Public sculpture and its preservation
On Thursday, June 4, 2026, within the framework of the Council for Development, an expert consultation on Public Sculpture and its Conservation took place at the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SAZU). The discussion shed light on various aspects of public sculpture and the questions of its changing social significance and protection.
Among the participating experts were representatives of the Restoration Center of the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia. Mag. Martina Lesar Kikelj presented the contribution. Conservation of Bronze Sculpture in the Open Air in Slovenia: Status, Challenges, and Development Directions at the Conservation Center, Mag. Nina Žbona, on the other hand, lectured on the topic Public Sculpture: Conservation and Restoration Challenges between Theory and Practice.
The event was particularly important for the conservation and restoration profession, as it enabled us to highlight shortcomings in the preservation of public sculpture heritage from our perspective. The gap between the progress of the profession and its implementation in practice indicates the need for more consistent enforcement of professional standards in the planning and execution of interventions and the long-term maintenance of this type of heritage. The highlighted issues require concrete responses and systemic changes.
Summaries of contributions: https://www.sazu.si/events/6a0305b403f8580961b018b4,
Video event - video
