ICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites was established in 1965 at The Congress in Warsaw, as the result of The Second Congress of Architects and Specialists of Historic Buildings in 1964 along with the creation of The Venice Charter. ICOMOS work is based on its principles as well as a number of other conservation doctrines.

ICOMOS is an international non-governmental organisation, affiliated with UNESCO.

The main ICOMOS mission is to promote the application of theory, methodology, and to support the research of scientific techniques, which helps in preserving the architectural and archaeological heritage, such as: buildings and architectural ensembles, urban and historical layouts of the cities, garden schemes, archeological sites and cultural landscapes. Additionally, the important part of its role is to review the nominations for the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (WHL), monitor UNESCO World Heritage places and ensure the conservation status of all listed properties.

Headquartered in Paris, ICOMOS associates around 10 100 individual members from 153 countries around the world, from which 110 countries has its own National Committee. It networks experts and professionals in the field of conservation and preservation of cultural heritage such as architects, historians, archaeologists, art historians, geographers, anthropologists, engineers, lawyers and town planners. 

About ICOMOS Poland

Polish National Committee of ICOMOS associates more than 220 distinguished/renowned Polish specialists in preservation and conservation of cultural heritage. Its objective is to promote Polish achievements in the field of heritage preservation globally, to draw on experience of other countries and implement this significant knowledge in our country.

The list of PKN ICOMOS presidents in chronological order:

prof. Krzysztof Pawłowski (1981-1984), prof. Olgierd Czerner (1984-1993), prof. Krzysztof Pawłowski (1993-2002), prof. Andrzej Tomaszewski (2003-2008), prof. Bogusław Szmygin (2008-2017) and prof. Jadwiga W. Łukaszewicz (2018-2021).