Communicating a Conservation-Restoration Project: The Case of Chapel of Original Sin at the Sacro Monte di Varallo

Greta Acuto

greta.acuto@virgilio.it
(Italy)
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5079-2059

Abstract

The Sacro Monte di Varallo (Sacro Monte of Varallo) is a natural reserve and religious place near Monte Rosa, Piedmont (Italy). Some of the greatest artists of the time worked there to create a representation of the places and events of Christ life with life-size statues and mural paintings, starting from the 15th century. The Conservation and Restoration Center 'La Venaria Reale' carried out a model conservation-restoration project focusing on the conservation of Chapel 1 (which represents the Original Sin). This project was developed as a case study  efforts  to properly communicate the conservation-restoration issued and the work carried out to different audiences. This initiative is part of a broader project, the Interreg Italy-Switzerland 'Main10ance', which aims to develop a sustainable conservation program for the UNESCO Sacro Montes. Communication was carried out on several levels, based on the interest of visitors, through the following avenues:1 - explanatory panels near Chapel 1;2 – explanatory tours with conservators and other professionals;3 – creation of website with information, insights and news dedicated to the work in progress.To create a more effective and engaging communication, information relating to visitors was collected. The public was grouped according to different characteristics in three public targets: Children; Adult; and Blind people. For each, a reference guidelines and a specific narrative was developed:•      to involve children it was decided to use games;•      to address adults, it was decided to focus the discussion on the frequently asked questions posed by visitors;•      to bring the blind public closer, an evocative visit was proposed. Mock-ups were prepared to give the possibility to touch them, in order to make people understand the difference between surface in good condition and in degraded state.


Keywords:

conservation-restoration, communication, storytelling, narrative, audience engagement

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Published
2022-12-31

Cited by

Acuto, G. (2022). Communicating a Conservation-Restoration Project: The Case of Chapel of Original Sin at the Sacro Monte di Varallo. Protection of Cultural Heritage, (13), 37–50. https://doi.org/10.35784/odk.2943

Authors

Greta Acuto 
greta.acuto@virgilio.it
Italy
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5079-2059

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