The International Committee for Architecture and Museum Techniques (ICAMT) of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) organizes an annual international conference that brings together experts from different fields, namely museography, museology, architecture, and exhibition design.

This year, the 49th International Conference of ICAMT – ICOM International Committee for Architecture and Museum Techniques, will be hosted by the University of Porto, from October 25 to 27, 2023. Together with ICAMT, the Portuguese entities responsible for organizing this event are the Transdisciplinary Research Center “Culture, Space and Memory” (CITCEM) and the Center for Architecture and Urbanism Studies (CEAU).

The main theme of the conference will beá “Undoing conflict in museums: materiality and meaning of museum architecture and exhibition design.” Conference participants will be able to focus their thoughts on the Power of Conflict. Discussing how opposing ideas can enhance change and evolution in museums and exhibitions, and what the role of architecture and exhibition design is in managing conflict in museums.

The conference offers a variety of case studies, including museum visits to consider how museum practices have faced various conflicts in terms of architectural choices and exhibition production.

Complementarily, we also offer different creative arts/design based workshops to discuss these issues.

It will be possible to choose between different round tables where four key themes will be discussed:

(HOT) TOPICS

Key Theme 1 – Dealing with Conflict

Key Theme 2 – Symbols of Conflict

Key Theme 3 – Processes and Conflict

Key Theme 4 – Healing, Resistance and the Future

Participants in this event can do so by using the following presentation formats:

Paper Presentations – These will be in person and will last from 15 to 20 minutes (max.)

Digital Posters – Still image (jpeg, jpg) for online exhibition

Short-Videos – 8 to 10 minute presentations for online viewing

All submissions and presentations (papers, posters, short-videos) must be in English.

Proposals should be sent to the following email address: icamtporto2023@gmail.com by May 31, 2023 (midnight GTM)

Other important dates are:

July 5, 2023 – Communication of acceptance or rejection of the proposal.

September 5, 2023 (midnight GMT) – Deadline for submission of final papers, posters and short-videos.

For more information and updates, the Organizing Committee makes available the conference link https://id.letras.up.pt/icamt2023porto/, as well as the social network pages Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Linkedin.