April 27, 2013 @ UCLA

Inaugural Theme: 'Two Steps Forward'
April 27, 2013 @ UCLA

Thursday, December 13, 2012

To Err is Human


We believe that in reflecting on and discussing the setbacks we encounter as caretakers of cultural heritage, it is possible to glean lessons about our limitations and expectations of conservation practices, and to integrate these into our evolving working methods. Strategies for re-evaluation include viewing setbacks in terms of their positive role in developing long-term goals and practical methodologies, as well as promoting a non-punitive and professional culture of honesty, humor, and acceptance. We hope that such an attitude will help establish, in the words of Marincola and Maisey (2011), ‘a more fruitful learning culture’ for the benefit of both the field of conservation and its mission to protect and preserve historic and artistic materials. Check out Marincola and Maisey's paper, To Err is Human (2011).

Fail Forward

Admitting Failure was founded by the Centre for Social Innovation (Toronto, Ontario) as an online community and resource center to encourage transparency and open dialogue about failure within civil society. As they claim, "By sharing what does not work, we collectively accelerate the process of finding what does," enabling us to "maximize the learning and innovation required to solve complex problems." Their website provides a platform for reading and sharing (your own) stories about failure, for understanding why failure is productive, as well as consultation on how to 'Fail Forward' at your own organization.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Call For Papers


The students of the UCLA/Getty Master’s Program in the Conservation of Archaeological and Ethnographic Materials invite you to the first annual:

Graduate Symposium for Students of Conservation and Preservation (GSSCP)

This is a half-day, student-run symposium for graduate students of conservation, preservation, heritage studies, and related fields to be held on the UCLA Campus in Los Angeles, CA on April 27, 2013.1   This symposium aims to encourage a conference of ideas, experiences, and observations between different fields engaged in the promotion and management of cultural properties, sites, materials, and values. 


Graduate-level students of conservation, preservation, heritage studies, and/or related fields are invited to submit a 300-word abstract for a proposed 20-minute paper, presentation, lecture, or demonstration.  Videos or short films will also be considered. 

We invite you to address our inaugural theme for this event: Two steps forward

This theme is meant to evoke projected goals or expectations of our respective fields, the relationship between them, and the process of learning on which we base these forecasts.  The theme encompasses proposals for improvement, as well as experiences of navigating — or even articulating — the unique limitations and challenges of investing in cultural heritage. 

Expressions of this theme may include how errors, setbacks, and limits of intervention have been addressed within your field; proposed adjustments to existing methodologies; the development or amendment of decision-making processes; case studies that re-interpret or evaluate our fields’ goals; and topics for collaboration between the fields of heritage preservation, conservation, and allied professionals.

Please submit your 300-word abstract to gsscp.2013@gmail.com by January 14th.  Submit abstracts as a .doc or .pdf and include your name, program affiliation, and a brief (100 words or less) statement on your particular interests and background within your field of study.  Selected participants will be notified by February 6th

This symposium is free and open to the public.  All attendees are encouraged to participate in the discussion.



1 The timing of the symposium coincides with the final day of the Association of North American Graduate Programs in Conservation (ANAGPIC) Annual Meeting, held at the Getty Villa and UCLA from April 25- 27, 2013.


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