The mission statement of IRPA

IRPA's mission was defined when the Institute was created in 1948. The last modification (Royal decree, July 24, 2008) appears in the Moniteur belge of August 6, 2008.

Article 1

The Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage is a federal scientific Institution under the control of the Scientific Policy Minister.

Article 2

The goals of the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage are the scientific study and the conservation of the works of art of national heritage.

Article 3

§ 1 These goals are carried out by :
    - establishing a photographic and a digital inventory of works of art;
    - managing documentary, scientific, and technical data in relation to cultural heritage;
    - promoting and publishing scientific data both in Belgium and abroad;
    - researching Belgian art as well as the materials and techniques used in the arts and crafts industry;
    - testing and developing methods and materials used in conservation;
    - conserving and restoring objects of art and by helping in similar projects;
    - participating actively in research projects and scientific conferences both nationally and internationally.

§ 2 In order to achieve the goals stated in § 1, the Institute can carry out a report without a fee or for a specified payment, of the state of conservation of one or several objects at the request of a natural or legal person resident in Belgium. If the object is in a situation of danger or force majeure that could affect the conservation of one or several elements of cultural heritage, the Institute has the authorization to carry out any reasonable services without a fee or for a specified payment. The competent management authority is notified on a regular basis of the situations stated and of services that have been carried out.

Article 4

The Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage must implement a digitalization plan concerning both the components of the heritage, namely the digitalization of collections, documents and databases as well as the information systems on the heritage by the development of electronic information on and off line.

Article 5

The institute keeps a dated record of the conservation reports and analyses the members of its staff or external partners establish, for which the Institute establishes the consultation terms and communicates to the public.