Join us for the confrence summer reception in the beautiful grounds of the Royal Geographical Society, giving delegates the chance to unwind, socialise and network after the packed first day of Icon24.
Delegates will be able to enjoy a full evening programme including an exclusive screening of restored footage form the British Film Institute National Archive, hear from Sophie Rowe ACR as she regales delegates with her experience as a conservator working in Antarctica, recognise the best of the conservation profession at the second annual Marsh Conservation Awards and continue their conversations with the Icon24 sponsors and exhibitors.
Evening programme
2024 Marsh Conservation Awards
The Marsh Conservation Awards are returning to Icon for a second year after an exciting launch at the Members’ Meeting in 2023.
Promoting the wider recognition of conservation and the value it brings to society, the Conservation Awards celebrate the sector and its positive impact on cultural heritage and communities.
This year, three new categories will be open to nominations. Awards for sustainability and innovation will highlight those in the profession championing advances in practice, research and training while an award for student conservators will celebrate the next generation.
Nominations are open Tuesday 26th March to Sunday 2nd June 2024.
Restored film treasures from BFI National Archive
Kieron Webb and Dr. Elena Nepoti ACR
From the silent elegance of the earliest fragile film reels to the colourful world of three-strip Technicolor, this screening will immerse you in the realm of film restoration, offering a glimpse into the extensive conservation initiatives undertaken by the BFI National Archive.
Beginning with delicate original camera negatives or flammable cellulose nitrate, the committed team of BFI specialists condition-checks, meticulously repairs, cleans, digitises, and restores heritage film for generations to come. Additionally, the BFI operates one of the few photochemical laboratories in the UK for black and white film and has begun preserving works from Netflix and Amazon Prime.
Spuds, Sledges and Sovereignty: conservation challenges and artefact stories from the British Antarctic Territories
Image: Penguins surrounding the historic boat shed at Port Lockroy, Antarctica. Sophie Rowe ©
Sophie Rowe ACR
Sophie is an object conservator with over 25 years’ experience working in National and University Museums. She first became excited about Antarctic heritage while working at the Polar Museum in Cambridge. In 2017 she went to Antarctica for the first time with United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust to carry out a full inventory and condition survey of artefacts at Base Y, on Horseshoe Island, and hugely enjoyed getting to know the hut and its contents. Sophie returned to Antarctica in 2019-20 and 2023-24, visiting Port Lockroy and Detaille Island, gathering data to inform conservation planning for these amazing sites.