Icon Members: Be a Conservation Ambassador at Heritage Open Days!
TV Programmes like The Repair Shop and Secrets of the Museum are more popular than ever - and so are 'meet the experts' events. With this in mind, Icon and Heritage Open Days are collaborating on an exciting initiative to partner sites taking part in this year’s Heritage Open Days with Icon members.
Together with our members, we plan to create a programme of conservation in action events across the country under the banner of ‘Conservation Stations’. These events will be an excellent opportunity for us to demonstrate the value that conservation brings to society.
Why get involved?
- you will introduce more people to the work that conservators and heritage scientists do, and why this matters
- you will get an excellent opportunity to promote your business or your museum to a new audience
- you will extend your local networks, and potentially build a fruitful ongoing relationship with a local heritage site or attraction
What is Heritage Open Days?
Taking place every September, Heritage Open Days is England’s largest festival of history and culture. It is community-led, and it brings together thousands of people across the country to celebrate the heritage that matters to them - all for free! Find out more here.
What is a ‘Conservation Station’?
There are lots of ways that conservators and heritage scientists can get involved. Here are some of the ideas that we have suggested to Heritage Open Days participants, but we’re also keen to hear your suggestions:
- Pop-up Shop: Set up a temporary conservation studio in a heritage space
- Conservation in Action: Undertake a conservation project on an item in the collection, a piece of furniture or a decorative feature during the festival
- Show & Tell: Invite a conservator who worked on your collection/site to give a talk about what they did
- Expert Talk: Host a talk led by a conservator, e.g.: “How to care for your personal treasures”/ “Looking after the family silver”
How to get involved – Icon members
A. Are you a private practitioner?
Email Geanina Beres ([email protected]) to register your interest in being partnered with a Heritage Open Days participant to deliver an event. Let us know where you are in the country and what you think you’d like to offer.
B. Do you work in a museum, gallery or institution?
Ask your learning and engagement team or officer if they are planning to participate in Heritage Open Days this year and, if so, whether you can contribute a conservation in action event. Get in touch if you need any help.
We're here to support members who want to get involved. We aim to match you with a local Heritage Open Days venue, we will send a starter pack with helpful tips on running your activity, and we will promote your event widely.
How to get involved - Heritage Open Days organisers
A. If you have a site and you feel like you already have all the tools you need to set up a Conservation Station
Plan and register your event with Heritage Open Days at heritageopendays.org.uk/organising. Please contact the Heritage Open Days team if you have any queries, and please also drop them a note flagging your plans to ensure we collate all the events together to maximise promotion for everyone.
B. Interested but need some help? That’s what we’re here for! Get in touch with Sarah Holloway from the Heritage Open Days team to explore options at [email protected]
Some inspiration
Dover's Repair Shop
Maison Dieu, Dover Town Hall, Kent
See conservators from Bainbridge Conservation at work as they clean and repair historic oil paintings and neo-Gothic furniture by acclaimed Victorian designer William Burges. Free drop-in event - find out more here.
Exploring Sunderland's Heritage Action Zone
A guided walk to discover more about the buildings at the heart of Old Sunderland, and find out how the Heritage Action Zone is supporting conservation work in the area. Learn more about the traditional skills used to repair and maintain these buildings.
