Feedback in the conservation ensemble

Henderson, Jane ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3027-8452 and Waller, Robert 2026. Feedback in the conservation ensemble. Studies in Conservation 71 (S1) , pp. 123-129. 10.1080/00393630.2026.2674859

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Abstract

Conservation faces a major challenge in obtaining meaningful feedback because its outcomes unfold over generations, while societal values evolve unpredictably. Conservators rely on peer consultation within the conservation ensemble for guidance and risk calibration. While stakeholder input is sought for complex projects, everyday decisions often default to technical heuristics or peer norms, limiting broader societal feedback in practice. Seeking input only from other conservators in the immediate professional peer group is quick and effective in reducing the emotional burden of acting as sole advocate for the collections. At times checking that we are doing the right thing may even involve imagining what a peer might say. Conservators face three core feedback challenges: the impossibility of predicting future societal values, reliance on technical metrics over social outcomes, and dependence on internal professional networks for validation. Systems theory highlights the need for broader, permeable feedback channels that include diverse stakeholders. Expanding beyond technical heuristics toward socially framed questions can improve resilience and ensure conservation decisions deliver long-term societal value.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > History, Archaeology and Religion
Publisher:	Taylor and Francis Group
ISSN:	0039-3630
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	23 July 2026
Date of Acceptance:	11 May 2026
Last Modified:	06 Oct 2026 13:26
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/188434

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