25 February 2010
ICOMOS Ireland/Follies Trust Lecture
"Journeys in Time: from Emperor Hadrian to Frank Lloyd Wright, John Fiddler accounts his international experience as an architect in the conservation of buildings and archaeological sites" more info>>
16-18 October 2009
Joint ICOMOS Ireland/ICOMOS-UK Meeting
Theme: "Cultural Landscapes" more info>>
What is Icomos?
The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) is the only non-governmental organisation working to promote the application of theory, methodology and scientific techniques to the conservation of architectural and archaeological heritage.
ICOMOS is a global network of professionals, practitioners, supporters, and organisations that benefit from interdisciplinary exchange in the field of cultural heritage, drawing together architects, archaeologists, art historians, geographers, engineers and town planners.
ICOMOS consists of the General Assembly, the Advisory Committee, the Executive Committee, the Bureau and the International Secretariat which has its headquarters in Paris. ICOMOS also consists of National Committees (currently 110) which are created at the national level.
At the international level ICOMOS has a role in the evaluation of all nominations of cultural and mixed cultural and natural World Heritage Sites as one of the advisory bodies to UNESCO under the World Heritage Convention.
History
ICOMOS was founded in 1965 in Warsaw, one year after the signature of the Charter on the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites (the 'Venice Charter') which stipulated the need for international principles guiding conservation:
'Imbued with a message from the past, the historic monuments of generations of people remain to the present day as living witnesses to their age old traditions. People are becoming more and more conscious of the unity of human values and regard ancient monuments as a common heritage. The common responsibility to safeguard them for future generations is recognised. It is our duty to hand them on in the full richness of their authenticity. It is therefore essential that the principles guiding the preservation and restoration of ancient building should be agreed and be laid down on an international basis with each country being responsible for applying the plan within the framework of its own culture and traditions.' (Venice Charter, 1964)
International Charters
ICOMOS has issued a series of international charters and principles dealing with the conservation and protection of the cultural heritage. It also continues to investigate the publication of new charters. The following is a list of the charters and principles relating to the work of ICOMOS:
- International Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites (The Venice Charter), 1964
- The Florence Charter (Historic Gardens and Landscapes), 1981
- Charter on the Conservation of Historic Towns and Urban Areas (The Washington Charter), 1987
- Charter for the Protection and Management of the Archaeological Heritage, 1990
- Charter for Protection and Management of Underwater Cultural Heritage, 1996
- International Charter on Cultural Tourism, 1999
- Charter on the Built Vernacular Heritage, 1999
- Icomos Charter - Principles for the Analysis, Conservation and Structural Restoration of Architectural Heritage, 2003
- Icomos Principles for the Preservation and Conservation - Restoration of Wall Paintings, 2003
