Student Resources
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Student Resources
What is Icon and how we can help you in your professional development?
Patrick Whife, Icon's Policy and Programmes Director, talks about what Icon does, the Icon Professional Standards and Accreditation Programme, and the resources and support available through Icon for students and emerging conservation professionals.
03 May 2016
So you want to be a conservator? 10 traits you need to succeed
Icon's mentors and experts share their thoughts on must-have traits for the modern conservator
Article
Training and Support
Emerging Professionals Group
The Icon Emerging Professional Group (EPG) aims to bring together and offer support for students and emerging conservation professionals
Training Directory
Explore your route into a rewarding conservation career.
Icon Internship Programme
Kick-start your career in conservation
Creating a portfolio
Hints and tips on how to put together a body of work in a way that showcases the best of your abilities
Advice for job seekers
Useful resources and top tips
Grants
Icon Grants
You may also wish to check out the following schemes:
The Stationers’ Company Postgraduate Bursary Scheme
– conservation students have been awarded the scholarship in the past.
The Stationers’ Company Scholarships and Awards
– the financial assistance and major awards are open to conservation students.
Student Project Gallery
Student project gallery
Welcome to Icon's student project gallery where you can find information about the projects our student members have completed during their conservation studies
The Student Project Gallery
has been designed to provide Icon Student Members with the perfect place to ensure your best work gets noticed. Add your bio, some images and a write up of your project – and publish it on the Icon website!
The object is to
raise your profile
and increase awareness of the skills you’ve developed. You can then hyperlink and spread the word far and wide!
To get started, just
log-in to the Icon website
. From the ‘My Account’ area, click ‘My Project Gallery’ on the left-hand side – and get moving!
Members only
23 Aug 2021
Creating an outstanding Student Gallery profile
Five top tips to get your profile noticed by potential employers and clients
Guidance
Useful Links
Conservation Organisations
Many of these organisations will have a wide range of resources available on their webpages, and becoming a member will give you benefits, such as subscribing to newsletters and publication journals, and discounted events, lectures and conferences. Many offer concessionary membership rates for students and early career conservators.
ICOM
International Council of Museums
IIC
International Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works
IADA
International Association of Book and Paper Conservators
AIC
American Institute for Conservation
CCI
Canadian Conservation Institute
ARA
The Archives and Records Association for the UK and Ireland
NEDCC
Northeast Document Conservation Centre
IRCI
Institute of Conservators-Restorers in Ireland
ALCTS
Association for Library Collections and Technical Services
CCAHA
Conservation Centre for Arts and Historic Artifacts
AICMM
Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Material
Bibliographical databases / abstracting services
AATA Online – Abstracts of International Conservation Literature:
BCIN – Conservation Information Network:
JSTOR – More than a thousand academic journals, with access to full text pdfs (good for Archaeology, Architecture & Architectural History, and Art & Art History):
arthistoricum.net – aims to provide a comprehensive record of art history publications:
Databases
Cultural Heritage Search Engine (Preservation and Conservation Database) – Not really a search engine, but a database of useful resources:
ChemSpider – chemistry search engine indexing chemical structures and their associated information into a single searchable repository:
OpenDOAR – searchable directory of open access repositories, providing access to academic articles on a wide variety of subjects, including conservation:
Pigments Through the Ages - information on pigments, including histories, chemical formulae, methods of production and further technical detail:
Dictionaries, glossaries and thesauruses
The Getty Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online:
Mineralogy database:
ArtLex – Art dictionary:
Artcyclopedia – Online Art encyclopaedia:
Roberts & Etherington – Bookbinding and the conservation of books: a dictionary of descriptive terminology:
CAMEO – Conservation and Art material Encyclopaedia Online:
Art and Restoration Glossary:
Funding for individuals
There may be funding available for specific things you may want to do. Below is a list of charitable trusts that provide funding for individuals. Some have arrangements with specific training providers, others are open to individuals. A list of further funders is available on the
grants pages
June Baker Trust
Anna Plowden Trust
Clothworkers Foundation
Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust
York Foundation for Conservation and Craftsmen
NADFAS
The Patricia May Memorial Fund
The NADFAS Zena Walker Scholarship
Worshipful Company of Glaziers and Painters of Glass ▪ Zibby Garnett Travelling Fellowship
Winston Churchill Memorial Trust
Arts and Humanities Research Council
David Canter Memorial Fund for Craft Awards
Image gateways
ARTSTOR – a non-profit digital library for education & scholarship
VADS - Free online resource for visual arts
Bridgeman Art Library -
Library catalogues
Chantry Library Catalogue – available via SOLO (Search Oxford Libraries Online) via
British Library Catalogues:
V&A National Art Library Catalogue:
Copac – search UK University and national library catalogues:
SUNCAT - The Serials Union Catalogue for the UK research community is a free tool to help researchers and librarians locate serials held in the UK.
WorldCat – search for items in libraries near you:
ICCROM library catalogue:
Portals and gateways
Global Conservation Forum run by AIC (American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works):
Link here
Heritage Portal: Heritage Portal aims to provide a platform for sharing news and information on European cultural heritage research, conservation, education, and training.
Art History Resources on the Web:
Image Permanence Institute - this portal is devoted to scientific research in the preservation of visual and other forms of recorded information:
ICOMOS Open Archive - Eprints on Cultural Heritage, a global archive specialising in the conservation and restoration of monuments, sites and landscapes.
Web based tutorials
The Open University
Open Learn – Free Online Learning (see Study Skills)
Open University SAFARI (Skills in Accessing, Finding and Reviewing Information):
OpenLearn key assessment unit: information literacy:
Accessing, finding, and retrieving information:
Cardiff University Information Literacy Resource Bank: Search Techniques:
Articles and News
10 Oct 2025
Westminster Adult Education Service
Training
01 Apr 2025
Anna Plowden/Clothworkers' Foundation CPD Grants
Grants, awards and opportunities
22 Nov 2024
West Dean College
Internationally recognised for excellence in Arts, Design, Craft & Conservation education.
Supplier directory
04 Oct 2024
Icon Hosts Industrial Heritage Accreditation Workshop at Imperial War Museum, Duxford
Icon is excited to announce a free workshop for industrial conservators, held at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford. As the UK’s industrial conservation sector faces a skills gap, with many experienced professionals nearing retirement, the need to train and accredit new conservators is critical.
News
01 Oct 2024
Celebrate Icon's Student Month!
Join us for Student Month 2024 —your opportunity to explore exciting resources, connect with professionals, and boost your career.
News
30 Sep 2024
Unlocking Centuries of History: How Collection Care is Bringing Lambeth Palace Library’s New Exhibition to Life
Ever wonder what it takes to bring centuries-old treasures into the spotlight?
Article
Don't forget to check out
Icon's Specialist Groups and Networks
. Many of these groups have student or emerging professional representatives to ensure the views of students and emerging professionals are effectively represented.
The Icon Book & Paper Group have also put together
a page comprising resources for students
- many of these focusing on book & paper conservation.
In this section
Jobs
Training Directory
Conservation Apprenticeships
Student Resources
Icon Internship Programme
Continuing Professional Development
Student project gallery
Get involved with Icon
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