Risk Management in Heritage (ABC Methodology), Americas and Europe

Heritage collections are exposed to a wide range of risks, yet decisions about care, investment, and prioritisation are often made without a clear, structured understanding of where the greatest risks lie. This can lead to reactive decision-making, inefficient use of resources, and difficulty justifying priorities to management and funders.

This two-day course is designed for heritage professionals who need to assess, prioritise, and manage risks to collections in a structured and defensible way. It focuses on the practical application of the Risk Management in Heritage (ABC) methodology, a risk-based framework developed by the Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) in collaboration with ICCROM and other partners.

Rather than focusing on abstract theory, the course emphasises how the ABC methodology can be applied in real heritage contexts to support informed decision-making. Participants will develop the ability to:

• identify and analyse risks to collections and historic interiors

• assess risks in relation to significance and potential impact

• prioritise risks to support strategic planning and resource allocation

• use risk assessment outcomes to justify actions, budgets, and long-term collections care strategies

What the course covers

The course follows the core stages of the ABC risk management framework, with an emphasis on practical application:

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• Introduction to risk-based approaches to collections care

• Identifying risks affecting collections and historic interiors

• Analysing and evaluating risks using the ABC methodology

• Assessing risks in relation to significance and consequence

• Using risk assessment results to support prioritisation, cost-effective planning, and strategic decision-making

How the course is delivered

This is a highly practical, intensive course delivered online through a combination of short lectures, real-world case studies, guided group discussion, and applied exercises. Case studies draw on both collections and historic interiors, allowing participants to work through scenarios that closely reflect the challenges faced in their own organisations.

Who this course is for

This course is intended for professionals working in museums, libraries, archives, galleries, and historic houses who are responsible for:

• collections care and management

• conservation planning

• risk assessment and prioritisation

• contributing to strategic or funding-related decision-making

Course leader

Andor Vince is a Collections Care Advisor with over 20 years’ experience in the heritage sector. His professional background includes roles at the Institute of Archaeology (Serbia), Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service (UK), the Fitzwilliam Museum, and the University of Cambridge Museums.

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Andor’s Master’s dissertation (2008) focused on collections assessment tools, with specific emphasis on the ABC risk management methodology. He completed further specialist training in risk management for heritage collections at ICCROM in 2011 and has since facilitated numerous risk assessment exercises and delivered practical risk management workshops for heritage organisations internationally.