The IAASF Conference is returning to the Redworth Hall Hotel in County Durham in 2026! The 17th-century Jacobean Hall provides a beautiful and appropriate setting for a conference relating to the protection of cultural and heritage venues.

Due to operational and administrative reasons, it is not possible to maintain our current scheduling, and in order that we can deliver the best conference experience that fits in with our tenth anniversary, the Steering Committee has made the difficult decision to postpone the IAASF Conference that was originally planned for March 2026 to the 8th and 9th of September 2026.

Background

Conflict, political uncertainty, rising prices, and budget cuts all contribute to global economic uncertainty. When there is economic uncertainty, there are often increases in adversarial threats, which can take the form of organised crime, looting, and opportunistic theft from museums and other cultural venues. There are also social impacts that can result in increased redundancies, a lack of funding for cultural venues, and inadequate maintenance of buildings and infrastructure.

As with other sectors, the best way to protect assets from adversarial, social, or natural threats is to understand them and how they impact an organisation’s operation and continued functionality. Once the threat is understood, risk reduction strategies can be developed that are sensible, proportionate, and cost-effective. These risk reduction strategies can include enhanced operational effectiveness, increased use of technology, or improved emergency planning.

The IAASF continues to bring together experts from around the world who are passionately involved in the protection of cultural heritage and supporting the sectors. The conference is a great opportunity to network with peers and to share global experiences and knowledge.

This conference will focus on existing threats and those considered to be most relevant in the future. The conference will enable delegates to understand how these threats can impact their organisation and the steps that everybody can take to reduce the risks that exist.

Objectives

As the conference ends, delegates will have a better understanding of:

1. Existing and emerging threats to the cultural & heritage sectors, which can increase in times of economic uncertainty.
2. Emerging technologies and the threats they may pose.
3. Protective security risk management approaches.
4. Effective operational practices, including emergency planning and protective training.
5. New legislation that affects cultural and heritage venues.

Content

The content will explore developing resilience in the following key areas:

Understanding the Threats: The threats that cultural and heritage venues face due to economic uncertainty will be discussed. This includes the adversarial and non-adversarial threats that exist, including trafficking, environmental threats, cyber, fire, and insider threats.

Risk Reduction Strategies: Developing proportionate risk reduction strategies that are cost-effective is vital for cultural and heritage venues. The conference will explore risk management strategies that could be beneficial for venues and organisations of all sizes.

Operational Best Practices: Bringing together subject matter experts from the fields of heritage, security, and other specialisms to share the best practices that can support venues in times of economic uncertainty.