Thematic Approach to Identifying and Assessing Twentieth-Century Heritage

Through development, publication, and dissemination of the Twentieth-Century Historic Thematic Framework, this project promotes an expanded understanding of the types of places that constitute twentieth-century heritage using a theme-based approach. Structuring surveys of twentieth-century places around historical themes rather than chronology or architectural significance fosters a full understanding of the historical context of an area or place and recognition of a more diverse, inclusive, and historically representative range of heritage places.

• Produced and distributed, Twentieth-Century Historic Thematic Framework, a practical tool for assessing and identifying a broadly representative range of twentieth-century heritage places
• Translated the framework into French, Spanish, and Arabic (forthcoming) for enhanced international accessibility
• As of July 2023, developed and delivered three workshops on the value of the thematic approach and how to use the Twentieth-Century Historic Thematic Framework to heritage practitioners from different regions of the world in collaboration with the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Twentieth-Century Heritage and other international partners
• Created three videos explaining the framework and its themes and showing how it can be used.
• Delivered presentations on the thematic framework at six conferences as of July 2023

Chandler McCoy, Project Manager, Senior Project Specialist; Susan Macdonald, Head Buildings & Sites; Gail Ostergren, Research Specialist

ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Twentieth-Century Heritage (ISC20C)