Conferences | Australia ICOMOS

Australia ICOMOS organises conferences on an almost annual basis on cultural heritage philosophy, methodology and practice, and various other themes. These conferences are well-attended and are a wonderful opportunity for learning and exchanging ideas.

PAST CONFERENCES

Heritage of the Air conference, Canberra, 14-17 November 2019

Visit the conference website for information on the packed program, or skip straight to the Registration page to download the Registration brochure and register to take advantage of Early Bird rates, which are valid until 14 October.

There is a very exciting array of papers and presentations with over 80 abstracts accepted! Social events will include a Welcome Reception (evening Thursday 14 Nov), Burra Charter 40th Anniversary Event at the Shine Dome (evening Friday 15 Nov), and, on Saturday evening 16 Nov, a fabulous Conference Party with a mid-century mod theme, reflecting our much-loved venue, University House, and the Golden Age of Aviation. Pre-conference workshops are available on Thursday before the Welcome Reception and post-conference tours on Sunday 17 Nov. NOTE that places for some of the conference functions are limited despite inclusion in the full registration rate, so get in quick!

Also check out our discount booking codes for accommodation and flights, courtesy of Qantas.

Follow #HotA2019 and @air_heritage on twitter for regular updates!

Also see the Heritage of the Air 2019 flyer and the Heritage of the Air research project website.

CULTURE: Conserving it Together conference, Suva, Fiji, 1-5 October 2018

The 2018 CULTURE: Conserving it Together conference was a collaboration between Australia ICOMOS and ICOMOS Pasifika, to share knowledge, celebrate the rich culture of the Pacific and discuss common issues on heritage conservation across the region.

There was a pre-conference workshop in Levuka (download the report from this workshop below) and post-conference thematic tours.

Levuka Pasifika Charter 2018 Workshop Report

Visit the CULTURE: Conserving it Together conference website for more information about this conference.

Photos from the conference have been uploaded to this Dropbox link. Please acknowledge the photographer if you download and use any of these images.

The People’s Ground conference, Melbourne, 5-8 October 2016

The extraordinary Melbourne Cricket Ground – popularly “The People’s Ground”- was the inspiration for this conference. This acknowledges that heritage is for and about people and community. Whilst place is central to conceptions of heritage, is it not intangible values – stories, memories, connections, emotions – that reveal and sustain our heritage?

The MCG is included on the National Heritage List, although its continual evolution means that most of the fabric is barely thirty years old. It has shared Aboriginal and non-Indigenous heritage values, and a prominent history to match its location in the landscape of the Yarra River.

The significance of the MCG extends far beyond that of a mere sports stadium. It is an integral part of the fabric of Melbourne and the nation, and has gained an egalitarian image as “the people’s ground”. (MCG NHL citation)

Further information about this event can be found at the People’s Ground Conference website.

**2015 Fabric Conference, Adelaide**

Australia ICOMOS’ conference Fabric was a forum to gather and debate the issues associated with the conservation of heritage fabric. The conference took place in Adelaide from 5-8 November 2015.

Issues included: understanding and stewardship of traditional and technical conservation skills, engaging communities in conservation, advancing conservation knowledge, exploring new technologies, and fostering of training opportunities for the future conservation and interpretation of heritage fabric.

By understanding the skills and knowledge of the past, and developing the technologies of the future, Fabric provided an opportunity for advancing conservation standards in Australia.

Further information about this event can be found at the Fabric Conference website.

2013 Canberra Centenary Conference

‘Imagined pasts…, imagined futures’ was an exciting multidisciplinary conference that coincided with the centenary of Canberra and the array of cultural activities, performances, exhibitions and events that were planned for Canberra in 2013.

Australia ICOMOS partnered with the Museum of Australian Democracy in the unique setting of Old Parliament House to explore how heritage participates in the ‘imagined communities’ and ‘imagined geographies’ of nations and communities in a globalising world. Asking how past, present and future are entwined in cultural identity, place, tangible and intangible heritages, the conference themes ranged from personal heritage and local places, to national narratives, virtual communities, diasporas and world heritage.

The conference commenced with a video of the Federal Minister for the Environment, Greg Hunt’s speech – Minister Hunt’s Australia ICOMOS video address is now available on his website.

Further information about this event can be found at the Canberra Centenary conference website.

**2011 Watermarks, Water’s Heritage Conference, Melbourne**

The 2011 conference, Watermarks, Water’s Heritage, was held in Melbourne from 27-30 October 2011. This conference explored the following themes:

Water Beginnings – Indigenous use of water and waterways
European Arrival – exploration, early settlement and squatting
Working Water – agriculture, aquaculture, irrigation, industry, and power
Moving Water – water supply and sewerage, water collection, transport and communication
Too Much or Not Enough – floods, storms and cyclones, droughts, fire protection and environmental conservation
Celebrating Water – tourism, recreation, designed features and landscapes, and heritage recognition

Further information about this event can be found at the Watermarks Conference website.

Previous conferences include: