Booking is now open for the conservation professional’s key diary event for the year: the IHBC’s 2014 School, exploring one of the most challenging issues when services are being cut and regulations soften: how we achieve success in ‘The Art of Conservation’, with early bird booking rates to end on 18 April.
The packed programme boasts national and international authorities, and includes a Day School option, especially suitable for general practitioners, within the 3-day Annual School, as well as a chance to avail of our ‘Orkney Opportunity’, a short linked programme in the following week hosted by Orkney Islands Council!
For the School website see: http://www.ihbc.org.uk/edinburgh2014
Marking the launch of the web site for the 2014 School, IHBC President Trefor Thorpe said: ‘The launch of the IHBC’s School website and online booking is always a great moment in the conservation specialist’s calendar as it represents the first step towards the major learning and networking opportunity for the year.’
‘At our School practitioners and advisers from all backgrounds can uncover current and future trends and priorities, as well as test themselves alongside colleagues, leaders and business interests that operate across the entire spectrum of our membership and partners.’
‘Arriving in Scotland this year, we will have a hugely impressive line up of speakers, from the country’s own Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Fiona Hyslop – a rare politician, actually proud of the challenges raised by the art of conservation – to the international authority on the history of our own discipline, Professor Jukka Jokilehto.’
‘We will also have an array of practitioners guiding, advising and speaking where art and conservation meet. All are profoundly aware of how the art of conservation shapes practice outcomes: whether rescuing international modern sites such as Cardross and its rarely-mentioned landscape setting, to more familiar territories such as country houses, bridges and landscapes, all together with a good smattering of World Heritage issues as well! As ever, you can see all about these learning opportunities on our website.’
IHBC Chair Mike Brown said: In June 2014 we are confronting the hugely challenging – and very timely – theme of the ‘Art of Conservation’. With finance tight and de-regulation a news item only too familiar to us all, it is critical that we don’t lose sight of what we actually do and why we do it!’
‘We may speak today of conservation intangibles such as ‘significance’ or conservation pre-requisites such as skills, standards and the economy. But all of these are encompassed by the long-standing ambition of our trade, delivering ‘the art of conservation’. Given the huge pressures on conservation practice today and for the foreseeable future, it is essential that we review just what – and why – we are engaged in this very special practice of conservation.’
For many it was the ‘art’ in conservation that attracted us to this particular specialist area of practice, putting aside well-paid, development-led professional environments or refusing to settle for less polarised challenges in research or history. As we continue our efforts to bridge the gap between the extremes of development and preservation, the IHBC is coming to Edinburgh in June to look into just what is ‘The Art of Conservation!’
‘We hope you will join us there.’
IHBC Scotland Branch Chair Stuart Eydmann said: ‘Edinburgh is a perfect location to explore the combination of aesthetic and technical considerations that lie at the heart of the IHBC’s priorities. We will evaluate and confront those considerations in June under our School title: ‘The Art of Conservation’.’
‘Edinburgh includes a rich and complex array of cultural resources – including a vibrant world heritage site that helps generate cutting-edge design – and so offers a unique range of practical and theoretical lessons about conservation, its art and its practice.’
‘Whether it’s the rare combination of art and engineering that our Forth Bridge captures; the art-landscape at JupiterArtland, or the home of Scotland’s master scribe and story-teller, Sir Walter Scott, we have all the breadth and depth you could want in any exploration of the intermingling themes of art and conservation.’
IHBC Education Secretary David McDonald said: ‘Each year the IHBC’s School provides our inter-disciplinary membership, and their colleagues and friends, with a unique opportunity to examine, explore and investigate current issues in conservation. This takes place under the expert guidance of local practitioners from our Branch network who help make sure that the coverage is relevant, inclusive and practical.’
‘And with the School’s learning opportunities mapped to our professional development models and membership criteria, delegates can be sure they will receive some of the best-targeted CPD around, and also get the best grounding available in their career progress or applications for IHBC accreditation.’
‘And do remember also that the Friday ‘Day School’ is a fully-fledged CPD opportunity in its own right, so anyone with any interest in the built environment or managing places has access to a unique and cost-effective learning opportunity. For those coming to the dinner, we’ll also have an opportunity to hear more about the Gus Astley Student Award winners’.
‘And of course, when seeking employer support to attend the School, IHBC members ought to use their personal development plan and CPD resources to highlight the professional value of attending this key event.’
IHBC Treasurer Richard Morrice said: ‘Costs this year have been kept as low as possible again, so for example Day School delegate rates for IHBC members are the same as they were in 2009! And of course we now also offer a range of bursaries to support delegates in need of additional support.’
‘Bursary details are provided on the School website, but remember also that separate bursaries will be offered by some IHBC Branches. If you do need support please be sure to contact your local Branch as well to see if there are opportunities there.’
Early bird booking rates apply until 18 April.
For the School website and to book see: LINK
For the Gus Astley Student Award see: gasa.ihbc.org.uk
For links to and feedback reports from previous Annual School websites see: LINK
For sponsorship and delegate pack opportunities contact Fiona Newton at: projects@ihbc.org.uk
