Committees

We do much of our work through our Committees, made up of ICOMOS-UK members, who operate on a voluntary basis. We support this through a small secretariat, based in our London office, where we currently have three part-time staff. At present, other than the Executive Committee, there are eight committees, detailed below, who work in distinct areas of cultural heritage, from landscapes and world heritage sites to digital, intangible and wood heritage, and to develop ICOMOS-UK. The committees work on policy and practice, hold regular meetings and organise occasional events. We are in the process of developing or rejuvenating other committees – please contact us for details, or keep an eye on this page.

Joining a committee

You need to be a member of ICOMOS-UK before you can join a Committee; application details are here. For further information and to apply to join a committee please contact us by emailing admin@icomos-uk.org , including a brief note telling us which committee you are interested in and what your relevent experience and interests are.

International Scientific Committees (ISCs)

The many International Scientific Committees (ISCs) of ICOMOS allow members from around the world to form networks of expertise in particular areas of cultural heritage. Members include internationally renowned specialists in their subjects. These ISCs form the backbone of ICOMOS’ international collaboration, scientific research and exchange of ideas. ISCs are open to experts and also to associates, who are encouraged to join to build up their knowledge in a given field. ICOMOS-UK members are actively involved in most of these committees. UK members are approved by the ICOMOS-UK Executive Committee.

Some ISCs are mirrored by ICOMOS-UK Committees. These are the Cultural Tourism, Education and Training, and Cultural Landscape and Historic Gardens Committees.

Click here for more info.

International Scientific Committee for the Analysis and Restoration of Structures of Architectural Heritage, UK (ISCARSAH-UK)

In UK and other parts of the world, cathedrals, church buildings, masonry arch bridges, castles and towers are among the most well recognised and loved architectural heritage structures. However, such structures, by their very nature and history (material and assembly), present several challenges in diagnosis and restoration.

Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 11.4 “Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage”, ISCARSAH-UK aims to provide a multidisciplinary forum and network for engineers, architects, planners, surveyors and managers involved in the restoration and care of building heritage. The committee deals with all steps of a restoration process including Anamnesis, Diagnosis, Therapy and Control.

We are interested in different key subject areas, including traditional and innovative construction materials and techniques, experimental testing, analysis and assessment, preventive conservation, sustainable repair and strengthening techniques, threats and impacts of man-made and climatic change, impact of natural disasters, and inspection and documentation etc.

If you would like to be involved, do not hesitate to contact us.

Chair: Dr Vasilis Sarhosis

Contact: V.Sarhosis@leeds.ac.uk

Cultural Tourism Committee

The aims of this committee are to:

  • promote the ICOMOS international guidelines on cultural tourism
  • create a dynamic forum to encourage debate on current issues in cultural tourism throughout the UK
  • raise awareness of, and sensitivity to political, economic, socio-cultural, technological and environmental dimensions of cultural tourism development in the UK and internationally
  • foster understanding and knowledge of the significance of cultural tourism in sustaining both tangible and intangible cultural heritage within communities
  • identify, promote and adapt good practice in diverse contexts through cultural tourism and conservation education/training programmes in partnership with ICOMOS-UK Education and Training Committee

Contact: admin@icomos-uk.org

More details can be found here.

Development Committee

The Development Committee works to develop the membership, marketing and profile of ICOMOS-UK.

Chair: Carl Carrington

Contact: admin@icomos-uk.org

Digital Technology National Committee

The ICOMOS-UK Digital Technology National Committee focuses on all aspects of digital and electronic technologies and their application to tangible and intangible cultural heritage, and has members representing many disciplines including including the museum, engineering and archaeology sectors and from commercial industries and academic institutions. The Committee meets four times a year in different locations, and is planning to stage conferences and facilitate research connections and information exchange amongst cultural heritage cohorts. A key objective is to link up with colleagues worldwide.

Chair: Dr Tarek Teba

Contact: admin@icomos-uk.org

Education, Training and Events Committee

This Committee’s work ties in with the ICOMOS International Training Committee (CIF). It looks at the changing needs of education and training in the broader fields of conservation with an international perspective.

Chair: Ataa Alsalloum

Contact: admin@icomos-uk.org

 

Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee

This committee aims to integrate Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), as defined by the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage and associated Guidelines, into ICOMOS-UK’s wide ranging activities relating to the understanding, safeguarding and promotion of heritage, with focus on oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals and festive events,knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe, traditional craftsmanship, and other areas of arts and heritage practices that emerge in the future which the Committee considers relevant to its work.

Exploring Intangible Cultural Heritage Report here

Chair: Clara Arokiasamy, OBE

Contact: admin@icomos-uk.org

Wood Committee

The Wood Committee was re-established in 2017. It aims to promote understanding and cooperation in the field of conservation of wooden built heritage, and provide a multidisciplinary forum for the interchange of experience, ideas, knowledge, and the results of research between administrators, archaeologists, architects, conservators, engineers, wood scientists, legislators and other professionals.

Chair: Doug Evans

Contact: admin@icomos-uk.org

Click here for more info.

World Heritage Committee

The World Heritage Committee is the focus of World Heritage activity within ICOMOS-UK. It considers issues arising in the UK on World Heritage Sites, tentative lists, nominations, management plans and monitoring reports. It also advises ICOMOS international and UNESCO, via the Secretary, on all matters relating to World Heritage in the UK.

Chair: Peter Marsden

Contact: admin@icomos-uk.org