CONSERVATE - a Heritage Skills Conference
20 September: join us for a new conference exploring skills from the past, fit for the future.
- Booking essential
This conference will bring together industry professionals in heritage craft, conservation, and rural skills to explore the challenges and opportunities within the sector.
The theme is the sustainability of heritage skills. We'll be exploring their loss and decline, and the ingenuity and innovation of individuals and organisations keeping them alive through business modelling, education and engagement.
Representatives from the Heritage Crafts Association, Bishopsland Education Trust, the Household department of the Royal Household and the National Trust will give talks to set the scene of working in heritage crafts today, and discuss what the future might hold. Skilled makers will give further talks and demonstrations of their crafts.
Teas and coffees are available during the day. A meat or plant-based lunch can be provided at an additional cost (see ticket options). If you don't purchase lunch with your ticket, please bring a packed lunch with you, or you can purchase lunch from Blake's Kitchen on site.
The conference takes place on Friday 20 September, 10.15am-4pm. A total of seven 20-30 minute talks will be spaced throughout the day, and there'll be 1.5 hours in the middle of the day for lunch and demonstrations. There'll also be an opportunity for questions as the conference closes.
Times
Prices
| Ticket type | Ticket category |
|---|---|
| Adult No lunch | £25.00 |
| Adult With BLT lunch option | £36.50 |
| Adult With plant-based lunch option | £36.50 |
The basics
- Booking details
Call 0344 249 1895
- Suitability
Not suitable for children.
- Meeting point
The conference takes place at the Heritage and Rural Skills Centre, Coleshill. Follow signs for parking, and then signage/stewards will direct you to the location of the conference from the car park.
- What to bring and wear
Weather appropriate clothing, as the event is hosted in a marquee, and practical footwear.
- Accessibility
Level access to the event is available. Toilets on site, including accessible toilet (on a different level to the main event). Some uneven surfaces such as cobbles on site due to the historic nature of the building. Seating provided for talks. Please contact us if you require an accessible parking space or if you would like to have an informal chat about access before you book.
- Other
The lunch option ticket includes a freshly made lunchbox from Blake's Kitchen. You can choose a ticket for either a plant-based lunchbox (hummus, roasted red pepper and pickled red onion on ciabatta, with a selection of three seasonal plant-based salads) or a BLT lunchbox (Kelmscott bacon, tomato, lettuce leaves, tomato relish and mayonnaise on brioche, and a selection of three seasonal salads). You'll be able to indicate if you have any further dietary requirements when making your booking, and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.
Upcoming events
Guided Tours - Coleshill Home Farm and Skills Centre
Thursdays and Saturdays, 1pm and 2.30pm: discover the historic Coleshill Home Farm and learn more about the Heritage and Rural Skills Centre now housed here.
Introduction to Blacksmithing Workshop
16 October: enjoy a full day workshop getting to grips with the basics of blacksmithing.
Open Day
14 July and 11 August: visit our exhibition and join guided tours of the Heritage and Rural Skills Centre as part of our Coleshill Village Open Days.