Award Categories

This Award recognises the achievements of conservators and heritage scientists working to enhance public engagement with historic objects and collections. Engagement may be delivered through the real-time interpretation of the conservation work being carried out either in-situ or online, or through educational programmes linked to the conservation project.

Eligibility

The Award is open to individual conservators and heritage scientists or teams of conservation professionals.

Criteria

Applicants will need to demonstrate that they were able to:

• Successfully reach and engage with the audience that the project was intended to attract, which might be people who already participate, or it might be new audiences, or a particular group of people.
• Increase the visibility of conservation and the conservation professions.
• Align with Icon’s ‘Values of Conservation’.
• Demonstrate a lasting impact or legacy.

This Award recognises conservators and heritage scientists who have made an outstanding contribution to research in the field of conservation.

Eligibility

The Award is open to individual conservators or heritage scientists, or teams of conservation professionals carrying out research in support of conservation projects.

Criteria

We are interested in receiving applications covering the full bread of research within the field of conservation. The following list of research areas is therefore only offered as a suggestion:

• Understanding of cultural heritage materials and their degradation.
• Effectiveness of existing conservation treatments or investigations into new treatments.
• New, innovative or improved approaches to conservation and collections care theory, practice, communication, management and training.
• New insights that illuminate previously unknown information about an object or a collection of related objects.

Applicants will need to:

• Show that their research has achieved high quality outcomes that are relevant and appropriate for the type/scope/scale of the project.
• Demonstrate that the outputs of their research are openly accessible and are being promoted to colleagues i.e. that dissemination goes beyond providing open access via university repositories.
• Provide evidence that the research has made a significant positive impact within the conservation field.

This award recognises individual, department or organisation-led innovation in conservation practice, research or training. Innovation can take any form but should demonstrate new ways of thinking or working that are moving the practice of conservation forward. 

Eligibility

The award is open to individual conservators, teams, departments or entire organisations that are championing innovative ways of working to further the conservation profession. 

Criteria

Applicants will need to demonstrate that they were able to:

• Progress an area of conservation practice, research or training through innovation in ways of working or approaching aspects of work or projects delivered. 
• Champion innovative approaches that serve to inspire fellow conservators, departments, and organisations – inspiring a new generation of individuals to consider a career in conservation.
• Align with Icon’s ‘Values of Conservation’.
• Demonstrate a lasting impact or legacy.

This award recognises a stand-out project, or the ongoing practice of a conservation professional, who is championing environmentally focused or sustainable ways of working.

Eligibility

This award is open to individual conservators, collections care professionals, or teams working in these areas, who are progressing practice and culture in this area.

Criteria

Applicants will need to demonstrate that they were able to:

• Identify a real need for change and an opportunity to address this through their professional role in conservation or collections care.
• Successfully innovate or adapt existing practices and approaches to focus on a more environmentally sustainable way of working, whilst continuing to deliver to an excellent standard professionally.
• Increase the visibility of the role of conservation in championing environmentally sustainable ways of working.
• Align with Icon’s ‘Values of Conservation.’
• Demonstrate a lasting impact or legacy.

This Award recognises emerging conservation professionals and their early career contribution to the practice of conservation.

Eligibility

The Award is open to conservators and heritage scientists who have completed their academic qualification within the last 5 years, or those with less than 5 years of workplace experience if they are following vocational training routes. The nomination can be based on a piece of solo work or could focus on the individual’s contribution to a larger conservation project or research activity, or their wider contribution to the workplace. The activity must have taken place within the last 12 months.

Criteria

Nominated candidates will have demonstrated achievement in one of the following areas:

• Innovation / finding creative solutions to conservation problems.
• Advocating for cultural heritage or promoting the value of conserving/restoring heritage.
• Demonstrating an impact on the wider professional practice i.e. sharing / contributing to the skills and knowledge base of the wider profession.

This award recognises a student conservator who has excelled in their studies or training, has added significant value to their course, or has already begun to contribute positively to the conservation profession. 

Eligibility

The award is open to individuals who are currently enrolled on an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in conservation, or who are undertaking a conservation apprenticeship.

Criteria

Applicants will need to demonstrate that they were able to:

• Excel in their studies or training by adding real and significant value to their course and fellow students, or by having begun to contribute positively to the conservation profession.
• Increase the visibility of the study of conservation, either with regard to general heritage preservation or in a specialist area.
• Align with Icon’s ‘Values of Conservation’.
• Demonstrate a lasting impact or legacy.