ISC20C ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM / SIMPÓSIO ANUAL ISC20C

The ICOMOS ISC20C was established at the Xi’an General Assembly in 2005, after several years as an interim task force, during which time, its purpose and objectives were rigorously reviewed through extensive stakeholder consultation and community engagement. ICOMOS ISC20C was the first ICOMOS ISC with an interdisciplinary approach, and its first work plan was based on a global survey of ICOMOS National Committees (MAP20). The survey identified capacity-building needs and research gaps in identifying, conserving and valuing the diverse places that were products of the cultural themes of an entire century.

Since the beginning, ISC20C broke down not only disciplinary boundaries but also changed ICOMOS practice, becoming directly involved in advocacy for modern heritage sites under threat and working in close collaboration with partner organisations like UIA and Docomomo drawing up international heritage alerts. Over the last twenty years, the ISC20C actions, collaborations and theoretical contributions have underpinned its importance in spreading the awareness and the advocacy of twentieth-century heritage.

In 2025, to celebrate the journey of the ISC20C Committee and its achievements, our annual meeting will be held in Brazil, analysing the ICS20C’s contribution to date, discussing current challenges to inform its planning for the future. The conference will take a retrospective and a prospective approach. We will begin by examining the documents and initiatives developed to date, such as the Madrid New Delhi Document, International Heritage Alerts, and the Twentieth Century Historic Thematic Framework.

The second session aims to take the lessons learned from the past to inform future initiatives for the ICS20C, reflecting on emerging issues identified through the 2024 Twentieth Century Heritage Practice Survey.

The third session will look towards the future and examine emerging and new challenges, contemporary trends and approaches. Topics may inlcude intangible aspects of twentieth century heritage and increasing recognition of social value, which is often associated with use, practices, memories. We will also discuss how growing interest in such topics relates to the past emphasis on the conservation of fabric and architectural value.

The ISC20C symposium will take place in Brazil, a country where the consciousness of conserving the twentieth century heritage arose at the same time as the foundation of the legal and operative tools for the national heritage legal protection, without any age limitations for listing buildings. This allowed the recognition of buildings from the twentieth century by listing shortly after their completion.

To celebrate the ISC20C’s twentieth year, our annual conference in 2025, will reflect on the evolution of the ISC’s work in providing essential advocacy tools, practical guidance, and capacity-building initiatives. It will also present the current initiatives and encourage new members from different countries, to better respond to the emerging challenges and potentially broaden the approach.