The International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), in cooperation with Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) and Netherlands Institute for Cultural Heritage (ICN), has announced the conduct of the course “Reducing Risks To Cultural Heritage – 2011.”
Deadline for application is 28 January 2011.
Following are pertinent information on the course:
DATES
23 May to 9 September 2011 (on line)
3 October to 14 October 2011 (face to face)
17 October to 28 November 2011 (on line)
BACKGROUND
Today, preventive conservation has become a leading theme in all fields of cultural property. Useful scientific and technical knowledge continues to grow but is often incorporated in current practice slowly, incorrectly, or not at all. Despite the best intentions, professionals and institutions dealing with the preservation of cultural property may apply unrealistic standards, guidelines or lists of best practice, with no clear sense of priority, or of realistic expected benefits. With limited resources, decision makers are usually confronted with difficult choices in planning conservation strategies.
The risk management approach, which informs and guides decision makers in many other fields, offers a sound methodology to incorporate the most recent knowledge into current practice. It allows an integrated view of all expected damages and loss to cultural property, and of their mitigation, thus providing a useful tool for the design of more efficient conservation strategies.
In the recent years, ICCROM, CCI and ICN have worked on developing and disseminating the risk management approach for cultural heritage field, including five joint training initiatives since 2005. For 2011, they have partnered again to offer this exceptional course. For the first time, it includes a substantial distance-learning component, to enable participants to apply the risk management approach in their own working and cultural context.
AUDIENCE & APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
The course is designed for a maximum of 30 participants. They can be conservators, architects, archeologists, archivists, conservation scientists, collection managers, registrars, curators (in museums, archives, historic houses), and any other professionals involved in the preservation of cultural heritage. At least three years of practical experience in the field is preferred.
Because the course has a strong distance-learning component, the participants must have access to a computer with an Internet connection. Each participant must make arrangements with an institution that will form the case-study for that participant. This institution may be the employer of the participant or can be another institution. During the course, the participant must have full access to the collections or the cultural heritage under study.
OBJECTIVE
Participants will become familiar with the risk management concept and its various applications in the field of cultural heritage. They will learn a practical method of evaluating different types of risks and apply it to a case study in their own working and cultural context. They will also examine recent research that is necessary for better estimates of risk, and thus for establishing priorities. In each participating institution, they will implement each stage of the risk management approach, from risk assessment of the cultural heritage under study to the development and planning of options for risk mitigation. They will produce a formal report for the participating institution.
COURSE METHODOLOGY
The course structure follows the steps of the Australian and New Zealand Standard for Risk Management, the international reference in the field. These include 1. Context and values assessment, 2. Risk Identification, 3. Risk analysis, 4 Risk evaluation, 5. Risk treatment (or mitigation) and 6. Risk communication.
In its first part on line, the course will address step 1-4. The face-to face workshop (in October, exact dates and venue will be determined at a later date) will focus on step 5 and 6. After the workshop, a last distance-learning phase will allow participants to finalize their case-study report and present it to their institutions.
During the distance-mentoring/online coaching, the required time for participation in the course is 12 to 15 hours per week. At all stages of the learning and risk management process, participants will be able to share their experience with colleagues. They will have access to readings/resources/forums and to mentors and tutors who will help them through the process advise them on how to resolve challenges. Regular assignments will measure progress.
TUTORS AND MENTORS
CCI, ICCROM, ICN, associated professionals, former Risk course participants
WORKING LANGUAGE
Core materials will be available in English, Spanish, and French. Tutors will also be available in these three languages (other possible to be determined). However, a proficiency in reading English is necessary to access many important publications in the field.
COURSE FEE: 1300 EUR (Euro) – payable in 6 instalments
TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATION AND LIVING EXPENSES: (3-14 October only)
Participants are responsible for their round trip travel costs, accommodation and living expenses for the face-to face workshop. In order to cover these costs, participants are strongly encouraged to seek financial support from sources such as governmental institutions, employers and funding agencies. The organizers may be able to offer a limited number of scholarships to selected candidates who have been unable to secure funding.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
By 28 January 2011, candidates must submit:
- Application form (http://www.iccrom.org/eng/01train_en/forms_en/applfrm_en.doc)
- A letter of interest from the institution which will form the case-study
- Maximum 5 pages illustrated presentation on the case study with a brief description of the cultural heritage under study, its institutional context, and the risks that are perceived by the institution and which could be the focus of the case-study.
Applications should be mailed to the following address:
Risk 2011 – Collections Unit – ICCROM
13, via di San Michele
I-00153 ROME RM, ITALY
Tel (+39) 06 585531 Fax (+39) 06 58553349
E-mail: risk2011@iccrom.org