Foresight for Cultural Materials Preservation: The Role of Environmental Scanning in Conservation

Abstract

This paper introduces foresight methodologies and their application to conservation with particular focus on environmental scanning. Organised into two parts, the first section of the paper describes case studies of environmental scanning activities undertaken by the gallery, library, archives and museums (GLAM) sector. It argues that as a profession we are poorly represented in discussions about the future of collection materials and the means for its preservation. It outlines recommendations as to how an environmental scanning capacity might best address these concerns and be implemented to serve the Australian conservation community. The second part deals with the underlying principles of foresight as a discipline, specifically with the process and aims of environmental scanning (also called horizon scanning) as it is commonly understood within the futures field. Using probability as a both a point of connection and counterpoint to risk frameworks currently applied in conservation practice, it describes how foresight has come to understand futures as having subjective, objective, personal and collective dimensions. The ability to engage and work across these dimensions is essential in developing robust and meaningful conservation outcomes and develop futures literacy within the profession.