International Conference on Situated Conservations
January 23–25, 2025 | Saint-Louis, Senegal
The International Conference on Situated Conservations brought together conservators, researchers, artists, and craftspeople from across Africa and beyond to reflect on the diversity of conservation practices in different cultural and material contexts.
Under the theme “Situated Conservation,” participants discussed how preservation practices take shape within specific environments — in museums, community spaces, and family settings alike — highlighting the relationship between global debates and local expertise.
More than a traditional academic gathering, the conference became a space of encounter and exchange. Music, dance, and other forms of intangible cultural heritage were woven into the program, creating moments of reflection, celebration, and connection. This integration underscored a central question raised by the organizers: What do we learn differently by doing and feeling art and history?
Key Highlights
Decolonial and ecological approaches to conservation and their role in shaping inclusive futures.
Hands-on encounters with artists and craftspeople, emphasizing conservation as a living and communal act.
Dialogues on institutional structures and how knowledge can be shared fairly across global and local contexts.
A tribute to Fatima Fall Niang, whose pioneering work in preventive conservation continues to inspire sustainable and community-centered heritage practices.
Ultimately, this international meeting — hosted in partnership with Université Gaston Berger and the GloCo project — reflected a shared commitment to bridging worlds: between universities and communities, between scholarly discourse and lived experience, and between conservation as a technical field and as a cultural practice rooted in everyday life.
📖 Read more reflections from our team on the GloCo Blog:
