Evolving challenges, developing skills

TL;DR: The role of formal university or college courses, internships or apprenticeships, and continuing professional development in equipping conservators for work in the 21st century is explored in this paper.

Abstract: This paper explores various recent changes to the heritage context in which conservators now work, including changes to the accepted composition of the heritage, the inclusion of wider audiences, the understanding of wider, often intangible, meanings of objects, and the development of conservation as a social practice. Other factors such as funding pressures and climate change are also considered, together with their effects on conservation work patterns. The second part of the paper looks at the skills needed by conservators working in this evolving context, including both specialist and wider professional skills, and considers how these are to be developed. The final section examines the roles of formal university or college courses, internships or apprenticeships, and continuing professional development in equipping conservators for work in the 21st century.