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ICOMOS Symposium 2025 on Binational Historic Preservation:
Call for Abstracts
July/August 2025
Preservation professionals, advocates, and enthusiasts from throughout the Americas will gather November 17-21, for the ICOMOS Symposium 2025, a binational event exploring the shared heritage and preservation challenges of our region. The non-governmental organization's full name is the International Council on Monuments and Sites.
The symposium theme is Binational Historic Preservation Issues. The gathering will be held at the Centro Estatal de las Artes (CEART) in Ensenada, Baja California, with a special San Diego tour that underscores the binational ties and cultural exchange. The symposium will bring together leading voices in preservation to address critical themes shaping our field, such as:
- Cultural Heritage and Regional Development – Discover how preserving cultural heritage fuels economic growth through tourism, adaptive reuse, revitalization of historic centers, urban regeneration, and sustainability.
- Cross-Border Heritage in the Americas – Explore shared architectural styles, materials, and heritage corridors, from Missions and railways to fortifications, vernacular housing, and mobile architecture.
- Transhumance and Migration in Border Contexts – Celebrate intangible heritage and the rich traditions of diasporic communities through music, language, and gastronomy, along with rituals and Indigenous knowledge.
- ICOMOS in the Americas: 60 Years of Preservation – Reflect on six decades of leadership, conservation tools, and the technical, legislative, and social frameworks that shape our preservation work.
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Keynote Highlight
On Tuesday, November 18, internationally respected historic preservation economist Donovan Rypkema of PlaceEconomics will deliver the keynote address, offering insights into the economic benefits and policy frameworks that support and strengthen historic preservation efforts. His firm is currently conducting an analysis of preservation in San Diego, bringing timely relevance to his address.
This landmark gathering is jointly convened by ICOMOS of the Region of the Americas, including Latin America, the Caribbean, the United States, and Canada, alongside ICOMOS Mexico, ICOMOS USA, and ICOMOS Colombia. Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO) is among the additional organizing partners, which include national and regional cultural agencies, local governments, museums, and community organizations.
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Call for Abstracts
Interested in sharing your work at this international symposium? Abstract submissions are open until October 15, 2025. Present your research, projects, or innovative ideas to a global audience of cultural heritage professionals.
Submit abstracts to simposiodelasamericas@gmail.com
Symposium Goals
The symposium also marks sixty years since the founding of ICOMOS and ICOMOS Mexico A.C., providing a pivotal moment for reflection on the state of heritage preservation in the Americas. Together, participants will consider the challenges and opportunities of the near future, including climate change, social conflict, disasters, and globalization, with the goal of charting a path forward to 2040.
While the symposium is international in scope, it may produce an important binational agreement for our region. When the Presidents of the ICOMOS Region of the Americas meet during the symposium, they are expected to create the Charter of Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, and San Diego, California, a document of commitments and cooperation agreements to guide future preservation in our border region and throughout the Americas.
SOHO is proud to participate as an organizing partner of this significant gathering, which will convene academics, professionals, and community organizations from Mexico, the U.S., and Colombia to collaborate on scientific, community-based, and governmental approaches to heritage preservation.
ICOMOS Symposium 2025 offers a rare opportunity to engage in cross-border dialogue, build connections, and experience firsthand the rich cultural heritage of both Baja California and San Diego.
Mark your calendars now. Registration details will be announced soon.
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