions.

The conversation also touched on the need to develop localized conservation solutions, where European-based training models do not fit the unique cultural and economic circumstances. While European conservation training is prestigious, it is not always relevant to local needs. The co-chairs argued for the development of practical, context-specific training programs that involve local communities in preserving their heritage. This approach challenges the notion that foreign models of training and practice should be replicated in African countries, instead advocating for a more local approach to heritage conservation. 

The selection of papers was absolutely stellar thanks to the expertise of the co-chairs, who brought a deep understanding of the unique contexts in each region. Their insights and careful curation made for an engaging and thought-provoking event, with fantastic dialogue between authors and the audience. One resounding theme across all hubs was the urgent call for more sustainable practices tailored to the specific needs of each region. This strong emphasis on local solutions showcased the diversity and adaptability required in the field today. I cannot recommend these papers enough; they are a must-read for all professionals passionate about conservation and sustainability! 

Author bio

Marina Herriges is a textile and objects conservator based in Glasgow and serves as Regional Programme Manager at the International Institute for Conservation (IIC). Marina is currently a doctoral researcher at the University of Glasgow’s School of Education, focusing on integrating anti-colonial practices and climate action into cultural heritage conservation. Marina is also a visiting lecturer for the MPhil in Textile Conservation at the University of Glasgow and has worked in Brazil, Portugal, Spain, and the UK. 

Read the whole article and see all the wonderful images in the December-January 2025 "News in Conservation" Issue 105, p. 38-43, which you can access on iiconservation.org