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Conserve Objects
Conservation is the management of change to our heritage. It is about minimising long-term risk by understanding and controlling the way objects are stored, transported and displayed to ensure collections have the best chance of survival into the future.
Remedial, or interventive, conservation, often involves cleaning and stabilising an object and is a painstaking and sometimes very expensive business. Preventive conservation aims to improve the environment and conditions for an object to keep deterioration to a minimum. The conservator's main enemies are changes in humidity, inadequate or unsuitable lighting and dust.
Caring for...
Collections include just about every type of object and material imaginable. Whilst interventive conservation is a skilled task requiring the input of a professional conservator, there is much that individuals can do in terms of preventive conservation to keep deterioration to a minimum. Icon, the Institute of Conservation publishes a series of guides on caring for different types of object. These can be used for your own guidance and you may also find them a useful resource to which your own visitors can be referred.
Choosing a Conservator
It is always best to consult a conservator before the problems begin, rather than after. Conservators can advise you on how to look after your objects and how to minimise their deterioration, they can carry out surveys for example to assess and prioritise conservation needs, and they can perform interventive treatments such as cleaning and repair.
Some organisations, such as the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Council for the Care of Churches may ask for conservation information to be prepared in a specific format to be eligible for grant funding.
Choosing a conservator and preparing a brief can seem daunting but there is plenty of guidance available to help you through the process.
Remedial Conservation & Conservation Surveys
The following sections from 'Working with Independent Conservators' (MGC) are likely to be useful if you are planning remedial conservation or condition surveys either in-house or using an independent conservator. There is also advice on choosing the most appropriate route.
Condition Assessment Tool (CAT)
The Scottish Museums Council hase developed a Condition Assessment Tool (CAT) designed to be used by people with a wide variety of experience and skills, and who work with all types of collections. Click on the lnk below to find out more and download it and the comprehensive guidance notes.
Other information resources for conservation professionals:
- The Museum and Gallery Commission (now Museums Libraries and Archives Council) ‘Standards in the museum care of collections' series contains some useful general information relating to different aspects of conservation. Get advice on key points for conservation, conservation of objects on display, storage, pest management, protection from physical damage, protection from dust and dirt, protection from light, protection from pollution, handing and inspection and moving large objects here.
- The Accreditation Resource Directory on Collections Link contains resources which are useful whether or not you are applying for accreditation. Go to section 4.5 Minimising Risk of Damage for resources relevant to this subject.
- Conservation On-Line (Co-OL) website
- You can also submit an enquiry to the Conservation DistList
- The Bibliographic Conservation Information Network (BCIN) is a comprehensive bibliographic resource for the conservation, preservation and restoration of cultural property.This is a free service
Resources for teachers
- Go to In the Nick of Time, a treaching guide aimed at pupils aged 8 - 13
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