Human Resources in Canada's Built Heritage Sector: Mapping the ...

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MAPPING THE WORK FORCE AND SETTING STRATEGIC PRIORITIESRegulation of Professional OccupationsConservators:The National Council for Conservation-Restoration estimated that in 2004 there were approximately3,500 persons working in conservation occupations. Of these, 60% belong to the NCCR’s 12 memberassociations and are accredited at a professional level by at least one of the 12 member associations.Effective this year, the five largest associations in the NCCR have merged to create the Institute ofConservation. The NCCR was dissolved in 2004.The Institute of Conservation maintains a Conservation Register. The Conservation Register is not a listingof accredited professionals in the field. Rather the Register is a listing of private businesses in the conservationfield that can demonstrate competence in various specified fields. Hence the Conservation Register includesonly owners and managers of conservation practices, including self-employed professionals. Professionalaccreditation is being phased in as a requirement for inclusion in the Register.In 2005, the Institute of Conservation will take over responsibility for conferring the designation AccreditedConservator-Restorer (ACR). This designation was previously conferred by three of the member associationsof the NCCR, namely United Kingdom Institute for Conservation, Institute of Paper Conservation andSociety of Archivists. ACR is the premier designation for conservators in the UK. Other accreditation schemesinclude those operated by the British Antique Furniture Restorers’ Association, the British Association ofPaintings Conservators and Restorers, the Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works inIreland (ICHAWI), and the British Horological Institute. To date approximately 600 persons have qualifiedfor the ACR designation.The ACR accreditation is based on a peer review of technical competence, demonstrated theoretical knowledge,understanding of professional ethics, and a portfolio of completed projects. Applicants are reviewed byassessors who also inspect the work that has been referenced in the application for accreditation. To maintainaccreditation an individual must participate in ongoing professional development. Most individuals apply foraccreditation approximately 5 years after their primary conservation training (e.g. a degree or MA), or 8 -10years after working in conservation, including practical training.Various bodies, such as English Heritage and Historic Scotland, Area Museum Councils and SingleRegional Agencies, the Council for the Care of Churches and the National Trust and NTS, are beginningto look for ACR accreditation. The pressure on the profession to strengthen its system of accreditationemanated from Historic Scotland (the Scottish “national trust”). Historic Scotland has indicated its intentionto require professional accreditation for work done under its auspices or with its financial support.As a practical matter, it should be noted that there is considerable overlap between NVQ designations andthe ACR designation. It is too early to say which designation will ultimately prevail or if the two will co-exist.©CULTURAL HUMAN RESOURCES COUNCIL33
HUMAN RESOURCES IN CANADA’S BUILT HERITAGE SECTORArchitects:In 1992 the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) established a designation applicable tospecialists in conservation work. This was followed in 1995 by a designation developed by the RoyalIncorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS). In 1998 architects associated with the ConservationGroup of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) established the Register of Architects Accreditedin Building Conservation (AABC). The Register and the designation were operated outside of the ambitof RIBA until 2003 when the system was re-integrated with RIBA. The RICS and RIAS accreditationsrequire presentation of a portfolio of 5 projects for peer review. The AABC accreditation criteria alsoinclude a portfolio requirement, but these are much more explicitly tied to the 1993 ICOMOS Guidelinesreferenced earlier. Applicants must indicate in their portfolios how the elements of their portfolio relate toeach of the 14 ICOMOS criteria. The ICOMOS Guidelines are set out in Appendix C.“It is acknowledged that amongst professionals there is a lack of understanding of traditional materialsand how to use them, as most undergraduate training focuses on new build and modem technology,materials and methods of construction..”Historic Buildings Council for Scotland, Annual Report, 1997-1998It appears that RIBA may have been initially reluctant to establish a specialized designation for architects whowork in the conservation of built heritage. Pressure to adopt such an accreditation clearly emanated from the“national trusts” and other heritage bodies. English Heritage (the English “national trust”) commented that“of 5,400 RIBA registered architects in the UK, between 800-1700 profess some interest, experience andcompetence in building conservation without a clear, transparent, and independently assessed means ofdemonstrating it.” 14 In 2001 both English Heritage and Historic Scotland, the two largest “national trusts”imposed conditions on grant aided work, requiring that works of repair and conservation be under the directionof a registered architect accredited in building conservation. The only accredited conservation register forarchitects in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, recognised by the relevant historic building bodies, is theRIBA Register of Architects Accredited in Building Conservation (AABC). The two “national trusts” alloweda two-year period for the architectural profession to establish its conservation accreditation.In 2002, the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland (RIAI) commenced accrediting architects in conservationpractice. There are three grades of accreditation:• Conservation Practice/Architect – Grade I. This is the highest Grade. Practices and Architectsaccredited at this level are qualified to work on all Protected Structures.• Conservation Practice/Architect – Grade II. Practices and Architects accredited at this level arequalified to work on all Protected Structures classified in the National Inventory of ArchitecturalHeritage as being of ‘Regional’ or ‘Local’ importance.• Practice/Architect Accredited to Work on Local Protected Structures. Practices and Architectsaccredited at this level are qualified to work on structures classified as of ‘Local’ importance in theNational Inventory of Architectural Heritage.14 Cited in J. Maxwell, “Achitectural/Building Conservation,” November 10, 2003http://www.ihbc.org.uk/Downloads/Education_papers/EG_1_Summary_10_November_1B.pdf34©CULTURAL HUMAN RESOURCES COUNCIL
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