Over 400 delegates from around the world participated in the first International Conference of the Icon Book & Paper Group in Edinburgh from 26-29 July. The conference marked the final transition from the Institute of Paper Conservation, and was the first major international conference on paper conservation in the UK for nearly a decade.

The keynote address from Helen Shenton, Head of Collection Care at the British Library, emphasised the need to focus on electronic collections as well as traditional paper-based ones. 

Other themes included interdisciplinary collaboration in the investigation of works of art on paper by Peter Bower, forensic paper historian, whose paper showed how working closely with art historians, forensic scientists and others can yield a greatly enriched understanding of art works.

The scope of presentations on specific issues in paper conservation was wide-ranging and forward-looking, with two thirds presented by paper conservators outside the UK.  The recently-developed professional accreditation route for preventive conservators was also debated.

Anna Southall, Chair of the Icon Board of Trustees commented ‘This conference shows that there are exciting challenges ahead for paper conservation; the continuity from the Institute of Paper Conservation to Icon means that as a profession we are well positioned to deal with them.’ 

Postprints (free to delegates) from the conference will be published in 2007.

Alastair mcCapra, Chief Execuitive of Icon, speaking at the Conference