In 2024, AICCM celebrated individuals and groups contributing to the conservation profession in Australia across five award categories, and announced the 2024 ArtsNational Mid-career Scholars. On Monday 9 December, in a hybrid in-person and online event, the AICCM President Samantha Hamilton presented the awards and announced the scholars.
Thank you to all who joined us in person and online to celebrate our recipients. We also want to acknowledge the people who nominated a conservator or project for the awards – it takes planning, thought and time to put in a submission and they are always an absolute pleasure to read. Congratulations to our 2024 winners! Below you can find out more about their achievements.
We are indebted to ArtsNational (previously known as the Association of Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Societies ADFAS) who support AICCM and Australian conservators. The aims of ArtsNational are to promote aesthetic education and the study of decorative and fine arts, and to advance the preservation of our cultural and artistic heritage. Patricia Robertson was the Founding Chair and a current Patron of ArtsNational, who recognised that conservation is a significantly under-funded area of the arts.
Announced at the awards night were the two 2024 mid-career scholarships. These scholarships are generously supported by ArtsNational and the Patricia Robertson Fund.
ArtsNational Mid-career Scholarship: Catherine Collyer
Catherine has received the scholarship to complete a Certificate II in Electrotechnology through the nationally recognised AUSINET course, to provide entry level electrical skills that will equip her to carry out ongoing conservation repairs and maintenance to time-based media artworks. The qualification will ensure Catherine can undertake a considered conservation approach to the repair and maintenance of time-based media equipment.
Catherine Collyer, ArtsNational Mid-career Scholar working on the artwork Bird Song 2024 by Tully Arnot (ceramic, plastic, wood, metal and air) https://tullyarnot.com/; https://www.instagram.com/tullyarnot/
ArtsNational Mid-career Scholarship: Lisa Nolan
Lisa has received the scholarship to attend a masterclass titled ‘Agar Spray: New applications of rigid gel for the treatment of large surfaces’ in Italy. This masterclass will teach innovative cleaning techniques using polymeric films for conserving unique cultural collections.
ArtsNational Mid-career Scholar Lisa Nolan, Principal at Australian Art Conservation,
ArtsNational also supports two AICCM student awards, for an outstanding student at the conservation training programs at the University of Melbourne and the University of Canberra.
AICCM Student Conservator of the Year (University of Canberra) – sponsored by ArtsNational: Michelle Butler
Michelle Butler, AICCM Student Conservator of the Year. Image credit: Jessica Whaler (Yuluwirri Studios).
AICCM Student Conservator of the Year (University of Melbourne) – sponsored by ArtsNational: Jessica Argall
Jessica Argall, AICCM Student Conservator of the Year.
Find out more about the 2024 AICCM Student Conservators of the Year
The AICCM Medal: Nicole Tse
Find out more about the AICCM Medal recipient
Outstanding Service to the Conservation Profession: Andrew Durham
The late Andrew Durham. Image credit: Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide. Photo by Saul Steed.
Find out more about the 2024 Outstanding Service to the Conservation Profession recipient
Outstanding Conservation Treatment of the Year – ANZ Gothic Bank Mosaic (International Conservation Services: Katie Smith, Eden Christian, Zora Sanders, Kristine Allinson, Rebecca Clendinen, Toni Sampson, Kai Scott)
Katie Smith during treatment of the ANZ Gothic Bank Mosaic.
Eden Christian during treatment of the ANZ Gothic Bank Mosaic.
Zora Sanders during treatment of the ANZ Gothic Bank Mosaic.
Find out more about the Outstanding Conservation Treatment of the Year
Outstanding Conservation Project of the Year – South Solitary Island Lighthouse (International Conservation Services: Amy Walsh, Julian Bickersteth, Richard Silink, Stophe Chevalier, Ryan Varney, Kingsley Mundey, Matt Foley, Peter Jones, Michelle Smith, Jo Besley, Tina Lee)
Amy Walsh during the South Solitary Island Lighthouse Project. Image credit: Amy Walsh, Conservator onsite at the South Solitary Island Lighthouse Optic relocation.
Find out more about the Outstanding Conservation Project of the Year
The nominations for the 2025 awards will open May 2025.
Please see the AICCM Award page for further information