International Institute for Conservation (IIC)

In reflecting on the IIC Student & Emerging Conservator Conference held in Brazil last fall, Christina Cachia and Mariana Onofri highlighted the challenges at the forefront of discussion amongst the rising generation of conservation professionals.“Greater investment in local conservation technologies would... challenge dominant conservation models by recognising local knowledge as a source of innovation rather than a marginal supplement… The discussions coming out of the Student and Emerging Conservator Conference underscore that conservation does not exist in isolation from the political, economic, and social realities of the world it seeks to preserve.“

Read the article in the April-May 2026 “News in Conservation” Issue 113, p. 60-69 here: https://buff.ly/RkRRAia

Image credit: Image courtesy of IIC-S&ECC organisers

The IIC Ghent Congress 2026 (8–11 September 2026) 'Ensembles: Conserving Interconnected Artworks, Artefacts and Collections' will feature an extraordinary round table that promises to be one of the highlights of the Congress.

Join Maximiliaan Martens, Professor of Art History at Ghent University and internationally renowned Van Eyck expert and Bart J.C. Devolder, Chief Conservator at Princeton University, for a compelling discussion accompanied by a special talk from Hélène Dubois on the conservation of the Ghent Altarpiece, where art and science have worked hand in hand on this iconic and complex conservation project.

A unique opportunity to hear directly from leading voices connected to one of the world's most celebrated masterpieces.

Visit https://buff.ly/ddZn6oG to secure your 'early bird' registration to the Congress by 31 May.



Image credit: Restauratie Lam Gods: ©️ MSK-Martin Corlazzoli. Courtesy of Hélène Dubois.

We are beginning to share some previews from research that will be presented at IIC's 2026 Congress in Ghent on September 8-11.

Beatrice de Andrade Cabral, one of the authors of 'Towards the Construction of a Global Database from Kubler: The Needs and Challenges of Implementing New Technologies and AI in Museum Collection Management,' shares this quote:

"What if museum collection data could be organised in a way that not only reduced errors, but also supported more informed and effective conservation practices? Conservation failures rarely result solely from a lack of technical skill. More often, they emerge from fragmented, inaccessible, or insufficiently connected knowledge about the objects themselves. This paper theoretically explores the potential benefits for conservation of developing an interoperable global database for museum collections inspired by George Kubler’s theory (1962), combined with the use of artificial intelligence (AI) systems capable of identifying visual correspondences and relational patterns across collections."

Interested in this research? This is just one of many papers that will be presented at our 2026 Congress in Ghent. Early bird pricing ends 31 May. For more information or to register, visit: https://buff.ly/UWLXAJ2

This article is part of the IIC Ghent Congress Proceedings featuring articles being presented at the 2026 IIC Congress in Ghent, September 8-11. Early bird pricing ends 31 May. To learn more or to register to attend, please visit: https://buff.ly/zdKbiqw

Read the full article for This Little Light of Mine: An Investigation into the Effects of Different Light Sources on MFT Data here: https://buff.ly/jG89vr6

Our deadline for Fellowship nominations is Friday 31 July.

If you have a candidate in mind for Fellowship or wish to learn more about Fellowship, please visit: https://buff.ly/HrQphEa

Free for IIC Student and Early Career members, our third Career Advice Session will be hosted by Dr Jerrod Seifert and is a great opportunity to gain guidance, perspective, and constructive feedback on your career aspirations.

For more information and how to register, please visit: https://buff.ly/HeuHQyM

There are only 4 days left to get early bird pricing for the IIC 2026 Biennial Congress in Ghent. Early bird pricing ends 31 May 2026.

Ghent 2026 is set to be a key international moment for the conservation field, bringing together professionals to explore research and practice around Ensembles: Conserving Interconnected Artworks, Artefacts and Collections.

A members-only discount is also available with early bird pricing, plus members receive online access to the Congress for free. Become a member here: https://buff.ly/RaAqRDw

Register for the IIC 2026 Ghent Congress here: https://buff.ly/MBcr47r

Image credit: Old narrow street in Ghent (Gent), Belgium. Architecture and landmark of Ghent. Cozy cityscape of Ghent. © Catarina Belova

We are delighted to welcome Fondation Périer-D’Ieteren as the headline sponsor of the IIC 2026 Biennial Congress in Ghent.

Officially recognised in 2017, the Foundation champions the values of its founders: human dignity, heritage conservation, and the development of scientific research.

Their work spans three areas: supporting research, studies and teaching in art history and heritage conservation; backing initiatives that provide individual assistance to people facing hardship; and contributing to scientific research programmes across the social sciences, exact sciences and medicine.

The Foundation also offers a number of grants and fellowships for the professional conservation community.

We are very grateful for their support of the Congress.

Learn more about their work at the link in our bio.

This article is part of the IIC Ghent Congress Proceedings featuring articles being presented at the 2026 IIC Congress in Ghent, September 8-11. Early bird pricing ends 31 May. To learn more or to register to attend, please visit: https://buff.ly/vXNsyWt

Read the full article for Girsu as Ensemble and Living Landscape: An Integrated Approach to Archaeology, Conservation and Heritage Management here: https://buff.ly/2QjjFsD

This article is only available for IIC Members. Membership includes full access to all Studies in Conservation articles. For information on becoming a member or to renew your membership, visit https://buff.ly/E2OhHTF

While not an easy read, Maria Franzon tells us that “Working With Conservation Data” by Athanasios Velios is building the foundation of our work as conservators. “For a trained conservator, the essence of the book may feel rather instinctive, and whether we need to theorise about it at this level is open to debate. In much of our daily documentation work, we manage quite well using our training and instincts—much like speaking a language fluently without being able to explain all its grammatical rules.”

Read the article in the April-May 2026 “News in Conservation” Issue 113, p. 57-59 here: https://buff.ly/RkRRAia

Image credit: Book cover for Working With Conservation Data, courtesy of Getty Publications