Awards and grants

IIC offers many awards, some in association with others, as an important part of its work in conservation. These range from honorary fellowship of the Institute, to sponsored lectures and bursaries for students and members from developing countries.

Honorary Fellowship

The honour of IIC Honorary Fellowship was established to recognise an outstanding contribution to heritage conservation. The first Honorary Fellowship was awarded to Edward W. Forbes in 1958.

Find out more about honorary fellowship of IIC, including a list of all honorary fellows.

Keck Award

The Keck Award, generously endowed by Sheldon and Caroline Keck, is presented every two years at the IIC Congress to the individual or group who has, in the opinion of the Council, contributed most towards promoting public understanding and appreciation of the accomplishments of the conservation profession.

Find out more about the Keck Award, including a description of past winning projects.

Forbes Prize Lecture

The Forbes Prize Lecture has been delivered at every IIC Congress since the Rome Congress in 1961. It is delivered by a person who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of conservation; the first Forbes Prize lecture was given by Harold Plenderleith.

Find out more about the Forbes Prize Lecture, including a list of past winners.

Image Permanence Award

The HP Image Permanence Award, sponsored by the Hewlett-Packard Company and given with participation of IIC, recognises outstanding contributions that advance the longevity of photographic and fine art images created via modern digital methods. The first award was made in 2007 to James M. Reilly, founder and director of the Image Permanence Institute (IPI) at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), "for his outstanding contributions and devotion to the field of image preservation and permanence, particularly the establishment of the nation's premier image permanence institute, as well as for the advancement, understanding, and education of image preservation and permanence he has championed throughout the world".

Gabo Trust-IIC Travelling Scholarship

The Gabo Trust-IIC Travelling Scholarship is a bursary to allow individuals to take a study-focused tour around the world, with the aim of carrying out research on the conservation of sculpture and meeting and seeing the work of other conservators, and learning about their perhaps differing approaches, ethics, materials and methods.

Find out more about the Gabo Trust-IIC Travelling Scholarship.

Brommelle Memorial Fund

The Brommelle Memorial Fund was established in 1990 in memory of Norman Brommelle, who was Secretary-General of IIC between 1958 and 1988. The fund is used to provide assistance for students of conservation who wish to attend the Institute's international Congresses. More information about the fund can be found on the London 2008 Congress microsite.

Professional Development Fund

IIC supports conservators who cannot afford the cost of membership through its Professional Development Fund. The fund is maintained through the generous contributions of our members, and allows successful applicants to receive up to three years' membership of IIC without charge.

Find out more about the Professional Development Fund, including an application form.