The three-day event in Nantucket, Massachusetts, the United States of America, will confront the negative impacts of climate change on cultural heritage around the world
Nantucket, Massachusetts, USA, 18 October 2022 – The US National Park Service (NPS) and Nantucket Historical Association (NHA), in partnership with ICCROM, will host a three-day symposium exploring the latest climate change research and develop strategies for advancing climate conservation and protection.
The event will occur at the Whaling Museum in Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States of America, from 6 to 8 December 2022. There will be working meetings with climate change experts on 6 and 7 December and a free, public community forum on 8 December, which will also be live-streamed on Zoom.
Nantucket, an island about 50 kilometres off the coast of Massachusetts, was a global whaling capital from the late-eighteenth century until the mid-nineteenth century. Today, the island and town are among the largest National Historic Landmark Districts on the US east coast, with more than 800 structures built before 1850. Coastal flooding, erosion and other climate change-related risks threaten the historical sites and cultural resources that comprise Nantucket’s National Historic Landmark District.
Anticipated outcomes from the symposium include the development of a strategic framework to inform future research and actions and the adoption of a formal declaration of the climate change challenges facing cultural heritage locations globally.
“With the impact of rising sea levels threatening our iconic historic structures, the NHA is engaging with leading experts to examine how we might respond to this issue, protect our cultural resources and help to create modes that could be useful for other communities and organizations,” said NHA Gosnell Executive Director, Niles Parker.
Registration to attend the community forum in person opens on 7 November at NHA.org. Capacity is limited, and registration is required.
The Zoom link will be made available soon.
The workshop and symposium are supported by the Osceola Foundation, Inc. (Walter Beinecke, Jr. family), the ReMain Nantucket Fund managed by the Community Foundation for Nantucket and Michelle Kolb, Kolb Architects.
Jennifer Copithorne
ICCROM Communications
(+39) 0658553413
Ashley Santos
Nantucket Historical Association (NHA)
(+1) 508-228-1894, ext. 131
ICCROM is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to the conservation of cultural heritage. ICCROM aims at improving the quality of conservation practice as well as raising awareness about the importance of preserving cultural heritage. It serves the international community as represented by its Member States. ICCROM contributes to preserving cultural heritage in the world today and for the future through five main areas of activity: training, information, research, cooperation and advocacy.
The United States National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.
The Nantucket Historical Association’s mission is to preserve and interpret the history of Nantucket through its programs, collections and properties to promote the island’s significance and foster an appreciation of it among all audiences.