Practical information
Presentation
The Vitrocentre Romont was set up in 1988 under the aegis of a foundation under private sector law. Its core tasks lie in researching the art history, conservation and technology of stained glass, of reverse painting on glass, and of the other glass arts. The Vitrocentre provides various services, such as expert reports, consultancy on conservation and restoration, planning and/or realisation of courses, drawing up of inventories, editing and publishing of books and articles, and provision of photographs, as well as information and advice on specific questions relating to stained glass and the other glass arts.
The Vitrocentre collaborates closely with the Corpus Vitrearum on a national and international level, as well as with various academic institutes, and has a special interactive relationship with the Vitromusée. In 2012, the Vitrocentre Romont became an “Associated Institute” of theUniversity of Fribourg, Switzerland.
The Vitrocentre Foundation is supported by the Swiss Confederation, the Swiss National Science Foundation, the Canton of Fribourg and the town of Romont.
Organisation
The Foundation of the Vitrocentre Romont was established in 1987 in accordance with Articles 80ff. of the Swiss Civil Code, on the initiative of the founding members, viz: the Canton of Fribourg, the town of Romont, the Swiss Museum of Stained Glass, the Corpus Vitrearum Commission of the Swiss Academy of the Humanities and Social Sciences and the Federal Commission for Historic Monuments. The Vitrocentre was accorded the status of “Associated Institute” of the University of Fribourg, Switzerland in 2012. Organisation chart (in French).
The Board of Governors is made up of representatives of the Canton of Fribourg (presidency), the town of Romont, the Vitromusée Romont, the Corpus Vitrearum Commission of the Swiss Academy of the Humanities and Social Sciences and the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI (observer status). Members of the Board of Governors.
The Academic Committee consists of representatives of the Corpus Vitrearum Commission of the Swiss Academy of the Humanities and Social Sciences and of the University of Fribourg, and individual members. Committee members are appointed by the Board of Governors. Members of the academic committee.
Supervisory bodies: The general legal supervision required by the Canton of Fribourg is provided by the Service for the Supervision of Foundations and Pension Schemes, Department of Security and Justice. The audit is conducted by Marc Gobet SA Romont.
Corpus Vitrearum International
The Corpus Vitrearum (CV) is an international art historical undertaking whose mission is to compile and publish a systematic scholarly inventory of stained glass. It was founded in 1952, on the initiative of the Swiss art historian Professor Hans Robert Hahnloser, following an increased awareness, brought about by the Second World War, of the threats posed to this heritage. The Corpus Vitrearum currently numbers 14 National Committees in Europe, the USA and Canada. This first international undertaking in the domain of art history, and also its most successful, has seen the publication of over 100 volumes. These coordinated inventories within the Corpus Vitrearum concern stained glass from the Middle Ages to the present.
The International Scientific Committee for the Conservation of Stained Glass, a joint committee of the Corpus Vitrearum and ICOMOS, coordinates the conservation and technology of stained glass paintings.
The Corpus Vitrearum International established two fold guidelines: one the one hand, guidelines defining the organization of the Corpus Vitrearum and the set our principles for ist publications. On the other hand, guidelines outlining the ethical principles underlying the conservation and restauration of stained glass of all periods.
Guidelines:
Guidelines of the Corpus Vitrearum (pdf)
Guidelines for the conservation and restoration of stained glass; Corpus Vitrearum/ICOMOS (pdf)
Picture archives of two of the national members:
Corpus Vitrearum Great Britain (picture archive)
Corpus Vitrearum Deutschland (Bildarchiv)
Annual reports
The Vitrocentre Romont publishes an annual report on its scientific activities.
Annual report 2023 (pdf)
Annual report 2022 (pdf)
Annual Report 2021 (pdf)
Annual Report 2020 (pdf)
Annual Report 2019 (pdf)
Annual Report 2018 (pdf)
Summary of the report in French and German 2017 (pdf)
Summary of the report in French and German 2016 (pdf)
Summary of the report in French and German 2015 (pdf)
Summary of the report in French and German 2014 (pdf)
Summary of the report in French and German 2013 (pdf).