Session: #363

Theme & Session Format

Theme:
3. Heritage Narratives and Representations
Session format:
Regular session

Title & Content

Title:
Art and Archaeology – Towards a Framework for the Creation of Sustainable Narratives
Content:
Can art make archaeology more relevant in these times of change? How can we creatively contribute to local – global conversations and actions through archaeological heritage? How can we understand and communicate the fundamental importance of sustainability, perhaps going beyond the immediate focus of climate and biodiversity crises? How do we tackle changing ethical questions faced in heritage practice and archaeology when attempting to decolonise heritage or to increase diversity in the sector? How can we create communities, weave narratives and tell stories so that we reach out to (new) audiences, foster engagement and create (new/altered) identities?
Thinking in traditional disciplines and practices may not equip archaeologists, heritage and museum professionals or academics to ensure that their sectors stay relevant. New academic turns, such as the focus on the agency of objects, discussions around New Materialism and Post-Humanism, already encouraged innovative thinking. Perhaps, however, it is renewed focus on curiosity and (artistic) creativity which will allow us to develop theoretically grounded and equally successfully applied frameworks towards the development of best practice. This highlights the need to develop complex systems of care spanning archaeology, heritage, art, education and economies through both practice and research in order to stay relevant and have social impact.
The panel invites case studies, and creative responses, which explore how artistic approaches can, will and have deliver(ed) answers to the questions above and further our understanding of the emotive potential of creative/artistic narratives conceived from, or applied to, archaeological heritage. The inter- and trans-disciplinary expertise of the panel organisers will help to weave these examples and approaches together, in discussion with the session presenters, into a potential framework with the aim to publish.
Keywords:
art-archaeology, creativity, agency of objects, emotion, narration, sustainability
Session associated with MERC:
no
Session associated with CIfA:
no
Session associated with SAfA:
no
Session associated with CAA:
no
Session associated with DGUF:
no
Session associated with other:

Organisers

Main organiser:
Katharina Zinn (United Kingdom) 1
Co-organisers:
Lene Høst-Madsen (Denmark) 2
Gavin MacGregor (United Kingdom) 3
Affiliations:
1. University of Wales Trinity Saint David
2. Skanderborg Museum
3. Archaeology Scotland