We invite authors of both theoretical or empirical research studies to join us at a workshop devoted to the concept of resilience in general and connected to urban heritage in particular (November 15th – 16th, 2018, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic).
The idea of the workshop is rooted in our project which observes adaptation processes in historical perspective in the context of accelerating urbanisation; focuses on the new important phenomenon of cultural heritage; analyses the role of experts in managing our society in various regions. All these research strands are reflected, to a varying extent and in different ways, in the context of changing but at the same time stable and resilient city, by means of a creative implementation of innovations and a strategic use of tangible and intangible cultural heritage. In approach to cultural heritage we are inspired by Graham and Howard (2008), understanding it as a result of negotiation through which some past is selected for protection and representation for the present and to leave message for the future. We focus mainly, though not exclusively, on European towns and cities for which the self-identification, historicity, stability of form, and a set of urban functions are more important criteria of urbanity than the number of inhabitants.
Resilience is a broad term (e.g. Bollig 2014) pointing to the capacity of the system to adapt to various external pressures and disturbances. In relation to cities it is most often used when the capacity of cities to resist or recover from natural and man-made catastrophes is explored – floods, earthquakes, war destructions. How can we explore adaptation of cities through resilience? How is it linked to sustainability? To resistance? How is resilience related to cultural heritage and cities? Is resilience limited to this perspective, or is there more? Who can influence the process of making the city’s heritage resilient?
We invite contributions built on various approaches and various understanding of adaptation of cities (urbanized societies), of resilient heritage and resilience of heritage. The language of the workshop will be English. Please send your name, professional affiliation and a title of your contribution to luda.klusakova@ff.cuni.cz by September 30th, 2018. The organizers will announce the selection of contributors and the final programme on 15th October.
The workshop is supported by KREAS and REACH projects.
Organizers: Institute of Sociological Studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences, KREAS VP2WP3 “Adaptation in Historical Perspective” research team, and REACH project at the Institute of World History of the Faculty of Arts, Charles University, the Czech division of the UNESCO–MOST Program.
