The Renewal was an event in Federation society of the future.
Overview[]
The Renewal involved the deliberate destruction of all artwork and similar aspects of culture by the citizens over a period of eight days and a complete mind-wipe of every citizen afterwards. This mind-wipe was accomplished by releasing specialized nanoprobes into the atmosphere which affected key areas of the brain. The release of these nanites was carefully timed all across the Federation and initiated by the respective planetary leaders. This process was repeated every fifty years.
History[]
Renewal was opposed by the Archivists, who secretly saved works of art in the Yolja Citadel on Bajor. When 24th century Starfleet officers Captain Benjamin Sisko, Lieutenant Jadzia Dax and Lieutenant Worf accidentally time travelled to the 36th century, they were able to convince the local Federation leader on Bajor, P'Tash, to not initiate the final phase of the Renewal on their planet. (DS9 short story: "The Façade of Fate")