METAL 2022 Themes

Metal 2022 Conference themes: Cross-disciplinary collaborations, Elevating the voice of the conservator, Sustainability in practice in the metals conservation community, Conservation treatments, materials and analysis, Preventive conservation.
Cross-guard of a sword, silver-plated bronze. KM41281:1
Cross-guard of a sword, silver-plated bronze. KM41281:1
Header image: KM41281:1
Cross-guard of a sword, silver-plated bronze
800–1050, Viking Age
Hunting scenes featuring mythical creatures has been depicted on both sides of the cross-guard.
Picture: Conservation Division, National Museum of Finland

Cross-disciplinary collaborations

  • Working with professionals from other disciplines such as engineering, micro-mechanics, scientists, the arts, as well as volunteers and the general public.
  • The value of traditional knowledge sharing and craftsmanship.
  • Technology transfer from industry to the conservation field.
  • Collaborative approaches and exchange of expertise in the field of composite object conservation.
  • Technical and kinetic objects. Preserving functionality and refining best practices.

Elevating the voice of the conservator

  • Growing discourse surrounding social justice and objects with contentious narratives; vandalism.
  • The preservation and presentation of contentious objects (e.g. illegally excavated or linked to traumatic heritage, war, colonialism, nationalism).
  • Teaching metals conservation – adapting the curriculum to evolving social and economic/technical/industrial/data scientific (or computational) realities.
  • Giving a voice to emerging conservation professionals and their vision for the future of the field.

Sustainability in practice in the metals conservation community

  • Alternative and less hazardous treatments.
  • Innovative chemical recycling.
  • Developing affordable and eco-friendly techniques and products to conserve individual artifacts or collections (mass treatment).
  • Environmental responsibilities on large-scale treatment projects.

Conservation treatments, materials and analysis

  • Innovative treatment techniques.
  • Review and improve existing techniques and methodologies.
  • Non-invasive analytical techniques.
  • Data science, computational techniques and visualization.

Preventive conservation

  • Re-assessing and improving preventive conservation measures for metal and composite artifacts and collections.

Note

All aspects of the conservation, study and research of metallic cultural heritage are welcome and papers may explore other topics.