FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
October 16, 2009
Guardians of World Treasures Meet to
Discuss Conservation Issues, Possible Solutions
Washington, DC—Later this month, guardians
of the world’s cultural treasures will meet in Salzburg, Austria, to explore
global themes related to conservation and preservation and develop recommendations for
protecting collections around the world. The invitation-only seminar, “Connecting
to the World’s Collections: Making the Case for Conservation and Preservation of
our Cultural Heritage,” will be co-hosted by the U.S. federal Institute of Museum
and Library Services (IMLS) and the Salzburg Global Seminar from October 28 –
November 1, 2009. Additional support was provided by the President’s
Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.
“Over the last couple of years, we have learned so much about
conservation needs in America through our initiative, Connecting to Collections: A
Call to Action,” said Anne-Imelda M. Radice, IMLS Director. “We have
systematically explored and addressed conservation issues at home. In Salzburg, we
will widen our scope. Experts from every continent will share their best practices
on how best to save the world’s cultural heritage. We look forward to new perspectives
and networking opportunities.”
IMLS’s multi-year conservation initiative, Connecting to
Collections: A Call to Action, took steps to address recommendations in the
IMLS-funded Heritage Health Index, a 2005 report that found that artifacts in
America’s collections were at great risk and in need of immediate attention.
The seminar expands the scope of the initiative to engage cultural leaders,
conservation and preservation specialists who work with museums and libraries,
and leaders of cultural heritage institutions, many of them in developing countries.
During the three-and-a-half-day session, 60 participants from more than 35 countries
will consider questions such as:
- What are the greatest risks to world collections and what strategies can be
implemented to manage them?
- How can sufficient resources be secured to assure at least minimal conservation
standards?
- What needs to be done in the area of effective emergency preparedness planning?
- What challenges and opportunities are presented by new technologies and digitization?
- How can museums and libraries connect people to their collections to garner the
public support they need to make better conservation and preservation a priority and a
reality?
At the program’s end, participants and leaders will issue a set of
recommendations to overcome institutional, logistical, political, and financial barriers
to the optimal conservation of collections. A publication summarizing these recommendations
will be posted on the IMLS and Salzburg Global Seminar Web sites
(www.imls.gov and
www.salzburgglobal.org) and
sent to key stakeholders around the world. For more information about the program contact
Nancy Rogers, Senior Project Coordinator, IMLS,
nrogers@imls.gov or Susanna Seidl-Fox,
Program Director, SGS: sfox@salzburgglobal.org.
To follow daily seminar blog posts by Richard McCoy, Associate Conservator
of Objects at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, please go to http://www.iiconservation.org/wpress/. To follow
McCoy on Twitter, please use hashtag #SGSConnect. |
About the Institute of Museum
and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of
federal support for the nation's 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums.
The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that
connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national
level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage,
culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional
development. To learn more about the Institute,
please visit www.imls.gov.
About the Salzburg Global Seminar
The Salzburg Global Seminar is an independent, non-governmental organization with its
headquarters at the magnificent Schloss Leopoldskron in Salzburg, Austria.
For 62 years, the Seminar has brought together leaders, scholars, practitioners,
and students from the fields of politics, economics, law, media, culture and the
arts to address issues of global concern. Its faculty, fellows, and staff come
from diverse regions, backgrounds, and professional expertise. To learn more about
the Seminar, please visit
www.salzburgglobal.org.
About the President’s Committee on the Arts and the
Humanities
The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) bridges the
bi-partisan interests of federal agencies and the private sector to support
arts and humanities efforts in education, cultural diplomacy, economic
revitalization, and special events dedicated to recognizing excellence in these
areas. First Lady Michelle Obama is the Honorary Chairman of the PCAH. To learn
more about PCAH, please visit www.pcah.gov. |
