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Develop conservation options and strategies for cultural heritage

URN: CCSCH7
Business Sectors (Suites): Cultural Heritage
Developed by: Creative & Cultural Skills
Approved on: 30 Mar 2022

Overview

​This standard is about developing conservation options and strategies for cultural heritage. Cultural heritage can refer to objects that are on display or in storage or to historic buildings, structures, sites or settings. Conservation options and strategies could be in relation to:

  • complex objects brought to a studio for treatment or advice
  • a strategy for the management of a collection, building, site or setting
  • a response to a specific threat or conservation issue

It includes identifying and evaluating conservation options, advising on the requirements of legislation or policy, developing advice, recommendations or strategies, discussing and negotiating options, reaching consensus and recording agreed actions.

This standard is for anyone who develops conservation options and strategies for cultural heritage.

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

  1. ​develop options and strategies for categories of cultural heritage that are within your sphere of expertise
  2. carry out adequate assessment and research to identify possible conservation options and strategies
  3. seek assistance from or consult with experts when required
  4. identify conservation options and strategies that meet the conservation needs of cultural heritage
  5. ensure conservation options or strategies promote good conservation practice
  6. evaluate the risks, resource implications, funding opportunities and benefits associated with identified conservation options and strategies
  7. identify the implications of conservation options and strategies for future storage, use or display of cultural heritage
  8. advise on any relevant legislation, official guidance or organisational policy that impact on options or strategies
  9. present options and strategies to relevant people in a clear and concise way
  10. discuss and negotiate options and strategies with organisations and individuals to achieve consensus
  11. record agreed actions in an appropriate format and level of detail in line with organisational procedures

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

  1. ​national, local, professional or organisational standards, frameworks, legal instruments, ethics and policies which affect the conservation of heritage in your sphere of activity
  2. the physical and chemical characteristics of materials, the causes and characteristics of decay of heritage, and the effects of treatment and preventative measures on long-term condition and use of the heritage
  3. the full range of current practice and emerging developments in conservation relating to your sphere of activity
  4. the perspectives and roles of others who have an impact on the protection and care of the heritage, where necessary working with them to ensure that options and strategies will be effective
  5. the extent of your conservation expertise and when and where to seek others'
  6. types of conservation options and strategies for your sphere of expertise including options that require novel, innovative or adapted measures to meet the needs of individual contexts
  7.  sources of assessments and research and how to carry it out
  8. the provenance of heritage, its religious, cultural or historical significance within the context in which you are working, and the impact of conservation measures
  9. relevant legislation, official guidance, organisational, management and conservation policies affecting the particular context
  10. how to evaluate the preservation needs of heritage in individual contexts, whether in storage, use and/or on display
  11. how to evaluate and respond to changing situations, plan and prepare for emergencies affecting heritage
  12. how to develop, define, present and promote conservation advice, options and strategies
  13. how to assess risks, resources implications, funding opportunities and benefits of different options and strategies
  14. how to negotiate and reach consensus with organisations and individuals
  15. organisational systems for recording actions, how to operate them, the main differences between digital and manual systems and possible problems with them

Scope/range

Scope Performance

Scope Knowledge

Values

Behaviours

Skills

Glossary

Links To Other NOS

External Links

Version Number

2

Indicative Review Date

30 Mar 2026

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

Creative and Cultural Skills

Original URN

CCSCH74

Relevant Occupations

Conservation Associate Professionals, Crafts, Creative Arts and Design

SOC Code

2452

Keywords

conservation; cultural heritage; conservation options; heritage building; heritage structure; heritage site; heritage setting; artefact;