The Giorgi Chubinashvili National Research Centre for Georgian Art History and Heritage Preservation was established in 2006 through the merger of the Giorgi Chubinashvili Institute of the History of Georgian Art and the Sego Kobuladze Laboratory for the Documentation of Art Monuments. The Centre operates under the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia.

One of the Centre’s principal objectives is the scholarly study of artworks created in Georgia from ancient times to the present, as well as works of various origins preserved in state and private collections within the country. Research encompasses architecture, sculpture, wall and easel painting, graphics, and decorative-applied arts, examining individual works, groups, and broader art-historical phenomena. Studies are conducted based on methodologies developed within the Georgian art-historical school and informed by international scholarship, situating works as fully as possible within historical and interdisciplinary contexts.

The protection, preservation, and stewardship of tangible cultural heritage also play a central role in the Centre’s activities. Equally important is the synthesis of national and international heritage conservation experience, the formulation of theoretical conclusions, and the preparation of practical recommendations. The Centre engages in critical review of the latest developments and trends in the field, disseminates positive innovations to the professional community, and supports their implementation. It provides art-historical analyses for restoration projects, offers methodological guidance, evaluates and monitors their execution, and participates in the identification, initial documentation, and registration of immovable and movable heritage objects.

To support its research and preservation efforts, the Centre systematically documents artworks—through measurements, photography, videography, and other methods—creating visual archives of artistic works.

A key mission of the Centre is the dissemination of knowledge about art and cultural heritage. Alongside scholarly publications, it produces books, albums, booklets, and other printed and electronic materials tailored to readers of different interests and levels of expertise.

The Centre maintains strong ties with higher education institutions, with many staff members serving concurrently as professors or lecturers in art history. Its library and archives support graduate and doctoral students from various universities.

Finally, the Centre has a long-standing tradition of collaboration with leading scholars and research institutions abroad, including in Europe, the United States, and former Soviet countries.