International Course on the Conservation of Modern Heritage

The International Course on the Conservation of Modern Heritage (MAC) advances the conservation of modern heritage, landscapes, and architecture by providing participants with methodological and practical tools through lectures, discussions, exercises, demonstrations, site visits, and field projects. Participants will learn about advances in research and practice that have influenced approaches to modern heritage conservation. This course also provides a platform for participants and instructors to share experiences, challenges, and outcomes of their work in a supportive and engaged environment.

The 2027 International Course on the Conservation of Modern Heritage (MAC27) will be a blended format educational course composed of 9 modules delivered online followed by two weeks in person in Los Angeles. The teaching team is composed of Getty Conservation Institute staff and an international team of experts, all recognized heritage conservation professionals with extensive experience in modern heritage conservation. Their lectures represent various perspectives and diverse geographic regions.

The course covers a broad range of contemporary issues that professionals face in the conservation of modern heritage, from theoretical and methodological issues to the technical aspects of materials conservation.

Topics

• Introduction to Conservation of Modern Heritage
• Values-Based Approaches in Practice
• Broadening an Understanding of Modern Heritage
• Upgrading and Adapting Modern Heritage
• Resilience and Sustainability
• Modern Landscapes and Settings
• Materials and Technical Challenges
• Advocacy for Modern Heritage

Structure

The program starts with an overview of the evolution of modern heritage conservation, the key challenges faced by the field and the ways international organizations address them. The course will then focus on broadening participants' understanding of the heritage of modernity looking at both buildings and landscapes. Using the thematic approach in this course will expand the identification of modern heritage places.

Next, the course will present the values-based approach to conservation management and practical conservation and planning tools to guide practice. It will also examine the issues of resilience and environmental sustainability, the upgrading and adaptation of modern heritage, and technical aspects of conserving commonly used modern materials. The course will highlight the important role of advocacy, its strategic objectives, and its application to the conservation of modern architecture.

Online Component: April – June 2027

Pre-course materials will be released within the month prior to the course start. There will be one introductory meeting, followed by nine weekly modules, with two breaks spaced throughout.

Live Sessions will be held weekly on Thursdays, from 6:00am-8:00am PDT (Los Angeles Time) (time to be confirmed).

In-Person Component: July 11-24, 2027

After a short break, participants will convene in Los Angeles for the two week in-person component. Participation in both the online and in-person component is required for all accepted participants.

Online Component

The online component, hosted on our learning management system, follows a flipped-classroom approach. In this flipped-classroom style, participants will watch pre-recorded video lectures and complete an assignment before joining a weekly live session with instructors. Participants are expected to share their experiences with twentieth-century heritage conservation through discussions and presentations of case studies.

Each module has an estimated workload of 8-12 hours divided as follows:

• Lectures (3-4 hours)
• Assignments (1-4 hours)
• Live sessions (120 minutes)

In-Person Component

The in-person component in Los Angeles will provide an opportunity to synthesize and apply the learnings of the course. There will be lectures, site visits, discussions, and field work on a local site in Los Angeles. This is a full-time commitment, including possible programming on some evenings and weekend days. Participants will get the opportunity to meet with local experts on modern heritage conservation throughout the area and there will also be networking and socializing opportunities throughout.

The teaching team is composed of Getty Conservation Institute staff and recognized heritage conservation professionals with extensive experience in modern heritage conservation. The international teaching team and guest lecturers represent various perspectives and geographic regions.

The course is designed for 24 participants. It is open to mid-career heritage professionals who work with modern heritage conservation, such as architects, planners, engineers, conservator-restorers, policymakers, site managers, advocates, and related occupations. Professionals who can directly apply their learnings into practice, influence decision-making, or further disseminate the learnings of the course (e.g., instructors and trainers) are highly encouraged to apply.

The selection process is very competitive. Prospective participants must submit an online application and send supporting documents by the October 5 deadline. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. The course organizer may contact applicants for additional information. This course aims to host participants from a broad geographic range and a variety of heritage professions to ensure a rich cultural exchange.

The course will be conducted in English. Candidates must have good technical knowledge and command of the English language.

The course fee is USD $3,500 (three-thousand, five hundred US dollars), which includes a non-refundable course deposit of $500 (five hundred US dollars). Tuition secures your spot in the course for the online and in-person component. Participants are provided with access to the online learning management system, course materials, lodging for the in-person session, course-related transportation, breakfasts and lunches during course days, and at least two dinners in Los Angeles for the duration of the course. Participants are responsible for their round-trip travel costs to Los Angeles, meals outside of course programming, and incidental expenses associated with the course (including but not limited to visa expenses and travel to and from airports).

Participants based outside the United States may need to obtain visas or visa waivers to enter the United States for the in-person component. Successful applicants are responsible for their visa applications to travel to the United States and the associated expenses.

Applicants are encouraged to apply for funding from their employer or other institutions. Getty offers a limited amount of financial aid to provide assistance to participants that demonstrate financial need. Participants seeking financial aid must indicate this with a statement of interest in their application. Financial aid priority will be given to those in countries or regions with limited access to modern heritage training and education opportunities.

A course certificate will be awarded to participants who complete the course by attending all course activities.

Applications open September 1, 2026.

September 1, 2026: Applications open

October 5, 2026: Deadline for submission of online application, CV, and Employer’s Endorsement

October 2026: CMAI team contacts applicants, as needed, with follow up questions about their submissions

November 12, 2026: By this date, applicants will receive an email notifying them if they have been selected to participate in the course or waitlisted. Up to ten applicants may be placed on a waiting list

December 14, 2026: Deadline for participants to submit a $500 non-refundable deposit and confirm their registration

March 1, 2027: Deadline for payment of remaining tuition fee ($3,000)

Applicants who do not submit payments by the deadlines will have their registration canceled. Available spaces will then be offered to those on the waiting list.

For further information or questions, please contact CMAItraining@getty.edu.

The first iteration of the International Course on the Conservation of Modern Heritage comprised nine, virtual instructional modules between May and July 2023. Following a brief break, participants convened in early August 2023 in Los Angeles for two weeks of intensive coursework to synthesize and apply the knowledge gained during the remote sessions through lectures, learning exercises, discussions, site visits, and work on local case studies.

The course ran for a second iteration in 2025, with eleven modules spread between March and June 2025, and two weeks in person in Los Angeles in late July 2025. Both iterations of the course had 26 international participants.

Thus far, MAC has trained professionals from or working in the following countries: Albania, Australia (4), Austria, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina (2), Brazil (3), Canada (2), Chile (2), Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Germany, Greece, India (2), Ireland, Kosovo (2), Kuwait (2), Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia, Nigeria (3), North Macedonia, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore (3), Spain, United Kingdom (2), United Arab Emirates, United States (4), and Uruguay.

Questions and inquiries about the International Course on the Conservation of Modern Heritage should be emailed to the Conserving Modern Architecture Initiative with the subject line: MAC Course Inquiry.