Cultural heritage has grown in size and diversity, as have the professions responsible for its protection and use.

More than ever, there is a need to engage in a constructive and critical dialogue the various professions and stakeholders who can contribute to conservation and restoration decisions. The course begins with a brief look at the mechanisms of decision-making in other fields, and then analyses decision processes within our own field of cultural heritage. Issues include value systems and their application, professionals and their responsibilities, users and their expectations, resources and their availability – all within diverse social, cultural, legal, and economic contexts. Working from cases brought by participants, and examples in situ, the course will explore both the universal and the specific nature of decisions made. The aim is to improve conservation decisions by ensuring transparency, clarity, and the effectiveness of the process.

Dates: 3 – 28 November 2008

Place: Rome, Italy

Partners

• ICCROM (International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property)
  
• CCR – Venaria – Centro Conservazione e Restauro La Venaria Reale, Turin, Italy
  
• INP – Institut National du Patrimoine, Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication, Paris, France
  
• ICR – Istituto Centrale per il Restauro, Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali, Rome, Italy
  
• OPD – Opificio delle Pietre Dure, Florence, Italy

Methodology
Participants will be involved in case studies, site visits, seminars, and presentations. Opportunities will be provided to share in a variety of large and small group activities. Significant time will be allocated for consultation with the staff of partner institutions, or for individual research.

Participants
The course is designed for any professional actively involved in heritage preservation projects: i.e., anthropologists, archaeologists, architects, art historians, collections and site managers, conservators-restorers, conservation scientists, curators, directors of small to medium size museums, galleries and archives, registrars. At least five years of working experience at a decision-making level is preferred. The course will also interest those involved in training activities. Candidates must submit with their formal application a 500-word summary of their experience, and how the course relates to their current or future projects. A maximum of 20 participants will be selected, representing a variety of disciplines and contexts.

Teaching team
ICCROM, CCR-Venaria, INP, ICR, OPD and associated professionals.

Working language: English.

Course fee: 900 € (Euro).

Travel, accommodation and living expenses
Participants will be responsible for their round trip travel costs to and from Rome. In order to cover accommodation and living expenses in Rome during the course, participants should plan for a minimum total allowance of Euros 1400. Candidates are strongly encouraged to seek financial support from sources such as governmental institutions, employers and funding agencies.  ICCROM may be able to offer a limited number of scholarships to selected candidates who have been unable to secure funding.

Application
Please use the ICCROM course application formand mail to the address below. All course enquiries should also be addressed to the following contact:

ICCROM – Collections Unit
13, via di San Michele
I-00153 ROME RM, ITALY
Tel (+39) 06 585531 Fax (+39) 06 58553349
E-mail: sharing08 (at) iccrom . org

Application deadline: 29 February 2008