Icon is offering a bursary for a 6-months’ work-based internship starting March 2009 in the studio of Jonathan and Ruth Cooke in West Yorkshire – as part of its Heritage Lottery Fund-supported scheme.

Due to an administrative problem, Icon has had to issue new ballot papers for UK Board elections (the Welsh election is unaffected). We apologise for the inconvenience; note the deadline has now been extended. Please return these new (yellow) ballot papers by 3rd December, in the envelope provided.

 A Scots art buyer and conservator have found a hidden painting inside the frame of a drawing by artist Joan Eardley. The painting is thought to show one of Eardley's favourite models, Andrew Samson, and to be worth about 4 times as much as the drawing - which was bought for £22,500.

Eight new employers have joined forces with Icon to run a further trial of Icon's new Conservation Technician Qualification (CTQ) starting this month. The Bowes Museum, National Galleries of Scotland, the Textile Conservancy, Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service, National Museum Wales, the Arts Council Collection, National Museums of Scotland and National Museums Liverpool join Eura Conservation and the National Trust from last year's Pilot to put forward 27 candidates who will work towards this unique work-based qualification over the next 2 years. The CTQ is unit-based and is aimed at those working in conservation support roles- skilled technical and preventive conservation staff, volunteers and new entrants to the heritage field.