Eleventh International Conference on The Inclusive Museum

Abstract

The emergence of museum conservation as an academic discipline has lead to recognition for the need to establish a theoretical paradigm. Such a paradigm would facilitate engagement with the underlying conceptualisation of museum conservation practices. Museum conservation sits within a wider approach to the protection of cultural heritage that incorporates the disciplines of museology and cultural heritage management. Cultural heritage management therefore shares a common basis with museum conservation. Its developments, through the avenue of a theoretical framework, reflect shifting ideologies of its wider socio-political context. These shifts, encompassing principles of intangible and living heritage, along with community-based and significance-based approaches, present a foundation on which to build a paradigm for museum conservation.