Icon receives funding for training

Icon wins UKP1M from HLF to boost work-based training in
conservation

Icon, the Institute for Conservation (Icon) is to receive UKP1m from
the Heritage Lottery Fund for a scheme of 60 training placements in
conservation.  The UKP1m will enable Icon to offer 60 training
placements over fours years in the conservation of objects and
collections--from books and jewellery to stained glass and
architectural details.

The scheme will focus on those conservation skills which are scarce
and in high demand, particularly those where no formal training
exists.  A unique aspect is that many of the placements will be
targeted at new entrants, creating a practical-based entry route
into conservation. The scheme also offers a recognised unit of
experience to those who have been working at a lower level with few
opportunities for progression.

The National Trust's Historic Properties Director, Sarah Staniforth,
congratulated the Institute, "The Trust is a major user of
conservation services, so I know that there are real gaps in the
supply of practical and preventive conservation skills across the
UK. The HLF monies will provide a great opportunity to redress this
situation and ensure that there is a sustainable workforce for
organisations like ours to call on in the future"

The award was also welcomed by  Victoria Pirie, Industry Skills
Director, Cultural Heritage at Cultural and Creative Skills,

   "Congratulations to Icon! This scheme makes a start on increasing
    the levels of participation in the creative industries by ethnic
    minorities and under-represented groups in this sector--that's
    very much in line with the our aims at the Sector Skills
    Council"

Icon's Scheme will provide up to twenty internship-type training
placements per year for four years, starting in September 2006.  The
placements will range from 6 to 24 months in duration, and will be
based in conservation workshops or on site across the UK, from
Belfast to Canterbury, Aberdeen to Exeter. Trainees will learn by
working alongside experienced conservation professionals in both the
public and private sectors--over 60 organizations have already come
forward to participate as hosts.

David Saunders, Keeper of Conservation and Science at the British
Museum--one of the hosts for the scheme--commented,  'Work-based
placements are rare and often unfunded,  so it is wonderful that so
many people are going to be offered training on this scheme"

Valerie Kaufmann, Director of conservation company Plowden and Smith
added,  "These traineeships involve learning through intensive
periods of hands-on work. There is no substitute for this kind of
'real life' training, and we are delighted to be involved in this
groundbreaking  scheme"

Icon's Chief Executive Alastair McCapra summed up, "Thanks to HLF,
the profession now has a superb opportunity to create a co-ordinated
UK-wide scheme of work-based training in conservation. This will
help bridge the skills gap between training and work and will also
provide opportunities for new entrants--a source of fresh talent for
the profession.  It's a great step forward for Icon to undertake
such a high-profile project."

Background to the Project:

In 2004, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) invited applications from
organizations with the management of conservation of the heritage as
one of their aims to apply for a grant to establish Heritage Lottery
Fund Bursary Schemes in partnership with other organizations.

HLF's aim is to fund schemes that improve the quantity and quality
of skills available to the heritage sector by providing new entrants
and existing staff with bursaries to undertake work-based training
and  to develop their skills.  Icon and partners were granted
development monies in 2005 to work up an application under this
scheme for the portable heritage conservation sector across the UK.
Icon was successful in its application, and has been awarded UKP1
million towards a scheme totaling UKP1,717,100.

Icon's partners in this scheme

    English Heritage--supporting with UKP40,000 over the 4-year
    scheme and offering placements

    The National Trust--offering placements and training support

    MLA (Museums Libraries and Archives)--supporting partner

    Cultural and Creative Skills--Sector Skills Council--supporting
    partner

Details of placement locations will be advertised in May 2006 for a
start date in September.  Examples of venues and conservation
disciplines likely to be offered over the first couple of years are:

    Archives - Exeter and London
    Books - Durham and Oxford
    Stained Glass: Canterbury and Somerset
    Ethnography: London and Aberdeen
    Natural Sciences: Cardiff and Belfast
    Stone: Dorset, Lincolnshire and Edinburgh
    Ceramics: Liverpool and London
    Textiles: Manchester and Norfolk
    Metals: Leeds and Telford
    Preventive conservation and
    Project management: English Heritage and National Trust regions

Further info from:

    Sharon Manitta (press and media)
    +44 7816 271 733
    sharon.manitta [at] btinternet__com

    Carol Brown (project leader)
    +44 7990 977 010
    hlfbs [at] ukic__org__uk


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 19:34
                Distributed: Thursday, February 2, 2006
                       Message Id: cdl-19-34-001
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