Gerry Hedley first put forward the idea of an annual student-led conference hosted by the three institutions (in the United Kingdom) offering a postgraduate education in paintings conservation. The idea was that the symposia would offer a platform for sharing the findings of their own research, and include other research led talks as determined by the student organisers from each institution in turn. The first Conservation Students' Symposium was held at the Courtauld Institute of Art in its former location at Portman Square on March the 24th & 25th 1983. Following Gerry Hedley’s death, the event was renamed in his honour.

Students from the following institutions present papers at this conference:

Hamilton Kerr Institute

Courtauld Institute

University of Northumbria

Each year there are a number of papers concerning modern and contemporary art (paintings) conservation. Visit the symposium website for more details including titles and abstracts papers given:

Gerry Hedley Student Symposium