IPC is the international organization of panorama specialists which is committed to supporting the heritage and conservation of the few existing heritage panoramas dating from the 19th and early 20th century, and the promotion of knowledge and awareness of the panorama phenomenon, including its current relevance and development.
The practices of IPC are based on honesty, fairness and mutual respect, as well as service to the international panorama community.
The main goal of the International Panorama Council is to promote professional trusteeship and to stimulate worldwide research and communication on panoramas (or a cyclorama as it is called in some parts of the world), both historic and modern. Prime part of the goal is to promote, save and preserve the few surviving heritage panoramas and their buildings worldwide. IPC also strives to have the most valuable historical panoramas listed as UNESCO World Heritage. A first step has been taken in July 2008 when the Panorama Waterloo was added to the Belgian tentative proposal for the UNESCO list.
The interest of IPC comprises the panorama phenomenon in a wider context, both nineteenth-century derivatives of the panorama, such as the moving panorama, and modern panorama art forms such as panorama photography, gaming and 3D film, all closely related to the surrounding panorama experience.
IPC is active in the fields of restoration, research, financing, exhibiting and marketing of panoramas.
IPC offers a variety of services. For example:
- networking among panorama specialists and students,
- organizing one international conference a year,
- coordinating academic research initiatives,
- publishing a quarterly electronic newsletter,
- maintaining a website linking to members,
- lobbying for endangered panoramas,
- worldwide consulting on panorama related issues.