The Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (IPCH) is Yale’s hub for art, science, and human connection. We work across Yale’s collections and around the world to preserve our shared human story.
Discover our work
IPCH is the only university-based research institute in the US that supports the integration of expertise across the arts, sciences, and humanities for the study and preservation of cultural artifacts.
Explore what we do
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Cross-Collection Initiatives
Our work identifies connections and possibilities across Yale’s collections. Discover key initiatives that involve collaboration across departments.
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Heritage Science Labs
This lab focuses on scientific analysis to preserve objects of cultural heritage. Their research and expertise allows for a deeper understanding of materials and processes.
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International Programs
IPCH is committed to strengthening the preservation of cultural heritage on a global scale. Learn more about the Yale Directors Forum fellowship program in Africa.
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Lens Media Lab
Renowned for its work in the history of photography, the Lens Media Lab leads efforts to understand and preserve photographic papers produced throughout the 20th Century.
News from across the Institute
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Yale Advances Cultural Heritage Leadership Worldwide
Yale Spotlights Leaders in Cultural Heritage across Africa and the World at Global Convening in Côte d’Ivoire.
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A Legacy in Light: Yale’s Lens Media Lab to Close After a Decade of Discovery
Paul Messier, Director of the Lens Media Lab at Yale’s IPCH, announced that the lab will cease operations effective June 30, 2025.
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IPCH Convenes Global Leaders in Cultural Heritage at Yale
Read about IPCH’s convening of global leaders in cultural heritage for a week-long series titled Preserving Cultural Heritage: Global Strategies.
Highlights from recent events
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Preserving Cultural Heritage: Global Strategies and Perspectives
In April 2025, IPCH hosted a series of talks with global leaders in cultural heritage. Over the course of the week, guest speakers engaged with Yale students, faculty, and staff across the campus, offering insights, building networks, and fostering dialogue on shared challenges and bold new strategies in cultural heritage preservation.
Making connections across institutions
A group of conservation and curatorial fellows from Harvard joined Yale’s cohort of conservation trainees for a tour of the Collection Studies Center on Yale’s West Campus. The group visited the shared conservation lab, IPCH science labs, Yale University Art Gallery’s Wurtele Study Center, and HUME Furniture Study.
Ongoing collaborations at Yale and abroad
IPCH and the Yale Center for British Art were excited to welcome Alissandra Cummins, Director of the Barbados Museum and Historical Society (BMHS) to Yale. The team worked together on a collaborative project in Barbados earlier in 2025. They toured Yale conservation spaces and discussed the future of the project.
36 Years: Fred Weichel’s exoneration at the intersection of art, law, and justice
In March 2025, the Lens Media Lab hosted Fred Weichel spent 36 years wrongfully imprisoned, attorney Mark Loevy Reyes, art conservator Paul Messier and moderator Fiona Doherty, Deputy Dean for Experiential Education and Nathan Baker Clinical Professor of Law, Yale Law School. The panel discussion focused on the intersection of forensic analysis, legal advocacy, and justice leading to Weichel’s exoneration.
Want More Updates?
Follow us on social media for a behind the scenes look at our work and information on upcoming events.
