Save the Date, Call for papers and student bursaries
The Institute of Conservation (ICON) Stained Glass Committee has recently announced the date for their annual conference, to be held in York on 10th and 11th October 2026.
This year the conference will look to the future, considering how the field of stained glass conservation may change for the next generation of conservators. In a time of rapid technological advancement, environmental change and political instability, how can our current work ensure that our stained glass heritage is preserved for future enjoyment?
The committee are inviting paper proposals that may address, but are not limited to the following subjects:
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What does it mean to work within an endangered craft? What can we do now to improve the long term viability of historic stained glass?
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How can the field of stained glass conservation respond to an increasingly globalised world?
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How might new digital technologies shape the field?
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What new materials are being developed and how might these shape future decision-making?
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What challenges are conservators currently facing and how might we mitigate these in the future?
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How might global warming create new challenges for stained glass heritage? How might we learn from, or adapt, current approaches to extreme weather conditions?
Proposals that take a novel approach to the theme, considering underrepresented topics or new techniques are especially encouraged.
To submit your proposal, please email an abstract for a 15-20 minute talk to iconstainedglass@gmail.com as a .docx or .pdf file. This outline should be no more than 300 words and should contain the proposed title for your talk and a brief summary of your main talking points. Submissions are encouraged from anyone who is involved or interested in stained glass conservation, at any stage in their career.
The deadline for submissions is 31st May 2026. If you have any questions about submitting an abstract, please get in touch with the committee via email (iconstainedglass@gmail.com) or social media.
As in previous years, the committee are offering free tickets to students and early year practitioners who may struggle to attend the conference otherwise. To apply for a ticket bursary, please send a short written application of 200-300 words which should answer the following questions:
- What is your professional experience in stained glass and/or conservation so far and where do you hope your career will take you?
- Why are you interested in attending the ICON 2026 conference and how do you think it will benefit your career?
Applications should be included in the body of your email and sent to iconstainedglass@gmail.com