International Scientific Conference: Religious and Pilgrimage sites – Conservation challenges

The International conference “Religion and Pilgrimage sites –Conservation challenges”

in collaboration with the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Places of Religion and Ritual, the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee for Theory and Philosophy of Conservation and Restoration and the Fondazione Romualdo Del Bianco-Life Beyond Tourism 

(Florence 28^th February- 1st March 2019)

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Read the Final Program

NOTE: the participants to the conference will have a unique chance to take part at the XXI General Assembly and International Symposium of members of the Life Beyond Tourism Movement entitled HERITAGE as a BUILDER OF PEACE® that will take place in Florence from 1 to 3 March 2019, immediately after the conference. For more information and registration, click here.

‘Places of religion and pilgrimage’ are sites with specifically high sensitivity, carrying tangible as well as high non-tangible significance. Some are still in use for religious practices, while others are archaeological ruins or places no longer used for their original function. In some religions they still have religious significance, in others they do not, but continue to carry religious importance. Some of these sites are mainly places of memory, where structural significance is of secondary importance, many others have buildings which meet several criteria of historical, architectural, social and other significance. Many important sites of religious meaning serve regularly as places of religion and ritual, to some there is regular pilgrimage, yet many are at the same time tourism attractions Very few active religious sites are managed by cultural heritage authorities – most are managed by religious authorities. All the above issues make sites of religious and ritual significance a specific category, with big challenges to the conservation community.Both scientific committees, TheoPhilos and PRERICO have never discussed these issues and the coming conference is the first opportunity for both.

Three different areas need to be discussed for theoretical and practical purposes:

• Definition of the religious and Pilgrimage sites, from the perspective of heritage protection – is it a category worth specific ethics, rules and consideration? Does it require different conservation considerations and Practices?
• Specific theoretical and practical challenges facing the conservation and users communities regarding religious and pilgrimage sites.
• Tourism to religious and Pilgrimage sites – conflicts of functions, respecting the different uses and users. Conservators’ challenges

The aim of the conference is to discuss the notion of Religious and Pilgrimage sites and in particular, the forms of their protection, conservation, management and interpretation.According to the topic of the conference the presentations should lead to conclusions, which can be used to develop the theory and practice of conservation, protection and interpretation of sites of religion and pilgrimage.

The conference will be organized as three thematic sessions.

1. Cases of conservation/ protection of religious and pilgrimage sites, looking at specific challenges, including issues of Integrity, Authenticity, non-tangible values and users.
2. Definition of the place of religion and pilgrimage, from the perspective of heritage protection. Can such places fall within typological groups having common characteristic features and conservation ethics/philosophy?
3. Tourism to religious and pilgrimage sites – how to handle potential conflicts between users and function? Is it the conservators’ role? Responsibility? Can conservation have impact on this challenge?

Papers proposals should be sent in summary form up to 2 pages (summary developed in the form of separate subsections or bullet points will facilitate the understanding of the ideas of the paper).
Proposals for papers should include nomination of which of the three thematic session to which they refer.

Please send the paper proposals up to December 20^th, 2018 to the following addresses: isctheory@gmail.com
Scientific reviewers from both committees will select the papers to be presented at the conference – the conference materials will be published as the reviewed monograph.
Authors of papers will be notified of the reviewers’ decisions up to January 15^th, 2019.
For additional information please send the questions to:  isctheory@gmail.com

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