Preserving heritage through digital transformation

Aim

Please join me and make a difference? Every donation will help. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much

Who looks after the dinosaurs in the Natural History Museums? Who uncovers the hidden stories in old paintings? Who keeps Big Ben running like clockwork?

Professional conservators carry out the vital task of caring for the treasures held in our museums and galleries as well as our family heirlooms. Help us improve the digital support for these professionals by sponsoring our new forward-looking project.

Who we are

The Institute of Conservation (Icon) is the professional body that represents and supports the practice and profession of conservation. We champion excellence in conservation and promote the value of caring for our shared cultural heritage. 

We support our members through skills development, networking opportunities, advocacy, education and training. We aim to be the authoritative source of information on conservation in practice, policy and the profession.

The problem

To achieve our aim of being a modern, responsive and inclusive professional body we need to invest in our digital infrastructure. 

As a professional body, we need to fully understand our members so we can provide effective support in the most efficient ways. Responding to the ideas and concerns of our members relies on our ability to capture information about who they are and what they need. 

Our most valuable physical asset is therefore our membership data and database. However, our current data management systems aren’t quite up to scratch. You could say that our tech looks a little prehistoric and is starting to get in the way of us delivering the level of service our members deserve. 

Our vision

Ok bear with us. We know databases aren’t at the flashy and exciting end of the IT spectrum (like AI or 3D printing) but this project is very important to us. And we’re really excited about the potential to be a more technically-savvy data-driven organisation. Remember those dinosaurs we mentioned earlier? Our database supports conservators who work hard to help you and your loved ones enjoy T-Rex by keeping it in good shape. Our vision looks something like this:

We want to transform the way we support our members digitally so that conservators can develop to their fullest potential. Our vision is ambitious which is why we need your help to make this possible. 

The grand plan

Our plan is to create ‘a cradle-to-grave’ digital membership platform that will nurture and sustain our members from the first moment they engage with Icon. It will help them with their career management and support their continuing professional development (CPD). We see it kind of like a digital CV but with added benefits. Members will be able to apply for and maintain their Icon accreditation, file all their essential documents securely online, and keep their training plans on track. The new system will be easy and intuitive to use, but most importantly, it will help conservators achieve their fullest potential in their professional careers, while serving their clients and employers effectively.

So, yes, we’re asking for your support for an IT project, but actually it's about making sure that we can deliver our strategic aim to promote excellence through building knowledge, high standards and valuing the conservation profession. Your contribution will underpin our ambition to be an effective and sustainable professional body and ensure that we are well-placed to support our 2,500 members to excel. With your backing support we’ll make sure those old things we’re all pretty fond of last for generations. Including the dinosaurs.

If you want to learn more about Icon and our impact, visit our website https://icon.org.uk/news and follow our latest news and stories. 

Photo ©Natural History Museum of Utah 

This project successfully funded on 10th September 2020