IIC-ITCC Conservation and Restoration of Paintings 2025 - Course and International Symposium

 

A collaboration between the International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (IIC) and the Palace Museum, Beijing, China.

We are pleased to announce the next IIC-ITCC course will focus on the ‘Conservation and Restoration of Traditional Painting Techniques’ and will be held May 14th – 23rd 2025 in-person at the Palace Museum in Beijing. The course will be preceded by a two-days Symposium on the same topics, to be held at the Palace Museum in Beijing on May 12-13th 2025.

The course will cover recent advances in the conservation of easel oil paintings on canvas and wooden panels, wall paintings, traditional Chinese paintings and thangka paintings, with the goals of refreshing, deepening and enhancing the knowledge of mid-career professionals. Topics will include the examination, analyses, condition assessment, diagnostic and documentation of these painting techniques, as well as recent advances in the treatment of paint layers and supports, with special emphasis on cleaning and consolidation. Different ethical approaches will also be discussed. The course will include lectures, case studies, practical sessions, presentations, and site visits, and draw from the rich collections, resources, and expertise of the Palace Museum. 

Participants will be encouraged to network, share experiences and practices, and brainstorm as a group to find solutions to their own conservation challenges. 

The goals of the ITCC series are to

  • Encourage the participants to become trainers and transmit what they have learned to their own institution.

  • To promote exchange and research on conservation at an international level and to develop professional capacity and standards in conservation.
  • Stay in touch with other participants, to learn from each other, to share their learning with others and develop a professional support network with the potential for future collaboration.
  • Share IIC’s values, missions and activities with the heritage and conservation community around the world.

The lecturers for the programme are:

  • Kate Seymour FIIC  (Netherlands)
  • Teresa Heady FIIC (UK)
  • Jennifer Porter FIIC (Malta)
  • Amarilli Rava (US)
  • Alberto Dimuccio (Italy)

     

Time commitment:

 

May 14th to May 23rd 2025: Course participants should be available to attend the full two-week programme hosted by the Palace Museum, Beijing and are expected to also attend the symposium on May 12-13th 2025.

Course participants should be available to attend the full 12 day in-person symposium and course programme hosted by the Palace Museum, Beijing.  (11 May 2025 arrival for registration with 24th May 2025 departure)

 

Criteria for selection for international applicants will include:

  • The current involvement of the applicant in the conservation and restoration of painting collections or where applicants are entrusted with the care and management of collections that include painting objects.
  • Are mid-career (at least five to ten years post qualification experience).
  • The relevance of the course to the applicant’s current work and potential benefit to the applicant’s career
  • The potential benefit to conservation of cultural heritage in the applicant’s country.
  • Membership status with the IIC. Preference will be given to applicants who are currently members of IIC or who intend to become members before the course start date.
  • Proficiency in English 

Applications are particularly encouraged from emerging economies including IIC priority regions including Africa, South-East Asia, South America and the Caribbean. 

How to apply: 

Please complete the online application, you will need to include: 

 

  1. A brief statement (up to 250 words, in English) describing how the course would be of benefit to you and to conservation in your country;
  2. Upload a copy of your current CV (curriculum vitae) with your full name and contact details / home postal address
  3. Upload a signed letter of support from one senior professional conservator (this could be your employer), who should be named, with their affiliations and full contact details.
  4. Optional – course participants can submit a 250-word poster abstract as part of the application. 

Symposium: the course participants also have the opportunity to present at poster at the symposium, related to one of the following areas: easel oil paintings on canvas and wooden panels, wall paintings, thangkas, and traditional Chinese paintings. If you are interested in presenting a poster at the symposium please include a 250 words abstract in your application. 

Online Application form: https://forms.office.com/e/UH6415WvS4 

If there are any questions at this stage, please get in touch with us via email by email iic@iiconservation.org

The deadline for applications is: 1 December 2024.

 

 

Selection and Notification:

Successful applicants will be notified as soon as a decision has been made, which is expected by the end of December, to ensure course participants have sufficient time to arrange their visa and for letters of invitation to be issued by the Palace Museum. Please note course participants will need a valid passport to secure a place, the visa and any travel costs associated with arranging the visa are the responsibility of the course participant.  

There are no course fees. Travel costs to Beijing and accommodation in Beijing will be covered by the Palace Museum, Beijing. Successful international applicants will be informed directly of the arrangements for attendance by the Palace Museum, Beijing.

We expect to receive a large number of applications, unfortunately individual feedback to unsuccessful applicants will not be possible. If you do not hear from IIC by 5 January 2025, your application was unsuccessful. 

After the course, participants are required to submit a short report of their participation to IIC, this report will also be shared with the Palace Museum.

The Palace Museum, Beijing, has secured the kind support of the Longfor Group as a generous sponsor for the three training courses in the ITCC series, 2024-2026, including the International Symposium planned for 2025.

Deadline