1. Conservation Planning Friday 9 March 2007

2. Introductions Find out about the person next to you: their name reasons for attending the workshop place of work responsibilities at work one thing they hope to get out of today’s workshop

3. Program Why develop a conservation plan? Choosing and working with a conservator Morning tea Key areas in a conservation plan Lunch Priorotising conversation needs Building support networks Afternoon tea Summery and questions

4. By the end of the day: because: Understand what a conservation plan is and its importance Understand main areas covered in a conservation plan and why they are important Be able to work with a conservator to identify conservation priorities

5. We will not cover: Conservation treatments Condition reporting You will not be able to undertake a conservation plan yourself without assistance from a professional conservator

6. Why develop a conservation plan?

7. What to you understand by the terms: Conservation Preventative conservation Conservation treatment

8. Conservation All actions aimed at safeguarding cultural material for the future. Its purpose is to study, record, retain and restore the cultural significant qualities of an object with the least possible intervention ReCollections: Glossary P.10

9. Preventative Conservation All actions undertaken to prevent the deterioration of cultural materials and collections. ReCollections: Glossary p.26

12. Conservation treatment Interventive actions undertaken to repair existing damage or slow down the future deterioration of cultural materials and collections

14. What do you think a conservation plan is?

15. Conservation plan A strategy for the long-term care of collections. Identifying the conservation needs of collections Prioritising them and allocating resources to deal with them

16. Benefits Increased knowledge in collection care Ensuring that limited resources are used in the most efficient way Assistance in securing grants and support A well cared for collection

17. Funding Heritage Victoria National Library Local Government

18. Process Identify a conservator and obtain a quote Discuss what you want to use the plan for and what it will cover with the conservator Grant assistance?

19. Choosing and working with a conservator

20. Who has used a conservator before?

21. A conservator is someone who has been trained and is qualified to carry out conservation

22. Types of conservators Preventative conservators Specialist conservators

23. Locating conservators Conservators and information about conservation can be found through the AICMM website: www.aiccm.org.auwww.aiccm.org.au Please note that this is not an accredited list

24. Working with a conservator Define exactly what you need in the plan Assess the scope of the work Determine your respective roles and responsibilities Set up appropriate lines of communication

25. Working with a conservator Work together make sure it meets your needs and is for the long-term benefit of the collection

26. Key areas in a conservation plan

27. Need to consider: What does the museum / gallery have? What risks is the collection exposed to? What collection care practices are in place? What are the priorities for this museum / gallery?

28. What does the museum / gallery have? Collection types Collection condition Resources

29. Collection Types Different collections held Organic, inorganic or mixed materials Size of each collection Significance of each collection

33. Collection Condition General condition of different collections types Highlighting the collections that are: significant largest in number

34. Resources Buildings or space available Paid staff and their positions Volunteers and their responsibilities and areas of expertise Existing budget and sources of income or grants

35. What risks is the collection exposed to? Building(s) Environmental conditions Exhibitions Stores Handling

36. Building(s) Must provide an effective buffer against external conditions Condition of the building(s) Responsibility for building maintenance Regularity of building maintenance

38. Environmental conditions Temperature Relative humidity Light Pollution

39. Environmental Conditions Conditions being aimed for Requirements for these condition types Existing conditions Existing environmental control measures Monitoring programs Action if monitoring finds unacceptable conditions

40. Exhibitions Permanent exhibitions Rotation of collection items between exhibition and storage Traveling exhibitions Open or covered display Materials used to create display cases and mounts

44. Stores Dedicated collection storage Dual use collection stores Storage systems Materials used to wrap items, for enclosures and for storage systems Isolation areas for items entering the collection

47. Handling Movement of collection items inside the building(s) Transportation of items Existing equipment Skills of existing staff and volunteers

50. Condition reporting and treatment Existing condition reports Details of previous conservation treatments Method used to determine priorities Expertise used

52. Housekeeping Existing cleaning routines Cleaning undertaken by Time periods between cleaning Cleaning materials used

54. Pest Management Pests entering the building(s) Reducing the risk of pests entering the building Pests and these collection types Pest monitoring Action if pests are detected

55. Disaster preparedness Planning Existing disaster plan Existing disaster recovery materials Assistance network Expertise required Materials required

59. Security Existing security systems Security and these collection types Reducing the risk of theft and vandalism Action if security problems are detected

60. What are the priorities? What risks would cause the most damage? What damage is most likely to occur What actions would reduce the greatest number of risks What can be done immediately by existing staff or volunteers?

61. Prioritising conservation needs Case Study

62. Priotitising your collection

63. Prioritise according to: Value Uniqueness / rarity Cultural significance Is it iconic? Is it a duplicate? Is it owned by someone else?

64. Significance: Does it relate to your museums collection policy / mission statement? Is it important for the community? Is it unique to your local area? Does it have full provenance? Was it donated by a highly respected member of the community? Monetary value: was it purchased at a high cost to the museum? Create a list of significant objects

65. Catagorise: Then decide: Category 1 – Essential to save Category 2 – Would be good to save Category 3 - Not essential to save

66. Exercise: How would you prioritise the Tabrawyndi Historical Society collection? Category 1 – Essential to save Category 2 – Would be good to save Category 3 - Not essential to save

67. Risk management Understand what a conservation plan is and why it is important for all museums and galleries Know what the main areas that need to be covered in a conservation plan are and why they are important Are able to work with a conservator to identify the conservation priorities for your collection

68. You now: Understand what a conservation plan is and why it is important for all museums and galleries Know what the main areas that need to be covered in a conservation plan are and why they are important Are able to work with a conservator to identify the conservation priorities for your collection

69. You now: Understand what a conservation plan is and why it is important for all museums and galleries Know what the main areas that need to be covered in a conservation plan are and why they are important Are able to work with a conservator to identify the conservation priorities for your collection