Specialist Sections
Members of the Institute normally belong to one or more of its twelve specialist sections : Archaeology, Ceramics & Glass, Ethnography, Furniture & Wood, Gilding & Decorative Surfaces, Historic Interiors, Metals, Paintings, Photographic Materials, Stained Glass, Stone & Wall Paintings, Textiles.

These reflect the wide range of materials and object types with which members are concerned. The Sections organise events throughout the year, including conferences and training courses, and initiate publications which are available for sale to the whole membership, including handbooks of materials and information sources.

Publications
Conservation News, produced every two months, keeps members informed of the latest news and developments in the field, contains notices of job vacancies, and informs them of awards and educational and training events, including conferences and courses. It is also available on the members’ area of this website. The annual journal The Conservator provides peer-reviewed, up-to-date accounts of technical developments and conservation research projects.

Conferences
The first national conference for many years will be held in Liverpool in July 2004. Other conferences are arranged throughout the year by the Sections.

Training and Education
One of the Institute’s objectives is to ensure that training in this field is of the highest quality and it is working on strategies to achieve this, including agreement on standards for internships and career development. It convenes annual meetings of the Conservation Teaching Forum, for those involved in training and education. A list of the main full-time training courses is maintained: Training in Conservation.

Advocacy and Representation
The Institute seeks to raise awareness of conservation expertise through an active programme of public relations initiatives which ensure that conservation has a high public profile and that the Institute remains at the centre of national public debate on heritage access and preservation. We administer the Pilgrim Trust Conservation Awards which celebrate and reward excellence in conservation throughout the United Kingdom. The awards now embrace the Award of the Anna Plowden Trust and that of the Digital Preservation Coalition.

The institute monitors and responds to current developments and to consultations by government and other organisations which might affect the preservation of the heritage and the effectiveness of conservation provision. In recent years it has commented on papers from Resource: the Council for Museums, Libraries and Archives, and from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Co-operation and Partnership
The Institute works alongside a number of organisations. These include the other conservation professional bodies; and heritage bodies such as English Heritage, Historic Scotland and the Council for the Care of Churches. It is an active member of the umbrella organisation for professional bodies and associations, the National Council for Conservation-Restoration - NCCR. This is working towards convergence of the member organisations into a new single body. In addition, the Institute is an active member of the European Confederation of Conservator-Restorers’ Organisations - ECCO.

Accreditation
Working in partnership with other bodies, and under the banner of the NCCR, the Institute has developed a professional accreditation scheme for the profession, PACR. The scheme is also explained on this UKIC website: Accreditation Documents. There are now over 600 accredited conservators in the UK and the scheme is becoming the benchmark for recognition of professional status. Accredited members, who bear the letters ACR, have proved their practical competence and their professionalism, have demonstrated their adherence to the professional codes of practice and ethics, and undertake to maintain their professional development (CPD).

Membership
Full Membership of the Institute is open to all professionals in conservation, both those working directly on objects and others including conservation scientists, teachers, and collection managers. The category of Subscribing Membership is open to those who are interested in the aims of the Institute but who are not professional conservators. There is also a Student category of membership and special rates for overseas members and for those who are retired, un-waged or on a low income; and for institutions. Membership Application Form. Members are entitled to a range of discounts. These include events run by UKIC and its sections, courses run by others, and numerous publications, including 20% on the conservation publications of Butterworths-Heinemann. Publications

The Conservation Register
The Institute now manages this national database of conservation and restoration services, in partnership with Historic Scotland and the NCCR. For a small charge, potential clients are provided with details of five practices within the chosen discipline and geographical location. Advice is also given on choosing and working with a conservator. An increasing number of the practitioners listed on the Register are accredited, whether by the route described above, or by one of the other professional bodies or associations.

UKIC Council, Committees, Staff and Volunteers