Article: Conservation in Crisis (2006)

Title: Conservation in Crisis - Communicating the value of what we do
Authors: A conversation between Anna Somers Cocks and Samuel Jones
Publisher: The International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works
Pages: 18
Year: 2010
Link: http://www.iiconservation.org/... (pdf, 1.3 Mb)

Description:

A discussion between Anna Somers Cocks, Founder and Editorial Director of The Art Newspaper and Samuel Jones of DEMOS and co-author of It's A Material World: Carting for the Public Realm, on the looming crisis in the field of conservation. For this event the IIC wanted to step back a bit and look at the field of heritage conservation in a far more generalised way than is usual and explore why the profession appears to be especially susceptible to cutbacks and budget reductions during times of economic downturn, such as the one that is being experienced worldwide at the moment. Some would say that the profession of conservation lacks sufficient influence due to its small size relative to other fields of endeavour. Others would say that we are insular and have not made sufficient effort to reach out to other stakeholders in heritage in order to inform them of the value of what we do. Still others would say that we have been unwilling to involve others in our decision making and hence they lack both the understanding and investment that leads to support. Or is it a combination of these and other reasons?