For E.C.C.O., the celebration of the European Days of Conservation-Restoration, in the legacy of EYCH2018, is an opportunity to raise awareness of the value-laden outcomes, which Conservation-Restoration can provide for cultural heritage and society. This initiative provides the incentive to highlight the many projects, iconic or otherwise, which our members have directly been responsible for or, participated in, across the member states of the EU and which demonstrate the ways in which Conservation-Restoration contributes to our understanding of and engagement with our cultural heritage. Conservator-Restorers will invite visitors to their working places (museums ateliers; private studios; university studios and conservation-restoration sites in monuments), explaining their projects with case studies for the public.

Conservation-Restoration is a paradigm; it is a way of approaching cultural heritage to ensure its sustainable access and use for the benefit of all. While it is an approach in which all of society can and does participate in, at a professional level the specific training, education and experience resources the Conservator-Restorer with the tools to advocate on behalf of cultural heritage and to reveal or add new knowledge where such knowledge can also significantly enhance value.

This expertise is required to enable Europeans to engage positively and constructively with the tangible palimpsest of human history which is so densely and multi-layered across Europe. It also helps Conservator-Restorers themselves to engage ever more constructively in this dialogue and negotiation.

Conservation-Restoration is a catalyst for sustainable development through innovation and research in the field of cultural heritage while knowledge and education in the field of cultural heritage is very attractive to younger generations. More and more women are studying the profession of Conservation-Restoration. Student groups are active and vocal in their national associations and the voices of this young generation are heard at European level through membership of E.C.C.O. by these same professional bodies.

All Committee members of E.C.C.O. are themselves Conservator-Restorers in professional practice: employed in museums, self-employed, as professors and educators in university; all work across many different specialisations and are nominated by the professional body in their country. There is, therefore, a structure in place, which directly links the individual professional to representation at European level.

Why have a European Day of Conservation-Restoration?

The European Day of Conservation-Restoration aims to:

• • Raise awareness of the key role of conservation-restoration in safeguarding cultural heritage with policy makers and civil society (public).
  • Share knowledge of the complex activity of this discrete profession as an applied science which includes humanities, natural science and intervenes with a code of ethics in the many fields of cultural heritage.
  • Highlight the respect and discovery of the values for society through the interventions beyond artists and crafts for ensuring the integrity of the material witness to guarantee the authenticity of cultural heritage for identification process of the individual.
  • Make transparent the international quality standards of the profession on this high level of competences for safeguarding cultural heritage through member associations in 22 European states.
  • Clarify how this expertise is of value to sustainable tourism and a catalyst for innovation in science for cultural heritage.

How can you join the celebration?

From Monday 4th to Sunday 10th October 2021, six themes with their respective posters will be posted daily. We encourage you to spread them among your colleagues through emails and/or social media. The hashtags to be included are: #EuropeanDaysConservationRestoration and #ECCOCommunity.

Complete themes agenda

Monday, 4 October – Sharing an institution, Educational Centre, Lab-Science in Conservation Restoration

• • Cultural heritage institutions are the backbone of our profession since they provide access to education, training and research. This day aims to pay tribute to all institutions and engage in sharing state of the art research and education among the E.C.C.O. and ENCoRe countries.

Tuesday, 5 October – Paying tribute to Conservator-Restorers

• • A day dedicated to the people that have significantly contributed to the field of Conservation – Restoration, whether by their involvement in the recognition of the profession or by pioneering in their work. These people deserve a special thanks and the recognition of the E.C.C.O. community.

Wednesday, 6 October – Sharing Good Practices: Conservation-Restoration treatments of movable Heritage

• • Our everyday practice involves working with important artworks and objects, a side that is unknown to the final recipients of the work. Whether working in the private or public sector this day provides the opportunity to share good practices! Dedicated to Movable Heritage you are invited to share exemplary work on movable objects like sculpture, antiquities, paintings, collections, etc.

Thursday, 7 October – Sharing Good Practices: Conservation-Restoration treatments of immovable Heritage 

• • Our everyday practice involves working on important monuments or landscapes, a side that is unknown to the final recipients of the work. Whether working in the private or public sector this day provides the opportunity to share good practices! Dedicated to Immovable Heritage you are invited to share exemplary work on immovable heritage objects like listed buildings, temples, wall-painting, mosaics, etc.

Friday, 8 October – Heritage at risk: Preservation of tangible cultural heritage in the view of Climate Change

• • Regardless of the efforts of the Conservation-Restoration community our Heritage is at risk. The main risk factors are identified in the effects of climate change and the lack of professional quality standards. It is important to engage the public in acknowledging the contribution of Conservation-Restoration professionals by explaining and pointing out these risks.

Saturday, 9 October – Interdisciplinarity in Conservation-Restoration: Sustainability, Cooperation & Networking 

• • We don’t work alone! Interdisciplinarity in politics, education, training and research are pillars for the cooperation and networking of the profession leading to sustainability and development. We invite you to share your experiences from institutional corporations to personal networking.

Sunday, 10 October – European Day of Conservation-Restoration

• • A celebration of the profession! An opportunity for sharing achievements and engaging with the public!

Pictures: E.C.C.O.