CALL FOR PAPERS

INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS
July 6–8, 2027, Porto

This conference marks the 55th anniversary of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. Taking the Convention as its starting point, the conference addresses the constantly evolving definition of heritage that UNESCO has been proposing throughout this period: artistic, natural, and cultural heritage, and, more recently, from the perspective of communities, tourism, technology, the media, cultural industries, and local economies. Currently, it encompasses what some define as traditional art forms, architectural and social history, as well as emerging practices in cultural studies and the digital humanities. As a result, our current understanding of cultural heritage requires interdisciplinary knowledge, approaches, and collaborations—including artistic, architectural, social, technological, and other fields.

In response to this evolving concept of heritage, this conference welcomes critiques, research projects, and analyses of issues across the entire sector. Whether they reflect on the emergence of digital heritage or the longevity of established methods in art history; whether they examine the historical development of museums or explore the decolonization of collections and archives; or whether they analyze the social impacts of tourism or the financial foundations of the art world.

The purpose of the event is to gain a better understanding of the diversity of practices, ideas, and concerns that currently shape the heritage sector. By taking place in the city of Porto, the event is held in a location characterized by the complexity described by UNESCO. A coastal city and one of Europe’s oldest urban centers, Porto bears traces of its Celtic, Phoenician, and Muslim past. A global maritime hub in the 15th century, it developed unique cultural and culinary traditions, becoming Europe’s first protected wine-growing region in the 18th century. Its historic center was designated a World Heritage Site in 1996 and is currently a National Monument of Portugal. Home to some of Portugal’s finest examples of art, architecture, and digital heritage, it was named European City of Culture in 2001.

Organized by AMPS and the University of Porto, in collaboration with the University of IPCA—Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave—the conference features several tracks.