Zprávy památkové péče 2014, 74(5):393-396

(Un)expected possibilities for the popularization of monument rescue and the work of conservators

Dagmar Michoinová, Gabriela Setunská

The article evaluates four years of experience in the implementation of the project entitled (Un)expected Contexts [Czech (Ne)tušené souvislosti] and considers the forms, state and importance of the popularization of heritage preservation and the profession of conservators in the Czech NHI.
The project (Un)expected Contexts began in 2011 with the primary objective of popularizing the values of historic building materials and methods of analyzing and rescuing them while primarily utilizing traditional materials and techniques. From the outset of the project's activities, the intention was to attempt to make the unconventional connection between visits to historic state monuments and narratives relating to professional technological topics regarding the protection of the values of architectural monuments. Over these four years, the (Un)expected Contexts popularization and experimental project expanded to include a variety of other activities.
After four years of the (Un)expected Contexts project, we can state with confidence that the general concept of heritage preservation and partial specialized topics of heritage protection can be presented in a new way which is comprehensible for the general and professional public. At the same time, the growing interest in this form of presentation of historical monuments and the professions of conservators has provably demonstrated that there does exist not only an interest in the unconventional combination of visual heritage tours with professionally-oriented narratives, but in other popular educational forms of transferring and sharing experiences between professionals and the general public as well. We can predict that similarly focused NHI activities will prove to be attractive for the more demanding and better-informed visitor, and it is worthwhile to continue and strengthen such activities. If we succeed in capturing the interest of these more discerning heritage visitors as well as the owners of historic buildings, then we will have managed to have, on our side, this part of the public who is willing to promote and defend the interests of heritage protection and architectural preservation as such. In doing so, the implementation of each form of professional presentation of heritage property and the positive visibility of the profession of the conservator is exactly what this field greatly needs. It is encouraging, then, that the NHI supports the (Un)expected Contexts project.

Keywords: Preservation, education, cultural heritage, historic building material, values of historic building material, (Un)expected contexts

Published: December 1, 2014  Show citation