Our 2020 Congress ‘Practices and Challenges in Built Heritage Conservation’ was devised to bridge the divide between built heritage and in-situ collections. Since we first started planning in 2019, months of lockdown, uncertainty, reduced travel and social distancing have meant we have had to bridge not just disciplines, but fissures in the world as we know it. It was inevitable that our Edinburgh Congress would need to go largely online. Our Congresses are renowned for the quality of their papers, but also for the quality of the event itself, providing an ideal forum for the exchange of ideas and the development of conservator networks – we will continue these objectives online.

We are delighted to announce that attendance will be free for IIC members – and we have also taken measures to make membership affordable to all and as accessible as possible. Whether you are in Addis Ababa, Lima, London, Singapore or Sydney, we welcome everyone with a passion for cultural heritage and a professional interest to attend, knowing that it has never been easier to do so.

Opportunities for real world meet ups and virtual tours
We are also hoping to work with IIC Regional Groups, our Institutional supporters as well as wider network including universities, museums, galleries, libraries, studios and other interested parties to host live ‘hub’ events, where conservators, cultural heritage professionals and students can gather in their network and watch presentations as a group in person. Please talk to us office@iiconservation.org if you would like to discuss hosting a live ‘hub’ event.

There will be live broadcasting from sites around Scotland, so participants can still experience the remarkable built environment of Edinburgh, a UNESCO World Heritage, in real time. Our events will experiment with the boundaries of the possible, making us ask new questions about community, sustainability, travel and access, which we expect to shape our thoughts long after coronavirus has passed. However, in other respects we will be on familiar ground – presenting the newest ideas in the field, relevant case studies and demonstrating professional excellence to help you learn, share knowledge and experiences, network and develop your own skills.