Training Courses

About the Course

The six-month training course is a comprehensive programme designed to provide theoretical and practical training in the conservation of cultural property. The course covers the history and technology of cultural property, different types of cultural materials, ethics of conservation, deterioration mechanisms and causes, remedial conservation, and preventive conservation.The programme includes lectures followed by practical sessions in the respective areas of conservation. Training is provided in the conservation of both organic and inorganic cultural objects, including paper, palm-leaf, stone, metal, leather, parchment, wood, bone, ivory, ceramics, glass, paintings, and other materials.
The course is intended to strengthen the professional knowledge and practical skills of conservation personnel and to prepare trainees for the scientific conservation and preservation of cultural property.

Eligibility Criteria

For in-service candidates:

Chemists, conservators, and restorers working in museums, archives, libraries, and other government or non-government cultural institutions in India and abroad.

For fresh candidates:

Applicants possessing any of the following qualifications:
    • Master’s Degree in Science, with Chemistry studied at the graduation level.
    • Master’s Degree in Fine Arts / Visual Arts.
    • Master’s Degree in Art Conservation.
    • Master’s Degree in Archaeology.
    • Master’s Degree in Museology.
    • Post Graduate Diploma in Archaeology and Museology.
Number of seats: 30

Course Duration

Six months

Tentative Time Period of the Course

The course generally commences on the first working day of September and concludes on the last working day of February of the following calendar year.

How to Apply

Eligible candidates may apply to NRLC in accordance with the admission notification issued for the respective training session. Details regarding the application procedure, prescribed application form, eligibility, required documents, selection process, fees, and other conditions will be specified in the relevant admission notification.

About the Course

These short-term specialized workshops and refresher courses are designed primarily for working conservators, restorers, and chemists involved in the conservation of cultural property. The programmes are organized on specific conservation themes or in response to the requirements of individual cultural institutions such as state museums, libraries, archives, and other organizations.
The course content is tailored to the selected theme and may include the history, technology, composition, identification, deterioration, causes of deterioration, remedial conservation, and preventive conservation of specific categories of cultural property.

Eligibility Criteria

Primary target group:

Working conservators, restorers, and chemists employed in museums, archives, libraries, and other government or non-government cultural institutions in India and abroad. Eligibility requirements may vary depending on the theme and nature of the workshop.

Number of seats: 20

Course Duration

10 to 15 days, depending on the subject and requirements of the participating institution.

Tentative Time Period of the Course

These workshops are organized periodically throughout the year, generally based on the specific requirements of museums, libraries, archives, and other cultural institutions.

How to Apply

Interested institutions or eligible professionals may apply to NRLC in response to the relevant workshop notification or may approach NRLC for organizing a specialized programme based on their specific training requirements. The final schedule, eligibility, number of participants, and application procedure will be communicated for each programme separately.

About the Course

This two-week workshop focuses on the care, maintenance, and preventive conservation of museum collections. It is designed to enhance the capacity of museum directors, curators, custodians, and other collection-care professionals in identifying and managing risks to cultural property.
The programme covers the significance and different types of cultural property, museum environmental conditions, factors responsible for the deterioration of museum collections, identification of active agents of deterioration, preparation of preventive conservation plans, and risk preparedness.
The workshop emphasizes practical approaches to collection care and the development of appropriate preventive conservation strategies for museums, archives, libraries, and other collection-holding institutions.

Eligibility Criteria

Preferred candidates:

In-service museum and collection-care professionals, including:
    • Directors
    • Curators
    • Storekeepers/Custodians
    • Other professionals responsible for museum, archive, or library collections
Professionals working in government and non-government institutions in India and abroad may apply.

Fresh candidates:

Applicants possessing any of the following qualifications:
    • Master’s Degree in Fine Arts / Visual Arts.
    • Master’s Degree in Art Conservation.
    • Master’s Degree in Archaeology.
    • Master’s Degree in Museology.
    • Post Graduate Diploma in Archaeology and Museology.
Preference: In-service candidates are generally preferred.

Number of seats: 20

Course Duration

Two weeks

Tentative Time Period of the Course

The workshop is organized periodically, depending on the training requirements and availability of NRLC.

How to Apply

Eligible candidates and interested institutions may apply in response to the relevant NRLC workshop notification. Museums and other cultural institutions may also approach NRLC for organizing such programmes according to their specific training and collection-care requirements.

About the Course

NRLC conducts short-term training programmes for students of Conservation, Museology, and Archaeology as part of the academic curriculum of various universities and institutions across the country.
These programmes are organized at the request of participating universities and institutions and are intended to provide students with practical exposure to the conservation and preventive care of cultural property. The programmes supplement classroom-based academic education with practical and field-oriented training.
The course content generally includes:
    • Cultural property and its significance.
    • Types of cultural property.
    • Museum environment.
    • Factors responsible for the deterioration of museum collections.
    • Identification of active agents of deterioration.
    • Remedial conservation.
    • Preventive conservation.
    • Preparation of preventive conservation plans.
    • Risk preparedness.

Eligibility Criteria

The programmes are intended primarily for students enrolled in:
    • Master’s programmes in Museology.
    • Master’s programmes in Conservation.
    • Master’s programmes in Archaeology.
    • Post Graduate Diploma programmes in Museology.
    • Post Graduate Diploma programmes in Conservation.
    • Post Graduate Diploma programmes in Archaeology.
The programmes are generally conducted for students nominated or sponsored by their respective universities/institutions.

NRLC has conducted such programmes for students from institutions including:
    • Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi.
    • Sampurnanand Sanskrit University (SSU), Varanasi.
    • Rabindra Bharati University (RBU), Kolkata.
    • Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU), Vadodara.
    • University of Calcutta, Kolkata.
    • School of Heritage Resource Management (SHRM), Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University, New Delhi.
    • National Museum Institute/IIH, New Delhi.

Course Duration

Two weeks

Number of seats: Generally 20 to 35, depending on the strength of the participating university/institution's batch.

Tentative Time Period of the Course

These programmes are generally organized between March and May each year, subject to the request of the concerned university/institution and the availability of the NRLC Training Institute.

How to Apply

These courses are generally organized in collaboration with and at the request of universities/institutions. The concerned university or institution may approach NRLC for conducting the programme for its eligible students.

The participating institution is expected to coordinate the nomination of students and other administrative requirements with NRLC. The detailed schedule, batch size, course structure, and other arrangements are finalized in consultation with the concerned institution.