AIC's 52nd Annual Meeting

The disciplines of cultural resource preservation and conservation now have additional complexities due to the rise of political and social movements that highlight injustice and bias. Cultural resources are being moved, taken out of public view, reinterpreted and in some cases, destroyed. Ownership legitimacy of cultural resources is being questioned, many times from indigenous peoples, and in some cases change in title of property is being sought. Management of cultural sites may not be commensurate with the importance of the site to the underserved community of which it is representative. Further, some institutions are seeking to monetize artwork or other cultural resources to pay for the survival of the organization. Clients may be cultural institutions, municipal arts commissions, state historic preservation offices or profit-making entities that are responding to external pressures as well as tensions from within.





Professionals are being asked to participate in the moving, concealing or reinterpreting of artwork that may not reflect the artist’s intent. Also, architects, engineers and conservators may be asked to consult, design, or execute treatments for the stewardship of cultural resources that put them legally at risk. Compounding this hazard is that, in many cases, decisions are being made within a short horizon due to political pressures. In some cases, the professional may find that a client’s wishes put them at odds with industry standards such as the AIC Code of Ethics or The Secretary of Interior’s Standards.



How should professionals proceed when engaged in these situations? Distancing themselves from the controversy is not a solution and may lead to improper treatments of loss of the resource.



This presentation will review several examples of moving, reinterpretation and transfer of ownership of cultural resources and the role of the preservation professional in the process. In one case legal action was taken against the consultant resulting in a multi-year lawsuit. The presentation will conclude with reflections on how the professional may maneuver through the repurposing of artwork or cultural resources and offer some practical suggestions.



Learning Objectives:



* Awareness of challenges for stewards of cultural resources that are the focus of political movements.
* Legal implications for the professional in dealing with repurposed artwork and historic sites.
* Methods of minimizing risk for the professional.
* Technical considerations in moving artwork.
* Considerations in the transfer of title of cultural resources




Keywords:

Relocation

Repurposing

Risk

Ownership