National Conservation & Education Skills Strategy Endorsement
"Education and skills are fundamental to the future of the conservation sector. ICON's new Education
and Skills Strategy is ambitious, but realistic in its ambitions and with the backing of its different
stakeholders provides a route-map by which it may become reality. I congratulate ICON on taking
the initiative and urge its partners to support them wholeheartedly." -- Baroness Sharp of Guildford
The Strategy has been formally endorsed by the following organisations:
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The Clothworkers Foundation
The Radcliffe Trust
National Portrait Gallery
The Heritage Crafts Association
Creative and Cultural Skills
Cardiff University
IHBC (The Institute of Historic Building Conservation)
BAFRA (The British Antique Furniture Restorer's Association)
Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology University of Oxford
British Library
IfA (Institute for Archaeologists)
The National Trust for Scotland
National Trust
ARA (Archives and Records Association UK & Ireland)
The John Rylands Library The University of Manchester
Historic Royal Palaces
English Heritage
Arts Council England issued a press release following the launch of the Strategy - Arts
Council welcomes strategy aimed at protecting and preserving cultural objects.
Endorsements from a selection of the above organisations:
Hedley Swain, Director of Museums and Renaissance at Arts Council England:
"The Arts Council welcomes the National Conservation Education and Skills Strategy. In promoting
the development of conservation education, this strategy will help ensure the protection and
preservation of cultural objects for future generations. The vision will also map out a range of career
paths, raising awareness of conservation as a subject, and hopefully diversifying the workforce and
leadership of the sector."
Ms. Kate Frame, Head of Conservation and Collection Care, Historic Royal Palaces:
"On behalf of Historic Royal Palaces, I would like to welcome this new Institute of Conservation
National Conservation Education and Skills Strategy, 2012-2016, and give our strong wholehearted
support to it.
"It is important in this age of diversity that we foster and enable access to our profession from a
range of backgrounds and ages, as well as being essential to its future sustainability. It is a major
strength of the strategy that it encompasses so many aspects of how this aim can be achieved.
"Historic Royal Palaces encourages continuous professional development in all its staff, and has
actively promoted training for new conservators over recent years with its Clothworkers’ Foundation-
funded Historic Royal Palaces/Icon internships in textile conservation. This has continued with the
recent agreement to fully fund a student scholarship for research in Heritage Science at the Centre
for Sustainable Heritage at University College London.
"This letter serves to support the Icon conservation education and skills strategy. I wish the strategy
all success in its objectives."
Kate Lithgow, Head Conservator, The National Trust:
"The National Trust engaged with the development of ICON’s 2012-16 Conservation Education and
Skills Strategy as a major heritage stakeholder and is wholeheartedly behind its aims and objectives.
This strategy aligns with our own priority to develop the capability of our own staff and volunteers,
and we depend on the knowledge, skills and experience of the present and future workforce in the
whole sector to look after our properties so that present and future generations can enjoy them. The
development of qualifications and accreditation in conservation draws upon our practice, and we
welcome the creation of a co-ordinated path to professional practice which embraces a variety of
entry points and reflects our experience of where a vital work force comes from. Campaigning to
conserve the places that people find beautiful and meaningful underpins our work, and we fully
support the ambition of raising awareness in the educational and research fields to ensure the
continued flourishing of the heritage sector. We commend this strategy"
Clare Meredith ACR, Head of Collections Conservation Services, The National Trust for Scotland:
"Three bold aims are at the heart of Icon’s excellent strategy and shape the way forward for the next
5 years. Knowledge, skills and understanding are core to all professional practice and, in this
document, all strands are brought together and are given a clear sense of context and direction "
Yr Athro Terry Threadgold, Pennaeth, Ysgol Hanes, Archaeoleg a Chrefydd Caerdydd
Dirprwy Is-Ganghellor, Staff ac Amrywiaeth, Prifysgol Caerdydd
Professor Terry Threadgold, Head, Cardiff School of History, Archaeology and Religion, Pro Vice
Chancellor, Staff and Diversity, Cardiff University
"Cardiff University welcomes the launch of Icon's National Conservation Education and Skills
Strategy, in particular the plans to offer greater support for existing provision in Higher Education
and Research. Cardiff University have already offered leadership in conservation research through
projects such as Professor Watkinson's world leading team investigating iron corrosion that has
contributed to the development strategies of projects such as the ss Great Britain and informed the
work of many other heritage agencies. With a range of conservation degrees offered at both
undergraduate and postgraduate levels Cardiff University would support the creation of QAA
Benchmark statements for conservation courses. Cardiff University has always identified the benefits
to the teaching of conservation from agreed and explicit standards for conservation education and
would wish to support work in this important area."
Robin Wood, Chair Heritage Crafts Association:
"The ICON National Conservation and Education Strategy aims "to foster successful learning and
research environment in the UK that delivers the knowledge, skills and understanding that will be
needed in the future."
A worthy aim indeed which the Heritage Crafts Association fully support. Furthermore, the HCA is
delighted to see the recognition of the importance of craft skills in conservation."