Submission Guidelines

“Cultural Heritage Diplomacy in Theory and Praxis,” ACLA 2026 Montreal May/June 2026

Abstract submission link: https://www.acla.org/submit-paper-proposal  (deadline October 2)

Tim Winter famously defines heritage diplomacy as “a set of processes whereby cultural and natural pasts shared between and across nations become subject to exchanges, collaborations and forms of cooperative governance” (2015). 

What conceptual frameworks help us to probe cultural heritage as a diplomatic event, a political mandate, or a form of public outreach? Specific forms of cultural heritage are sites of perpetual contest, their boundaries and historical teleologies subject to dispute. Yet cultural heritage also features prominently in diplomatic missions to forge ties, negotiate, build collaborations, invent communities and shared cultural spaces, and promote joint causes.

This seminar aims to expand on the theories and praxis underpinning cultural heritage diplomacy in historical and contemporary contexts. Topics of interest include: 

• Comparative approaches to heritage and diplomacy;
• Critical heritage theory in the context of diplomacy;
• Cultural heritage as mediating between foreign and domestic, national and global, colonial and decolonial mandates;
• Culture and heritage as diplomatic assets;
• Conservation, restoration, propaganda, stewardship, and notions of patrimoine/matrimoine;
• Diplomatic uses of tangible, intangible, and digital heritage;
• Cultural heritage in diplomacy, cultural heritage as diplomacy;
• Public institutions (eg. museums, theatres, etc.) as sites for diplomatic activity or resistance;
• Museology and diplomacy;
• Heritage diplomacy as theory and event;
• How theories and practices of heritage diplomacy intersect.

Historical and contemporary case studies are welcome but should develop broader theoretical and practical issues. The seminar cultivates broadly interdisciplinary and intermedial perspectives – topics from across the humanities are welcome.

Proposal submission guidelines:

• 300-word title and abstract for a 15-20 min. presentation
• 150-word academic bio of each presenter
• Audio-visual and accessibility requirements

Seminar format: 12 participants will meet 3 times during the conference. Participants will be invited to circulate a 2-3 page executive summary (in point form) of their research project in advance, which will serve to familiarize the other participants with the main context(s), themes, and concepts of their paper. During the seminar, participants will have 15-20 minutes to present their research in more detail. Significant seminar time will be reserved for discussion and synthesis and plans for continued collaboration. 

Additional information:

• If the seminar is not approved by the ACLA for whatever reason, the event will be hosted at the organiser’s home institution in Montreal either during or immediately preceding the main ACLA event. Participants can therefore propose presentations in full confidence that the seminar will take place.
• A small travel bursary is available to student participants and independent scholars. Please indicate in your abstract submission if you wish to be considered for a bursary.

Contact

Please contact Katharina Clausius (katharina.clausius@umontreal.ca) with any questions.