International Conference “Between Material and Decision: Research, Restoration and Preservation of Cultural Heritage”.

The Riga Monuments Agency, in cooperation with the Art Academy of Latvia and the Art Academy of Latvia Institute of Restoration and Material Research, will organize an international conference on 26 and 27 November, “Between Material and Decision: Research, Restoration and Preservation of Cultural Heritage”.

The conference will take place at the Art Academy of Latvia, Kalpaka Boulevard 13, building k-2. Working languages: Latvian and English.

The preservation of cultural heritage is closely linked to an understanding of the materials from which cultural monuments, works of art and other historical objects are made. The ageing of materials is an inevitable process influenced by environmental pollution, climate conditions, storage environments, everyday care, and also restoration methods used in the past. In order to preserve cultural heritage for future generations, knowledge-based and carefully considered decisions are necessary.

The conference will focus on the cultural heritage preservation process as a whole, starting with the study of materials and their history, the identification and analysis of degradation processes, and continuing through the selection of preservation strategies and the planning and implementation of conservation and restoration work. At the same time, issues related to the preservation of authenticity, restoration ethics and professional decision-making will be discussed.

The conference is intended as an interdisciplinary platform bringing together conservators, restorers, art and architectural historians, materials scientists, museum specialists and other professionals working in the field of cultural heritage.

• •Participants are invited to submit paper topics and abstracts on the following themes:
• •ageing and degradation processes of materials;
• •the impact of the environment and climate on cultural heritage;
• •research into historical materials and technologies;
• •conservation and restoration methods and materials;
• •authenticity, restoration ethics and decision-making;
• •preventive conservation, monitoring and long-term care.

Paper topics and abstracts (up to 4000 characters) must be submitted by 25 October. Contact person: Agnese Strautiņa, e-mail conference@lma.lv.