Background
This webpage provides links to the draft Burra Charter 2013 and to a range of Practice Notes that have been written to replace three Burra Charter Guidelines prepared in 1988, and expand the range of advice offered to members and others engaged in heritage practice. The link to the draft Burra Charter 2013 is of particular importance to the Australia ICOMOS membership. The draft Burra Charter 2013 can only be adopted by a special resolution of Australia ICOMOS members (such a resolution will be moved at the 2013 AGM). A special resolution will also be moved that the three Burra Charter Guidelines 1988 be withdrawn, given the development of the new Practice Notes.
This webpage is intended to ensure that the Australia ICOMOS membership is fully informed of the intended changes and that this is reflected in any special resolution adopted at the AGM.
The link to the Practice Notes is for the information of the Australia ICOMOS membership, and other interested parties. However, the adoption of the Practice Notes as replacements for the withdrawn Guidelines is a matter for the Executive Committee and no resolutions in that regard will be sought at the 2013 AGM. The Practice Notes will be launched at a special session at the Conference.
The Documents
Click on the links below to access the draft Burra Charter 2013 and the Practice Notes.
- The Burra Charter 2013 (Final draft)
- Practice Note_Understanding and assessing cultural significance
- Practice Note_Developing Policy
- Practice Note_Preparing studies and reports – contractual and ethical issues
- Practice Note_The Burra Charter and Indigenous Cultural Heritage Management
- Practice Note_The Burra Charter and Archaeological Practice
- Practice Note_Burra Charter Article 22-New Work
- Practice Note_Interpretation
The Review Process
In mid 2009 the Australia ICOMOS Executive Committee (EC) established a Working Group to review and update the three guidelines to the Burra Charter as these had not been updated since their adoption in 1988 and needed amendment to accord with the 1999 Burra Charter.
The Working Group ran a series of consultations with Australia ICOMOS members and other heritage practitioners, including workshops and online surveys. They reported their findings to the EC, recommended the concept of Practice Notes to replace the current Guidelines, and proposed a list of potential Practice Notes for development. From the consultation, the Working Group also advised that some smaller revisions and adjustments to the Burra Charter should be considered, rather than a major review.
The Working Group then commenced its task of preparing Practice Notes and reviewing the Burra Charter in May 2012. In mid 2013, after consultation with the EC, the Working Group released the following documents for comment by Australia ICOMOS members and other interested parties; Australian heritage agencies and NGOs were also invited to comment.
1. Draft Burra Charter 2013: The Australia ICOMOS Charter for places of cultural significance (the Burra Charter) was last revised in 1999. A number of adjustments to the Charter are proposed to bring it up-to-date with current practice, to refine some of the language and to make some corrections. These changes do not represent a major review of the Burra Charter; such a review may be desired in the future.
2. Practice Note – Understanding and assessing cultural significance: The 1988 Guideline on Cultural Significance required review following adoption of the revised Burra Charter in 1999. This Practice Note has been designed to explain the steps in understanding and assessing cultural significance and to address commonly encountered issues. Some material from the Illustrated Burra Charter has been used in this Practice Note.
3. Practice Note – Developing policy: The 1988 Guideline on Conservation Policy also required review. This Practice Note has been designed to explain the steps in developing policy and address common issues encountered when developing policy. Some material from the Illustrated Burra Charter has been used in this Practice Note.
4. Practice Note – Preparing Studies and Reports: This Practice Note builds on the current Guideline, integrating the Ethical Commitment Statement for ICOMOS members (2002). Its focus is on current ethical and contractual/practical issues faced in undertaking heritage studies of all kinds and in preparing reports.
5. Practice Note – The Burra Charter and Indigenous cultural heritage management: This Practice Note provides guidance to practitioners about the application of the Burra Charter within the field of Indigenous cultural heritage management.
6. Practice Note – The Burra Charter & Archaeological Practice: This Practice Note provides guidance to archaeologists, and those who work with archaeological places.
7. Practice Note – Burra Charter Article 22: New Work. This Practice Note addressed issues about the application of Article 22.2 which says: “New work should be readily identifiable as such”. Some see this as a requirement for bold new design, and when this is the result there can be complaints that the new work does not harmonise with its context.
8. Practice Note – Interpretation: This Practice Note provides guidance on interpretation for places of cultural significance. It examines the concept of interpretation and how it relates to the Burra Charter process, and the connections between interpretation and conserving significance.
Feedback received
Comments were received by way of an online survey, online discussion forums and by email and phone. The Working Group reviewed all comments and revised each of the documents. A summary of the feedback received and response by the Working Group can be seen in the report below, which is based on the Working Group’s report to the EC at their August meeting.
