The professional body for conservation in the UK, representing practitioners who care for cultural heritage across buildings, collections, archives, and objects.
Icon is the professional body for conservation in the United Kingdom, representing the full range of conservation specialisms: built heritage, objects, collections, archives, photographs, and digital materials. Membership — with post-nominals including ACR (Accredited Conservator-Restorer) — is the recognised professional standard for conservators working in museums, galleries, libraries, archives, private practice, and the built environment.
The organisation provides accreditation for individual conservators, advocates for the value of conservation as a skilled discipline, and supports professional development through training and events. Its Find a Conservator directory enables clients to locate accredited professionals for specialist work on historic buildings, collections, and artefacts.
Icon acts as a voice for the conservation profession in policy discussions, contributing to consultations on planning, heritage, and cultural policy, and working to ensure that conservation considerations are embedded in decisions affecting the care of the historic and cultural environment.
The organisation provides accreditation for individual conservators, advocates for the value of conservation as a skilled discipline, and supports professional development through training and events. Its Find a Conservator directory enables clients to locate accredited professionals for specialist work on historic buildings, collections, and artefacts.
Icon acts as a voice for the conservation profession in policy discussions, contributing to consultations on planning, heritage, and cultural policy, and working to ensure that conservation considerations are embedded in decisions affecting the care of the historic and cultural environment.
History
Icon was formed in 2005 through the merger of two predecessor organisations: the United Kingdom Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (UKIC), established in 1964, and the Museums and Galleries Commission's Conservation Unit, which had operated since the 1970s as an advisory and development body for conservation in UK museums and galleries.The merger brought together complementary expertise and resources, creating a single unified professional body for conservation across all material types and sectors. Since its formation, Icon has worked to raise professional standards, improve routes into the conservation profession, and increase public understanding of conservation as an essential skilled discipline.
The UK's leading voice for the conservation of cultural heritage.