IIC (International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works)
Doi
Abstract
Physical and intellectual access to heritage is shaped by conservation through a longterm,
cyclic and symbiotic relationship of representation and intervention (or lack of
it). This informs future use and representation. Value (which may be assigned for
different reasons) makes heritage. All heritage is valued for varied reasons. Some
argue that heritage has inherent value; this is not covered in this paper. Some values
are preferred over others in decisions on what to use or conserve. The process below
describes a number of different recurring phases in this relationship, which differs
with different kinds of heritage: 1. Various agents change heritage; 2. Change affects
valued elements of heritage; 3. Valued elements affect how change is perceived; 4.
What is perceived as damage affects decisions about conservation interventions; 5.
Conservation affects which valued elements are most likely to be preserved; 6.
Preserved elements influence how heritage is represented; 7. New forms of
representation will affect future conservation decisions.
Historically, how heritage has been represented has affected how an object is
preserved. This affects later representation and use, making the relationship
symbiotic