Professional Development and Learning

Through your membership benefits, you have access to an extensive range of FREE online learning resources and training programmes that will support you, whatever your career stage.
 

Protecting Our Heritage: Disaster and Risk Management in Conservation Webinar Series

Disaster and risk management in cultural conservation is essential to protect our heritage from various threats, both natural and man-made. Effective management involves risk assessment, emergency preparedness, and recovery planning to ensure the preservation of cultural assets. By implementing proactive measures and fostering collaboration among conservators, museum professionals and heritage managers, we can mitigate potential damages and ensure swift recovery. Emphasizing best practices and continuous improvement in disaster and risk management is vital for the enduring protection of our cultural heritage.

These webinars will explore strategies to protect cultural assets from natural and man-made threats, ensuring their preservation for future generations. Experts will discuss case studies and best practices, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures and collaboration. Whether you're a conservator or museum professional, this webinar will provide valuable knowledge to enhance your disaster and risk management capabilities in cultural conservation. Join us to learn how to protect and preserve our shared cultural heritage. This programme is FREE for members. 

Find more information here.

 

IIC LEARNING + Net Zero Programme

For our members, this year we have incredible opportunities to promote climate action and positive change within the sector.

We have launched IIC Learning where members and IIC Congress Scholars can access 'Innovate' and 'Net Zero'. The IIC Net Zero programme aligns with the Race to Zero Partnership Campaign, part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This pilot program, driven by the Joint Commitment for Climate Action in Cultural Heritage Conservation between IIC, ICCROM, and ICOM-CC, aims to support professionals in various institutions and freelancers in creating momentum towards meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement and accelerating the transition to a net zero sector. The programme's objective is for the conservation field to demonstrate leadership by committing to the Net Zero pledge, setting targets based on scientific evidence, taking action, and reporting on the positive changes accomplished. The programme is FREE for members. Find more information here.

 

International Training Centre for Conservation (ITCC)

Our prestigious programme for mid-career professionals, in partnership with the Palace Museum, Beijing is one of the most remarkable and generously funded available, attracting conservators from across the world. You can access all past course material including ceramics and glass, textiles, paper and photograph conservation, preventive conservation and lots more here.

A new series has been launched with a course and international symposium covering Conservation and Restoration of Paintings taking place in May 2025 with future courses on furniture planned for 2026 - find out more here.

 

International Leadership Mentoring

United by a theme of leadership, each participating IIC member will be part of a cohort of their peers.  The process will enable a whole group of IIC members to share their experiences, build professional skillsets and leadership experience, strengthen support networks and achieve career goals. Each participant will also benefit from the support of a mentor as part of a series of three one-to-one mentoring sessions over a two-month period. 

Our mentors are senior sector leaders who have demonstrated clear leadership within the field through skilled advocacy, ethical practice, and a commitment to developing the conservation field through investing in people and talent. This places them in a unique position to support our profession during this unprecedented time.

Whether you are thinking about working as a freelancer, are leading your own private practice, or looking to take the next step as a senior manager or head of department, as a participant in the programme you will be able to test your ideas, gain insights from your mentor’s experience, and develop the confidence to apply this within your context in a community of peers.

Applications will open in February 2025. Please see our webpage here for more information.

 

IIC Career Advice Sessions 2025

In 2024, the IIC introduced a new initiative, ‘Career Advice Session’, to support our Student and Early Career members with their career development. Due to the interest in these sessions, we are thrilled to be running 6 sessions in 2025.

Our aim is to continue to foster an environment of generosity and knowledge and is designed to provide a platform where you can discuss various aspects of career advancement and advice. 
 The topics for discussion are led by you and can include:
- CV’s
- Portfolios
- Navigating job applications
- Harnessing social media for job hunting
- PhD opportunities
- exploring international work experiences
- strategizing career growth.

Please see our webpage here for more information.

We also offer a complete recording of the latest Student & Emerging Conservator Conference (S&ECC) 'Testing the Waters' which was hosted in Amsterdam in 2023. 

 

Professional Development Series webinars and resources for authors

You can access resources and information on past IIC seminars and webinars on the IIC Community platform under 'Resources' for the following:

 

IIC Community Reading Room + Book Club

Our range of digitised publications offers members the chance to browse the extensive archive of Studies in Conservation, read current or back copies of News in Conservation, or explore recent Book Reviews contributed by readers and members. A range of articles have also been selected by NiC Editor, Sharra Grow, and published in a 'Reading Room' on IIC's Community platform exclusive for our members, along with a new Book Club coordinated by IIC Book Reviews Editor, Alexandra Taylor.

You can also explore the 'Science for Conservators' book series with Routledge and use your 30% member discount code on e-books. 

 

Watch again

Our hybrid 30th biennial Congress, 'Sustainable Solutions in Conservation: New Strategies for New Times' was hosted in Lima, 23-27 September 2024, IIC members are automatically provided FREE access to a state-of-the-art Congress platform until 31 March 2025 to catch up with all recordings, presentations and posters.

We have a good range of recorded events for every career stage that are available under the 'Resources' section on the IIC Community platform, and you can watch our IIC Point of the Matter Dialogues including the incredible Culture Cannot Wait: Cultural Heritage First Aid with Humanitarian Assistance in Crises, and Stefan Michalski's personal take on a career in preventive conservation given as the prestigious Forbes Prize Lecture at the Turin Congress.

 

Fellowship

If you have become well-established in your career, why not consider becoming a Fellow of IIC? Fellows represent the best of our profession, from a wide range of age groups, specialisms and geographic locations. Joining this body allows you to highlight your achievements and gives you opportunities to offer your expertise back to the profession. 

To support your journey towards Fellowship, we are committed to making the nomination process as clear and accessible as possible. For 2025, we will be holding six sessions throughout the year to help clarify the process and support you as you embark on your Fellowship journey.

We will offer two types of sessions leading up to the nomination deadline:

  1. Fellowship Pathway Overview: This session provides an introduction to Fellowship, including its values, benefits, and a detailed breakdown of the nomination process.
  2. Meet a Fellow Q&A: In this session, you can sign up for a 20-minute one-on-one slot with a Fellow. They will share insights into Fellowship and the nomination process, offer advice on your CV, boost your confidence, and answer any questions you may have.

Please see our webpage here for sessions dates and registration.

For further information or notifications about future training programmes, webinars and online learning opportunities, please sign up to receive news in the website footer or contact the IIC office:  iic@iiconservation.org