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Conservation and social utility

Call for papers

CeROArt journal is launching a call for papers for a special issue dedicated to the theme "Conservation and Social Utility." The concept of social or societal utility, borrowed from the jurist and philosopher Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832) and further developed by John Stuart Mill (1806–1873), is based on the principle of "the greatest happiness for the greatest number." In the field of conservation, this notion intersects with and expands the concept of "social sustainability." While this issue has been explored in relation to the preservation of monuments and sites, its connection to the conservation of movable heritage remains underexamined.

In response to contemporary societal challenges, conservation-restoration is increasingly questioning its role in the construction of the common good and its ability to address social, economic, and environmental issues. How do conservation-restoration practices contribute to fostering social cohesion, community empowerment, and resilience, particularly in post-traumatic contexts? What societal role can conservation-restoration play? Can a conservation policy be, in the noble sense of the term, political, serving as a catalyst for the construction of citizenship?

We invite researchers, professionals, and stakeholders involved in cultural heritage conservation to submit articles exploring this theme through the following perspectives:

  • Participatory Conservation: Initiatives engaging local communities in preservation and decision-making processes; integration of traditional and local knowledge into conservation methodologies; development of endogenous approaches.

  • Conservation-Restoration, Education, and Training: The role of cultural mediation and the transmission of conservation-restoration skills; training of non-professionals (volunteers, artists, local artisans) in conservation practices.

  • Repair and Resilience: The relationship between heritage restoration and processes of symbolic or community-based repair; reflections on heritage in post-conflict or environmental crisis contexts; conservation as a tool for historical reinterpretation.

  • Theoretical and Ethical Questions: Analyses on the role of conservation in contemporary debates on cultural rights, universalism, and social justice.

  • Environmental and Social Impact: Integration of societal utility into sustainable conservation practices; research on the endogenous production of conservation materials.

Submissions may take the form of research articles, case studies, field reports, or critical essays. We particularly encourage interdisciplinary contributions and collaborations between researchers and practitioners.

This special issue will be edited by guest editor Sabine Cotte. A graduate of INP, ICCROM, and the University of Melbourne (PhD), Sabine Cotte is the coordinator of the ICOM-CC working group "Objects from Indigenous and World Cultures" and is a lecturer at the Grimwade Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation, University of Melbourne, Australia. She has participated in numerous international projects, including work in Bhutan.

Submission procedures

Statements of interest and abstracts (max. 500 words) should be sent to: editeur@ceroart.org.
This special issue is an open issue: publications will be released progressively, starting in June, following the peer review process. The issue will be closed on December 15. The publication timeline does not exceed six weeks after the final version of the article has been approved.

For any inquiries, please contact the editorial team at contact@ceroart.org.

CeROArt is an internationally recognized journal, indexed in leading academic databases such as DOAJ, BCIN, AATA, OpenEdition.org, Isidore, and ICCROM. Since 2008, its Diamond Open Access model has promoted the dissemination of high-quality articles at no cost to authors or readers.

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