The International Course on Strategies and Tools for Collections Management, co-organized by the National Cultural Heritage Administration of China (NCHA), the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), and the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia (ACHA), commenced on 14 April 2025, at the China National Silk Museum in Hangzhou, People's Republic of China. This course is supported by the Asian Fund for Cultural Heritage Conservation.
This collaborative initiative marks a key milestone in ICCROM’s ongoing partnership with China, reinforcing a shared commitment to advancing global knowledge and capacity for the care and management of collections.
The opening ceremony was hosted by Zhu Ye, Deputy Director of NCHA and ICCROM Council Member. The ceremony featured remarks by Xu Xiao, Deputy Director-General of the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture, Radio, Television, and Tourism, and Dr Ji Xiaofen, Director of the China National Silk Museum.
A video message was delivered by Aruna Francesca Maria Gujral, Director-General of ICCROM, who emphasized the value of international collaboration in strengthening heritage conservation.
"This is a unique opportunity to acquire new knowledge, but also a chance to forge connections that will last well beyond this course," said Director-General Gujral. "Together, we can broaden our professional perspectives and remain open to new ideas, always keeping people at the center of any conservation efforts."
Following the opening, participants had the chance to take part in a special workshop on traditional indigo dyeing on silk, offering a meaningful introduction to the museum’s rich collections and expertise.
Over the next two weeks, 36 participants from 20 countries—representing national museums, cultural institutions, and academic organizations—will take part in an immersive programme designed to strengthen their skills in collections management.
The course includes expert-led discussions, hands-on workshops, and collaborative activities focused on key aspects of collections management in museums and collection-based institutions. Topics will include risk management, preventive conservation, the application of digital tools for sustainable heritage management, and the growing importance of international collaboration.
Participants will also engage in field visits to notable sites like the Liangzhu Museum and the Kuahuqiao Site Museum, enriching their understanding of heritage preservation in context.
This international initiative represents one of the activities developed thanks to the collaboration with NCHA for museums, serving as a platform for knowledge exchange among heritage professionals, strengthening global collaboration, and revisiting the skills needed to tackle pressing challenges in the evolving museum management field.