Workshops and Short Courses for Conservators 2025/26
- Willard
- 21 hours ago
- 4 min read
The world of conservation keeps moving forward. New materials, fresh research, evolving ethical standards, and refined skills make it essential for conservators to keep learning. Whether you are mid-career or new to the field, workshops and short courses are invaluable: they provide hands-on experience, specialist expertise, and connections with peers.
Here are leading opportunities in 2025 and early 2026 for conservators, across disciplines ranging from paper and textile conservation to heritage science, materials, and treatment techniques.
Understanding the Structure and Binding of Manuscripts from the Islamic World
When: 21 October 2025 - 9am – 5pm BST
Where: British Library, London, UK
In this one-day workshop, hosted at the British Library, Dr. Karin Scheper of the University of Leiden will lead attendees on a survey of manuscript making in the Islamic world, with a focus on the binding structure of codex volumes, discussing the predominant structure as well as region-specific characteristics and varieties.
More information here: https://www.icon.org.uk/events/understanding-the-structure-and-binding-of-manuscripts-from-the-islamic-world.html
Mastering Conservation Documentation - Standards, Strategies & Good Practices
When: 13-14 November 2025, 9.30am – 12.30pm GMT
Where: Online
Effective documentation underpins ethical conservation, supports decision-making, and preserves the long-term value of cultural heritage. Yet, the diversity of contexts and tools can make defining 'best practice' challenging.
More information here: https://www.icon.org.uk/events/icon-skills-mastering-conservation-documentation-standards-strategies-good-practices.html
Developing an inclusive and rewarding volunteer programme - Unlock the Potential of Volunteers in Conservation
When: 30 January 2026 9.30am – 1pm GMT
Where: Online
Volunteers play a vital role in the heritage and conservation sector - from caring for collections to supporting projects that protect our shared past. But creating a volunteer programme that is sustainable, inclusive, and rewarding requires more than day-to-day coordination. It calls for strategic thinking, supportive structures, and an understanding of the full volunteer journey.
More information here: https://www.icon.org.uk/events/icon-skills-developing-an-inclusive-and-rewarding-volunteer-programme.html
Health and Safety for Conservators
Two day online workshop running on 13 and 14 January 2026
When: 13-14th January 2026 - 10.30am – 4pm GMT
Where: Online
Icon’s ‘Health and Safety for Conservators’ provides a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of essential health and safety practices for conservators working both in studios and on-site.
Artifact Handling Workshop
When: November 11, 2025 - 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Where: The Rose Valley Museum at Thunderbird Lodge; 41 Rose Valley Rd, Media, PA 19063
This workshop will address the safe handling of flat and three-dimensional objects. You will learn how to prepare work areas, good, better, and best practices for moving various types of artifacts, and identifying potential conservation concerns before handling. You will be introduced to materials useful for day-to-day art and artefact handling and get hands-on experience handling items safely for storage, display, and digitization.
More information: https://ccaha.org/events/artifact-handling-workshop
The AIC Photographic Chemistry for Preservation Series
When: Self-paced
Where: Online
The Photographic Chemistry series explores key elements of photographic chemistry that are essential to understanding the nature of silver-based analog photographs, their creation, and their deterioration mechanisms. These topics are critical for photograph conservators, but also of interest to photographers, artists, collectors, and other photography enthusiasts. This series of online self-study modules includes video lectures and quizzes on specific topics in the chemistry of photography. Study at your own pace and repeat sections as needed!
More information: https://learning.culturalheritage.org/photo-chemistry
C2C Care Course: Practical Risk Assessment for Small and Mid-Sized Cultural Heritage Institutions
When: Self-paced
Where: Online
This self-study program is presented as a series of recordings of a live course offered March - April 2025. Please note that any assignments are designed for enrichment only and will not be reviewed. Risk Assessments are one of the most important steps that heritage institutions can take in emergency and business continuity planning.
More information: https://learning.culturalheritage.org/products/c2c-care-course-practical-risk-assessment-for-small-and-mid-sized-cultural-heritage-institutions
Masterclass Sustainable Approaches to Packing Materials
When: Part 1: Thursday 23 October at 12 pm BST/UK Part 2: Thursday 6 November, 12pm GMT/UK
Where: Online
This two-part online masterclass explores sustainable approaches to using packing materials and methods in conservation and collections care. Held via Zoom, the sessions are designed for IIC Fellows and Pathway members working in or with museums, libraries, archives, and private practice. Participants will gain insights into sustainable alternatives and strategies for reducing the socio-environmental impact of packing and transport practices. IIC members-only.
More information: https://www.iiconservation.org/masterclass-sustainable-approaches-packing-materials
Introducing Ceramic Conservation
When: 7 Mar 2026
Where: London
This one day course is aimed at those who are curious about conservation and would like to find out more about ceramic conservation. Through discussion and practical tasks, you will learn about the discipline, treatment considerations and exercise manual dexterity by engaging in exercises such as handling and assembly of broken shards.
More information: https://www.westdean.ac.uk/short-courses/d1d38396-introducing-ceramic-conservation
Personal Development
Icon Skills: Marketing Essentials
When: 23 October 2025 10am – 1pm BST
Where: Online
Through the Marketing Essentials course, you'll learn the fundamentals of effective marketing, including how to identify your target audience, define your brand, and set clear marketing objectives.
More information: https://www.icon.org.uk/events/icon-skills-marketing--essentials.html
Icon Skills: Communicate with confidence - Build influence and impact in conservation
When: 28 October 2025 – 3 February 2026
Where: Online
This practical six-week online group programme is designed for conservators who want to develop their confidence, influence, and people skills.
International leadership mentoring programme
When: October 25 - February 26
Where: TBC
In an ever changing world and responding to the needs of our members, we have further refined the programme to bring together an international cohort of peers, in a community around a single theme of leadership with group sessions guided by expert facilitator and leadership coach, Dr Claire Antrobus. "It is all the more essential that we equip a new generation of our members to become leaders – confident about responding to change, but also bringing flair, courage and imaginative thinking to the big societal issues that affect the profession" - Sarah Stannage, IIC Executive Director
More information: https://www.iiconservation.org/international-leadership-mentoring