Conserving Public art in Sweden: What do we preserve and who decides?

Conserving Public art in Sweden: What do we preserve and who decides?

Apr 7, 2022, 16:00 CET (Stockholm)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://gu-se.zoom.us/j/65127765484?pwd=bGxKSkVISVY5OWQrNWk3VytjSUEvZz09

Please contact Stavroula Golfomitsou if trouble with zoom link.

Public art is an important aspect of our living space. Some art is monumental praising the past, others relate to important figures, others may be more abstract. Sweden’s policy on “Gestaltadlivsmiljö” includes art in public spaces showing a strong will to invest in it. Maintenance and conservation of public art are both costly and not always considered during commissioning. Today we have become increasingly aware of the inherent susceptibilities of artist materials - and their intrinsic fragility. Art in the public sphere can be enriching or controversial and may attract strong reactions or even vandalism, and can drastically change in significance and appearance with time. The panel will examine these issues, looking at Sweden’s policies and professional conservation approaches, and address the need for training conservators in the future.

The discussion is part of the FoU project: A critical assessment of Wall Painting Conservation in Sweden and CCHS Heritage and Science Cluster.

Image by: Ridå by Filip Nilsson 1966, photo Cissela Génetay, RAÄ