Cultural heritage has grown in size and diversity, as have the professions responsible for its protection and use. More than ever, there is a need to engage all stakeholders in a dialogue about conservation and restoration decisions.

This one-month course begins with a brief look at the science of decision-making in other fields, and then analyses decision processes within the field of cultural heritage. Issues include value systems and their application, professionals and their responsibilities, users and their expectations, resources and their availability - all within diverse social, cultural, legal, and economic contexts. Working from cases brought by the eighteen participants, the course will explore both the universal and the specific nature of decisions made. The objective is to improve complex conservation decisions by ensuring transparency, clarity, and the effectiveness of the process.

During a mini-conference, participants and lecturers will present case-studies based on their experiences. These will be followed by discussions on the major concerns and challenges of conservation decision-making.

The project team is composed of senior staff from ICCROM and partner institutions, as well as external consultants and guest lecturers.

Information on this course will be updated regularly and will include weekly reviews, photos, course documents, and more.

Member States represented: Brazil, China, Croatia, France, Georgia, Germany,  India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, Viet Nam

updated on: 24 November, 2007