Call For Abstracts
Australia ICOMOS are now accepting abstract submissions
We welcome 500-word abstracts or single case studies for inclusion in the Australia ICOMOS National Conference program, under the thematic streams of ‘Battlefronts’ and ‘Un-Settling'.
Submissions should actively challenge and expand heritage discourse by presenting fresh perspectives, original research, or practical case studies that critically engage with the conference themes and contribute meaningfully to conversations in Australia and beyond.
NB: Australia ICOMOS reserves the right to assign presentation formats that best suit the overall program. This may include individual presentations, facilitated panel discussions, or alternative formats.
Submissions are to be uploaded through the online submission portal only.
Submissions received by email will not be accepted.
Abstract Submissions close at 11.59pm (AEST) on Thursday 28 August 2025
Submitters notified of outcome in September 2025
Theme 1: Battlefronts
The Past: Survival, Conservation, Exclusion
Explore how heritage has endured through conflict, colonisation, and marginalisation. Consider the preservation of cultural memory under threat, the politics of conservation, and the exclusion of voices and narratives from dominant heritage discourses and institutional frameworks.
The Future: Climate Change, Global Demand, Disruption
Investigate how heritage faces emerging pressures from environmental change, globalisation, and technological disruption. How can we safeguard heritage in the face of rising sea levels, resource extraction, population pressures, or shifting geopolitical landscapes? How can heritage practice respond to these disruptions and play an active role in shaping a more adaptive and resilient future?
Theme 2: Un-Settling
The Past: Disruption, Ancient Cultures and Techniques, Innovative Laws and Approaches
Revisit histories of upheaval and transformation. Highlight ancient practices and knowledge systems that challenge modern assumptions and explore legal and policy innovations that have reshaped heritage conservation and recognition - particularly for First Peoples and marginalised communities.
The Future: Regrouping and Rethinking, Adapting and Localising, Shared Democracy
Imagine new models of heritage that prioritise community agency, local adaptation, and inclusive governance. How can heritage practice be rethought to support shared democratic values, decentralised decision-making, and culturally responsive approaches?
Australia ICOMOS and the City of Ballarat are proud to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land which includes Ballarat today, the Wadawurrung and Dja Dja Wurrung People, and recognise their continuing connection to the land and waterways.
We pay our respects to all Elders, past and present, and extend this to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.