Conservation Principles and Methods
Buildings and Sites Department
A number of widely accepted principles and methods guide the field of heritage conservation internationally. Such concepts including the values-based approach are integral to the design and implementation of all Getty Conservation Institute’s field projects.
Since the mid-1990s, the Conservation Institute has also been engaged in research on the values and economics of cultural heritage, which has been disseminated through a series of publications and case studies, as well as through development and publication of the Principles for the Conservation of Heritage Sites in China (China Principles), intended as a model approach. These national guidelines for the conservation and management of Chinese cultural heritage both respect and reflect Chinese traditions and approaches to conservation. This work has continued as a basis for our process and practice.
The Buildings and Sites department has also been engaged in research designed to advance the ability of heritage professionals to develop constructive stakeholder relationships and to adopt participatory planning, consensus building, and conflict resolution methodologies to heritage place management.
Our work aims to promote a broader understanding of the multiple values of cultural heritage places through the development of training modules and research on social value. We aim to embed values-based approaches and community engagement and empowerment into practice through training, publications, and model field projects.
Our recent work aims to promote a broader understanding of the multiple values of cultural heritage places through the empowerment of communities and traditional owners as knowledge holders and stewards of heritage places.