Managing Risks in Heritage Preservation: New ICCROM / CCI Reports

The International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) and the Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) have recently published two online reports on the application of the risk management approach to the preservation of cultural heritage. The two reports build on an investigation of risk management in other fields, such as health and finance, as well as over a decade of international training and case studies in this area. They are also based on the understanding that, in today’s world, cultural heritage institutions must strive to be accountable, transparent and participatory, spending resources effectively while balancing needs of the community with those of the future. A risk management approach enables them to identify and manage risks to cultural assets, so as to make smarter decisions about their preservation, access and use. Risks occur in many forms, ranging from the rare and catastrophic to daily and easily observable threats. Adopting a risk management approach helps to find the priorities for preventive conservation by enabling professionals to

• establish a comprehensive view of all risks;
• identify priorities among different risks or to choose cost-effective options to address them;
• build reliable documentation for future review and monitoring;
• foster reflection on the values of cultural heritage and how they will be affected;
• encourage teamwork and participation, incorporating scientific knowledge with institutional memory and the knowledge of those who care for the heritage at stake;
• communicate effectively with decision-makers.

The ABC Method - A Risk Management Approach to the Preservation of Cultural Heritage

This manual offers a comprehensive understanding of risk management applied to the preservation of heritage assets, whether collections, buildings or sites. It provides a step-by-step procedure and a variety of tools to guide the heritage professional in applying the ABC method to their own context. The method can be applied to a range of situations, from analysis of a single risk to a comprehensive risk assessment of the entire heritage asset. The manual is available in English and in French

A Guide to Risk Management of Cultural Heritage

This guide is an abridged version of The ABC Method. It explains the ABC Method using many images, basic examples and simple exercises. It has been designed to introduce the risk-based approach to decision makers and to promote its use by heritage professionals and a younger generation of conservators. The abridged version is available in English and in Arabic