ANNOUNCEMENT

Announcement

The professional association Conservators-Restorers Associated of Catalonia (CRAC) announces the 18th Technical Meeting on Conservation-Restoration, which will take place at CaixaForum Barcelona on 19–20 November 2026.

Topic of the Technical Meeting

Conservation – restoration is fully entering a new stage marked by digitalization, the use of emerging technologies and the application of Artificial Intelligence. Given the new environmental, social and material challenges, the profession is facing a profound transformation, where digital tools and data analysis are becoming fundamental allies in the preservation of cultural heritage.

The inclusion of AI and new technologies is overturning fields as diagnosis, intervention and heritage management. This congress is willing to become a space for reflection and exchange of contributions and enhancement of these tools on conservation procedures, while promoting sustainable actions in the long term. At the same time, the meeting aims to explore the new insights and innovative approaches of AI in the interpretation of cultural heritage.

Interdisciplinarity and collaboration between scientists, technology experts and conservators – restorers are key in this emerging paradigm, calling all of us to redefine methodologies, expanding the boundaries of the discipline and anticipating future changes.

This XVIII Technical Meeting is adressed to all conservation – restoration professionals, as well as technical profiles and researchers interested in developing innovative solutions to protect cultural heritage.

Which fields can be covered in the Meeting?

• AI and machine learning applied to analysis of materials, diagnosis and detection of deterioration.
• 3D scanning, photogrammetry, digital models and visual recreations with generative AI.
• Robotics and 3D printing applied to conservation – restoration interventions.
• Intelligent collection management systems: environmental monitoring, predictive databases and automated maintenance.
• Digital processing of historical technical documentation with OCR and NLP.
• Emerging models of management and decision-making based on data.
• Development of interdisciplinary protocols in heritage contexts.
• Ethical and philosophical considerations of IA application.

This technical meeting aims to be an open window for exposing research, implemented projects, case studies or technological developments in the field of conservation – restoration.

Thematic areas suggested:

1. Heritage diagnosis and digital heritage analysis.
2. Emerging technologies applied to intervention.
3. Intelligent management of collections and Heritage surroundings.

Presentation of oral communications and posters

Interested persons can submit an abstract of their oral presentation or poster (maximum 750 words) through the form by clicking the
SUBMIT PROPOSAL button below.

The submission deadline is December 19, 2025.

Templates for poster and oral presentations will be available for download soon.

For any questions, please contact reuniotecnica@cracpatrimoni.com.

CRAC encourages you to participate in this call, which aims to highlight technological innovation as an essential tool for protecting our cultural heritage. It is a unique opportunity to share knowledge, establish synergies, and advance towards a more connected, efficient, and prepared approach to conservation-restoration in the 21st century.

Dates

December 19, 2025: deadline for abstract submission
January 23, 2026: selection of contributions and notification to authors
March 6, 2026: manuscript submission
March–May 2026: review by the scientific committee