Global Conservation: Histories and Theories
Rethinking Conservation from a Global Perspective
Global Conservation: Histories and Theories (GloCo) studies the histories, practices, and theories of heritage conservation at a global level from the 16th to the 21st centuries. Rather than assuming a single, universal model of conservation, we discuss the diverse practices through which heritage is produced, transformed, and transmitted (or not).
Beyond a Single Definition: Situated Conservation
Conservation can mean repair, care, ritual, memory, protection, and much more. GloCo brings these perspectives into dialogue, challenging Eurocentric narratives and making visible histories and practices that have often remained overlooked. Our team’s geographic focus covers Senegal, Cameroon, Sāmoa, Thailand, France, Switzerland, and Austria. Conservation is always situated and has to be understood in a specific context, time, and place.
From Conservation Washing to Restorative Justice
We trace continuities in conservation practices and theories since the 18th century, including a rhetoric that we call “Conservation Washing.” This discourse assumes that only the West can preserve global heritage. Thus, the restitution of art is often predicated today on the implementation of conservation standards described as ‘international’. In contrast, we approach conservation through the lens of “Restorative Justice,” where care practices consider multiple actors and expectations and aim to rebalance power dynamics.
The GloCo Glossary
As part of this research, the GloCo Glossary brings together words, meanings, images, and sounds related to conservation across cultures and languages. It does not seek to establish one universal definition, but to make room for multiple, situated, and evolving meanings.
What does conservation mean to you?
We would love to hear your words, ideas, and perspectives.
ERC Project
PI: Noémie Étienne (Consolidator Grant, project no. 101087659)
With: Manon Fougère, Cécile Mendy, Maeva Pimo, Renée Riedler, Alisa Santikarn, Ruby Satele
What's Happening? Discover It in Our Heritage Studies Blog!
News & Projects
About GloCo
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Striving to counterbalance the narrative of Western domination in the field, our primary goal is to compose histories that are both more inclusive and accurate. Exploring various methods of caring for objects and collections within and outside the museum, we emphasize the significance of situated historical and theoretical knowledge. Interrogating the influence of coloniality on care practices and discourses is a crucial aspect of our work. Additionally, our focus extends to the systematic study of the overlooked histories and conservation theories of material culture globally, spanning from the sixteenth to the twenty-first century.
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Museums and collections are increasingly facing new challenges: Demands to return artworks to their countries of origin are just as much a part of this as questions about the appropriate display of collections. Conservation practices are changing to the extent that experts and stakeholders are jointly selecting the most suitable methods for preserving (im)material culture. In addition, conservation and sustainability have found their way into preservation. Although many museums exhibit artifacts of diverse origins and deal with complex conservation practices on a daily basis, there are no comprehensive resources on the legacy of conservation, including Indigenous approaches worldwide, and the link between conservation and (neo)colonialism.
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Project leader:
Noémie ÉtienneProject members:
Honoré Tchatchouang NgoupeyouAdministration:
Szilvia SteinerProject assistant:
Manon Fougère -
Current PhD Projects
Cécile Mendy
Traditional Conservation of Pottery, Textile, and Basketry in West AfricaRuby Satele Asiata
Recentering Faasamoa in the Caring of Museum CollectionsRenée Riedler
Replication as Conservation StrategyMaeva Pimo
Queer Archives in Cameroon
Conferences
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"Situated Conservations" Conference - Saint Louis, Senegal
We hosted our own conference on “Situated Conservations” in Saint-Louis, Senegal in January 2025.
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36th CIHA World Congress - Lyon, France
The CIHA was held in Lyon from 23rd to 28th June of 2024. Noémie Étienne hosted two panels, one on the 24th and one on the 27th.
Publications
ERC Consolidator Grant, funded by the European Union under the Grant Agreement Nr. 101087659. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Research Council Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
