“Hidden Gems” - ICDAD Virtual Conference
ICOM International Committee for Museums and Collections of Decorative Arts and Design
15–16 October 2020

The 2020 Annual Conference and General Assembly of ICOM International Committee for Museums and Collections of Decorative Arts and Design was meant to take place in Lisbon, Portugal, in October of 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ICDAD board has elected to postpone the previously selected theme of “Revivals” to 2021, when we hope to meet in Lisbon in person. All proposals already submitted for the “Revivals” meeting will be eligible for the 2021 meeting, and the CFP will re-open for new proposals at a future date. In October of 2020, ICDAD will instead host an online meeting centered around the theme of “hidden gems.”

Every public decorative arts and design collection has hidden corners and unplumbed depths, and many private collections are difficult for outsiders to access during the best of times, much less during a pandemic. As institutions and individuals face the possibility that we might not be able to visit each other’s museums and discuss with colleagues in person for some time, ICDAD is thrilled to host a two-day virtual conference and general assembly exploring these hidden holdings in decorative arts and design collections around the world.

Does your collection have objects that you wish scholars and visitors knew more about? What is the subject on which you have always wanted to present an exhibition or essay, or a small yet significant story that has not yet been highlighted at your institution? If you work with a private collection, what in your holdings would you most like to see made accessible to the wider design community? We welcome presentations that address any of these questions, as well as issues related to:

- Challenging collections that require special treatment, both physically and intellectually
- Stories of “hidden” or underrepresented collectors, or unexpected ways that a collection may have come together
- Works by designers and makers who were previously unknown or under-explored
- Collection access and display, physical and digital, their challenges and best practice examples

Submission: please send an abstract of 250–300 words including your name, job position, institution, short CV, photo (headshot), ICOM number and ICDAD membership confirmation [1], to Shoshana Resnikoff at editoricom-icdad.org by July 1, 2020.

Format: The conference will be held digitally October 15–16, 2020. Presentations should not exceed 20 minutes in length and should be accompanied by a powerpoint slide show. The official language of the conference is English. The annual general assembly will take place online during these dates as well.

Please contact Shoshana Resnikoff at editoricom-icdad.org with any questions, and we look forward to seeing you (online!) in October.