How is artistic intention knowable? What are the limits of an artist’s authority over the ongoing existence of their works? These longstanding questions are facing new pressures. International bodies have redefined authenticity as a relative quality that is not necessarily diminished by changes to a work’s artist-sanctioned ‘original’ state. Conservators are questioning how collections balance competing responsibilities of object access and physical preservation. Inspired by such turns, the aim of this special issue is to revisit the topic of artistic intention in conservation practice. Should a work’s living community be prioritized over the plausible wishes of its absent maker? What role does supposed intention play when a work has been irreparably decontextualized and changed? Whose interests do conservators serve, and how does navigating conflicting desires bring the profession to unexpected places? Contributions sought include short and long research articles, theoretical considerations, and technical notes.

The peer-reviewed Journal of American Institute for Conservation (JAIC) is seeking submissions on the topic of "Artistic Intention" for a special issue organized by Annika Svendsen Finne and Emily B. Frank.

Areas of interest include but are not limited to:

Historic and recent case studies which center a broad range of cultural heritage categories (e.g., sculpture, painting, textile, material culture, archaeological objects, performance, and installation-based works).
Contributions from professionals in allied fields (e.g., artists, art historians, archaeologists, and anthropologists).
Methodological or ethical reflections.

Authors are invited to submit an abstract in Word format (500 words max), including title of the proposed paper, and an article outline to the organizers by January 12, 2025 at annika.finnegmail.com.

The organizers will notify authors by February 9, 2025 of their decision, and selected articles must be submitted in their entirety through our online portal by August 29, 2025. https://rp.tandfonline.com/submission/create?journalCode=YJAC

Guidelines and style guide are at www.culturalheritage.org/journal.

You may send inquiries about the special issue to Annika Svendsen Finne and Emily B. Frank at the above email address.