Optical technologies offer unique prospects as regards conservation and diagnostics in Cultural Heritage, yet their use in real-life conservation treatments is rather sporadic and far from routine, despite a number of brilliant applications, for example, the Athens Acropolis conservation campaigns. Among the main reasons for the rare use of lasers in conservation practice is the lack of training opportunities. The OPTO-CH series of summer courses have as main goal to present advanced optical technologies in Cultural Heritage (CH) science and conservation to scientists and young conservation professionals within a training set that will combine lectures from experts with practical hands-on experimental sessions that will enable participants to get a real feeling on how to use a number of advanced optical tools for analysis and characterisation of materials and surfaces.