2012 IIC Vienna Congress- ‘The Decorative: Conservation and the applied arts’: registration now open

Registration is now open for IIC’s twenty-fourth international Congress, which will take place in Vienna from the 10th to the 14th of September 2012.
Full details, including the technical and social programmes, are available at the Congress pages of the IIC web-site: http://www.iiconservation.org/congress

The 2012 Congress will focus on a topic that is uniquely well-suited to Vienna’s wealth and breadth of decorative and applied arts heritage. Ornament and decoration have been evident in human endeavour since the beginning of human history, ranging from the bold clarity of ancient Egypt to the great period of Jugendstil and the Vienna Secession around 1900 and on to the exuberant revivals of today. Wherever civilisations have developed, many of their forms of cultural expression can be considered as ‘decorative’ or ‘applied’ arts. The congress topic coincides with Vienna’s Klimt 2012 celebrations, on the 150th anniversary of the birth of Gustav Klimt.

Over 40 speakers and a further 40 poster presenters will report on contemporary thinking, current research and examples of best practice on a wide range of conservation topics including:
–       glass
–       furniture
–       textiles and carpets
–       porcelain
–       precious metals
–       jewellery
–       musical instruments
–       manuscripts
–       wall paintings
–       lacquerware

As with all IIC Congresses, the conference will bring together the international professional community to present and exchange ideas, to debate conservation practices and cutting-edge research, to consider exciting new developments and thought-provoking challenges, and to make new connections between this region and all corners of the world.  There is a full social programme of receptions and the Gala Diner, plus the tours in and around Vienna on the Wednesday and the IIC Round Table event on the Wednesday evening.  After the Congress a series of visits to neighbouring cultural centres is also available.

Book now at www.iiconservation.org to secure your place at what is already a very popular event.