EPoCH 2024. Emerging Perspectives on Conservation and Heritage
Documentation Practices and Critical Reflection in Heritage Conservation

18 to 20 April 2024

The conference will be presential

EPoCH is an annual scientific conference, organized by the Heritage & Conservation and Restoration Focus Area of the Center for Science and Technology of the Arts (CITAR) of Universidade Católica Portuguesa, designed to be a forum of discussion in emerging topics in heritage and conservation and restoration research while embracing collaborative conversations driven by emerging perspectives and the exploration of a diverse array of practices, theories, and approaches.

Each year, EPoCH conference will explore a specific theme, providing a focused yet diverse exploration of critical issues into an intertwining tapestry of intellectual inquiry.

This years’ inaugural conference will focus on heritage documentation processes.  

The importance and functionality of documentation processes for heritage study, preservation and intervention entails essential reflective and critical thinking for the implementation and development of documentation practices that support access, permanence, and respect for heritage, while maintaining observance of fundamental values such as its authenticity and value.  

The objectives of this inaugural conference are to establish a dialogue between all actors in this research area and to reflect on the various proposals and approaches, implemented or in the development. Our goal is to foster discussions, establish connections between theory and practice, investigate the processes, methods, techniques, and tools, aiming to advance this field in the definition of specific solutions with consequent impact on the entire community to respond to the immense challenges and needs in the field of documentation of heritage from the past, of the present and into the future.

The conference will consider topics including but not limited to:

• Conservation-restoration intervention
• Documentation processes, methods, and techniques
• Methodological limitations and challenges
• Ethical challenges
• Documentation sources
• New supports
• Collaborative Approaches in Documentation
• Case Studies and Best Practices
• Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary Collaboration  
• Future of Documentation Technology
• Digital Preservation
• Archives and Open Access Databases
• Theoretical Approaches in the Post-Digital Era
• …

Important Dates:

NEW Extended deadline for abstract submission: 13th February 2024
Communication of abstract acceptance: 5th March 2024