First look at the Winter 2023 edition of Iconnect Magazine

The winter 2023 issue of Iconnect Magazine tackles an endemic theme in the heritage sector – the politics of conservation, and the conservation of politics.    

Feature stories  

Fran Coles ACR provides us with a fascinating insight into the conservation of the Edward Colston statue, toppled and retrieved in Bristol in 2020, with her personal reflections about what it was like to work against such a backdrop of keen media and public interest. 

Jennifer van Enckevort ACR and Kloe Rumsey talk about creating an inclusive and accessible exhibition on the history of disability activism, while Jane Henderson ACR and Phil Parkes ACR provide an incisive viewpoint on the value of university degrees and the marketisation of education.  

Elsewhere in the issue, Marta Garcia Celma, Chair of Icon’s Photographic Materials Group, kicks off the inaugural ‘Iconnect Interview’ from her current post at M+ Museum in Hong Kong, offering an insight into what it’s like to work in a range of international contexts and providing her views on the value of working internationally. 

Vincent Laudato Beltran tracks technical advancements in conservation with a look at the current state of microfade testing, and potential paths forward; while Diana Tay shares the findings of a short survey to gauge conservation awareness in Singapore.  

Regular columns  

But that’s not all!  A variety of regular features make their first appearance in the winter issue.  For our first ‘Emerging Professional’ column, James Harvie, Chair of Icon’s Emerging Professionals Network, spoke to Iconnect Magazine from his internship in Perth, Australia, explaining what attracted him to a career in conservation, and offering his thoughts on the current state of the sector.

Sarah Peek ACR takes on our first ‘Private Practice’ column with some top tips top tips on running your own conservation practice, drawn from her years in private practice; while Amy Junker Heslip ACR describes her favourite improvised conservation tool for the first ‘Conservation Improv’.

Holly Cook describes what it’s been like since she started her latest role for our first ‘Who Got the Job?’; and an Icon member client, rare bookseller Nick McBurney, reflects on some of some of his favourite objects in ‘Treasure Island’.  

Alongside this, the edition also has all the latest news from Icon’ s Groups and Networks, a rundown on Icon’s recent advocacy and policy work from Sara Crofts, Chief Executive, a look at Icon members in the news, Board moves and much more.  

How to get it  

If you’re an Icon member, keep an eye on your doorstop – unless you’ve opted out of print publications, in which case visit the website to access the digital version.  

If you’re not yet an Icon member, there’s never been a better time! Click here to Join Us and get the first issue in your Welcoming Package.  

And if you like what you see in the issue – let us know! Tag us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.