Call for Contributions: Well-being and Cultural Heritage conference

University of Catania (IT), 11-12 February 2021*


Organizers: CHAIN (Cultural Heritage Academic Interdisciplinary Network) team, PhD in Sciences of Cultural Heritage and Production (University of Catania)


Deadline for submission: 15 November 2020



Well-being is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030AfSD), which was adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. Well-being is therein linked to the theme of Health and is closely connected to the psychophysical facet of an individual.

However, the 2030AfSD does not directly associate the concept of “well-being” with cultural heritage unlike what emerges in contemporary academic debate on both cultural heritage and health promotion (Fujiwara D., Cornwall T., and Dolan P. 2014; Taçon P.S.C., and Baker S., 2019, Sacco P.G. 2020).


The potential of cultural heritage as a well-being producer seems to be recognized almost entirely on a theoretical level, and it is often excluded from long-term planning of public policies.

The very recent health crisis triggered by COVID-19 has emphasised some of the contradictions related to the value of cultural heritage: on the one hand, the increasing fragility of the cultural milieu; on the other, the daily individual need for manifold forms of cultural fruition is rediscovered as essential means of social and relational well-being.


This conference aims at gathering paper proposals on the relationships between cultural heritage and well-being through the reawakening and questioning of the two distinct words in the compound noun: ‘well’ and ‘being’. Participants are invited to submit contributions exploring the ‘heritage — wellbeing’ interconnection, by approaching one or more of the following macro-themes at a theoretical level and/or through the observation of case studies:


- MEMORY: identity, community, challenges and problems of the global dimension.

- PERCEPTION: body (affection/feelings, cognition, collective imaginary,
experientiality); digital transmissibility (technologies, datasets, algorithms and
digital media).

- RESEARCH-ACTIONS: enjoyment and education; economy and places of culture
(arts, enterprises and production systems); projects, sustainability, impact
assessment.


This interdisciplinary study meeting is intended to be an opportunity to join the
discussion on an urgent and pressing issue for those engaged in the academic line of
cultural heritage and/or production.

The conference is, although not exclusively, intended for doctoral students working in the field of cultural heritage and well-being. Every speaker will have 20 minutes; discussion time devoted to dialogue and debate will be arranged. Daily sessions will be introduced by a keynote lecture.


An abstract (max. 300 words) – in Italian or English – along with an essential bibliography and a short CV, can be sent by 15 November 2020 to the e-mail address: info@chain-conference.com.

Notification of acceptance will be sent via e-mail by 30 November 2020.


For further information please check our official website: www.chain-conference.com and our social channels (Facebook, LinkedIn).


*all the indicated dates are approximate and to be defined.


Attached find the complete PDF of the call, also available online: https://www.chain-conference.com/chain-2021/call.



CHAIN TEAM-conference.com

Thea Messina (Archaeology)
Stefano Russo (Cultural Economics)
Giuseppe Sanfratello (Ethnomusicology)
Giovanna Santaera (Cinema, television and photography)


SUPERVISORS

Prof. Maria Rosa De Luca (Musicology)
Prof. Pietro Militello (Archeology)
Prof. Anna Mignosa (Cultural Economics)
Prof. Stefania Rimini (Cinema, television and photography)
Prof. Romilda Rizzo (Public Economics)


CHAIN Conference Team - Cultural Heritage Academic Interdisciplinary Network

Dottorato in Scienze per il Patrimonio e la Produzione Culturale
Dipartimento di Scienze Umanistiche, Università degli Studi di Catania
Piazza Dante, 32, Catania (CT) 95124
Sito: www.chain-conference.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/chainconference
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/cultural-heritage-academic-interdisciplinary-network