The workshop “Public Art needs Continuous Care” is organized within the framework of the PNR 81 Baukultur research project “Cultural Heritage needs Continuous Care”, coordinated by a team of researchers from the Department of Environment, Construction and Design of SUPSI and supervised by Giacinta Jean (Full Professor of History and Techniques of Conservation and Restoration), in collaboration with the City of Lugano’s Department of Culture.

The event is conceived as a thematic Living Lab, creating a space for discussion among professionals working on issues related to the maintenance of public art in different Swiss contexts. For this occasion, a network of experts and practitioners will come together to exchange views on shared topics.

“Public art” refers to artworks displayed outdoors—such as monuments, fountains, sculptures, and murals—located in urban public spaces, museums, parks, and cemeteries.

How are the phases of knowledge acquisition about artworks, regular monitoring of their state of conservation, and their continuous care addressed in Switzerland? What results have been achieved, and what challenges remain?

During the workshop, case studies differing in scale, geographical context, and recurring issues will be presented in order to compare perspectives, ranging from public administrations responsible for managing interventions to conservator-restorers who carry them out.

The workshop will take place on Friday, 6 February 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., in the Multipurpose Hall of the SUPSI Campus in Mendrisio (Department of Environment, Construction and Design, via Flora Ruchat Roncati 15). For workshop participants, a guided tour of the city of Lugano is scheduled on Saturday, 7 February, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., led by Francesca Piqué (Full Professor of Conservation Science of Cultural Heritage and Head of the Conservation and Restoration Unit at the SUPSI Institute of Materials and Construction) and Federica Alamia (City of Lugano, Department of Culture).

CH needs CC – Cultural Heritage needs Continuous Care

Built heritage, from historic buildings to public art, represents an essential component of our collective identity and makes a significant contribution to the quality of the spaces in which we live. Too often, the care of these assets is postponed until damage occurs.

The project “CH needs CC – Cultural Heritage needs Continuous Care”, running until 2029, proposes a shift in paradigm: maintenance understood as sustainable, long-term conservation. The project is funded within the framework of the National Research Programme NRP 81 Baukultur and coordinated by a team from the Department of environment constructions and design SUPSI, under the supervision of Giacinta Jean, Full Professor of History and Techniques of Conservation and Restoration.

The National Research Programme (NRP) 81 is dedicated to Baukultur and supports research projects aimed at developing strategies, best practices, and procedures to sustainably improve the quality of the built and natural environment for the benefit of society as a whole.