Open Call for Submission of Papers on the Topic of Dissonant Heritage

Block
ERPH logo

Heritage is often celebrated as a shared legacy that fosters collective identities and social cohesion. However, not all heritage unites: some places and practices bear the imprint of conflict, oppression, colonialism, dictatorship, social injustice, and other forces. These dissonant heritages shape how we remember the past, which voices are recognized, and what futures we imagine, raising urgent questions such as:

  • How should such heritage be preserved, interpreted, or reimagined?
  • Who decides which narratives are told and which voices are heard?
  • Can heritage practices foster dialogue and reconciliation in contexts of contested memories?

This special issue will be published in erph_electronic journal of historical heritage, a peer-reviewed biannual journal of the Department of Art History at the University of Granada, published by Editorial Universidad de Granada and indexed in major international databases:
https://revistaseug.ugr.es/index.php/erph/index

We invite critical reflections on the theories, practices, and ethical dilemmas surrounding dissonant heritage. We seek contributions that examine how disputed, painful, or marginalized histories are preserved, interpreted, questioned, or reimagined. In an era marked both by the decolonization of narratives and the politicization of history, this issue aims to highlight innovative approaches that embrace the complexity of contested pasts and explore how heritage can serve as a space for multivocality, dialogue, and transformation.

Submissions are welcome from scholars, professionals, and artists from diverse disciplines. Contributions may include research articles, theoretical essays, or practice-based reflections. Possible topics include (but are not limited to):

  • Theoretical frameworks for defining and analyzing dissonant heritage.
  • Interpretive strategies for contested sites that incorporate multiple perspectives.
  • Ethical considerations in the conservation, interpretation, and management of difficult histories.
  • Case studies from diverse geographical, political, and cultural contexts.
  • Artistic, performative, or digital methodologies for engaging with contested or silenced pasts.
  • Heritage as a platform for reconciliation, resistance, or critical pedagogy.

Submissions are especially encouraged that:

  • Offer global and comparative perspectives.
  • Give voice to underrepresented communities.
  • Include interdisciplinary or cross-sectoral approaches.
  • Highlight the work of early-career researchers and emerging professionals.

 

 

Editors and Coordinators of the Special Issue on Dissonant Heritage:

  • Celia Martínez Yáñez. Director of erph. Professor, Department of Art History, University of Granada. Member of the ICOMOS Committee.
  • Julia García González. Editor-in-Chief of erph. Lecturer, Department of Art History, University of Granada. ICOMOS Spain.
  • Francisco Delgado Chica. PhD, Department of Art History, University of Granada. ICOMOS Spain, Emerging Professionals Working Group.
  • Mariana P. L. Pereira. Postdoctoral Researcher, Heritage for Global Challenges Research Centre, University of York. ICOMOS Board Member, ICOMOS Portugal, Emerging Professionals Working Group.
  • Aurore Burette. Conservation Architect, ICOMOS Belgium, Emerging Professionals Working Group.
  • Marie Baudis, MA. Art Historian, ICOMOS Germany, Emerging Professionals Working Group.

 

 

Submission Guidelines:
Manuscripts, in English or Spanish, must follow the erph author guidelines. The maximum length is 75,000 characters (approximately 12,000 words or 20 pages), including spaces, references, notes, and image captions. Submission guidelines are available here.

Submission deadline: December 20, 2025
Expected publication: 2026

Topic inquiries: epwg.onlineschool@icomos.org
Submission inquiries: redaccionerph@ugr.es
 

 


Kijk voor meer informatie op de website van ERPH: https://revistaseug.ugr.es/index.php/erph/announcement/view/303.