LIMA had the pleasure of attending and participating in the Sustaining Art: People, Practice, Planet in Contemporary Art Conservation conference, which was held in a hybrid format with in-person events taking place in Dundee, Scotland from 9 to 11 November. 

Presented in partnership with DJCAD University of Dundee and in affiliation with the Dutch Foundation for the Conservation of Contemporary Art (SBMK) as well as the International Network for the Conservation of Contemporary Art (INCCA), the conference strove to address the complicated topic of how to implement sustainability into contemporary art conservation practice. 

Presentations and workshops included in the three days of the conference were presented by representatives of institutions such as the Tate, the University of Amsterdam, Rhizome, National Galleries of Scotland, University of Exeter, Bath Spa University, STiCH, Ki Culture, Netherlands Institute for Conservation Art Science (NICAS), and M+ Museum for Visual Culture. Focusing on the importance of developing networks of care and focusing on grassroot efforts to sustain the artworks in our care. They examined the environmental impact of our current practices and how we can make changes to aim for a more sustainable future. Talks were ultimately optimistic about what options are possible in the conservation field and focused on the seven R's: rethink, recover, recycle, repair, reuse, reduce and refuse as well as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Using case-studies to illustrate how institutions can adapt these general frameworks to the more specific issues facing the preservation of cultural heritage.

On the third day of the conference, focused on the concept of Practice, LIMA also presented on their current research concerning their nation-wide Infrastructure for Sustainable Access of Digital Art Project in the form of a workshop titled, "Collaborative Care of Digital Art." The workshop presented by Olivia Brum (Junior Conservator), Gaby Wijers (Director) and Mauricio van der Maesen de Sombreff (Junior Conservator and Engineer) addressed the case-study Jan Robert Leegte's Compressed Forests, 2016, and in conjunction with the theme of the workshop as well as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4, investigated the collaborative development and consequent sharing of knowledge. Initiating discussion on how we can sustainably store internet artworks for the long-term. 

 Discussion is already in the works regarding a follow-up conference that would continue the important conversations begun here.

Image credit: Jan Robert Leegte, Compressed Forests, 2016