On Wednesday the 16.09.26 the Plenary Session includes three keynote presentations and a panel discussion.

These three keynote presentations and the following panel discussion will explore not just how conservation is practiced, but why. As custodians of cultural heritage, conservators make decisions that shape the future of the material and objects in their care. This session provides an opportunity to reflect on the field’s theories and practices, while engaging with fresh perspectives and innovative approaches.

Encouraging cultural connections raises questions about the role of conservation—past, present and future. Conservators have often been put in the role of gatekeepers, both materially and intellectually guarding access to collections and objects. Yet this role has not always been the result of deliberate choice.

As the boundaries of conservation have shifted, and continue to shift, this session will examine conservation’s changing role in society, moving beyond the norms embedded in much of our training and practice. By examining pioneering conservation work of the past, longstanding critiques of conservation, and new, emerging directions will allow the audience to revisit a fundamental question: for whom do we conserve?

Following three keynote presentations, the panel discussion will draw on Indigenous perspectives to deepen and expand our understanding of conservation as a whole, and connect to our shared goal of preserving cultural memory.

Collectively, these contributions will show how people have managed change, both in thought and practice, to build cultural connections in the past and present. They will also help us reflect on the challenges and possibilities of forging and deepening connections through conservation in the future.