ICCROM has always been active in the field of conservation of collections. Through international courses and regional and national programmes, it has addressed issues such as preventive conservation, conservation and science, conservation decisions, exhibition and use, and storage. Special attention has also been given to collections with specific requirements and needs, such as paper, Japanese lacquer, archival materials, textiles and basketry, and more recently, sound and image collections.

The objective of the Conservation of Collections programme is to stimulate institutions and individuals in the various member-states to recognize common concerns and values in their respective work, and in partnership to design, test and disseminate common methodologies and tools to preserve cultural heritage.  There are four main components of this programme: preventive conservation, conservation decision-making, conservation of sound and image collections, and research and development. The first three components include international courses and a range of ancillary activities in the form of workshops, seminars, case studies, awareness activities and so on.

The CollAsia 2010 programme is closely linked in aims and working modalities to the Conservation of Collections programme.

updated on: 23 November, 2007