Conservators work across all types of museum collections, from textiles and paintings to coins and natural sciences. Often (but not always) working behind the scenes, this key part of the workforce ensures that collections are maintained for public enjoyment and learning.
Conservation as a practice continues to evolve, and in the past decade we’ve seen a greater focus on climate and sustainability, balancing preservation with accessibility, and a more proactive, holistic and ethical approach to caring for objects.
Through a mix of practical case studies, panel discussions and networking opportunities, this essential one-day event explores:
- emerging and established approaches to conservation
- how conservators can integrate participation into their practices
- working in collaboration with diverse communities and colleagues to support a more inclusive workforce
- technological advances and changing conservation practice
- the issue of funding priorities.
This event is for you if:
- you are a conservator or work within a conservation department at a museum or heritage site
- you’re interested in learning how to build audience engagement with conservation work
- you are a fundraiser interested in the latest trends and developments in conservation
- you’re looking to develop your conservation skills
- you run an independent conservation practice.
Please note that this event will be recorded and available exclusively to delegates after the event, so if you can’t attend on the day, you can catch up in your own time.
Speakers
Jenny Mathiasson, Kuriosa Conservation and The C Word podcast, chairs the event.
Jane Henderson, Professor of Conservation, Prifysgol Caerdydd – Cardiff University, on balancing conservation risks against public access.
Natalie Brown, Head of Audiences (Collections Care), The UK National Archives, on conservation as a route for audience engagement.
Sarah Klopf, Senior Conservator, RAMM, and Paul McLaren, M&E engineer on reconsidering environmental conditions in the age of climate crisis.
Melangell Penrhys, Heritage Conservator and Siobhan Barratt, Senior National Conservator, Access and Conservation, National Trust, share strategies behind audience-led approaches to making collections “used and useful” along with recent cases studies that demonstrate collaborative decision-making
We aim to present a diverse range of speakers from across the UK and internationally at our one-day conferences. If you are interested in speaking at one of our events, or have a project you’d like to see explored, please tell us more by emailing the events team.
Programme
1100-1110
Jenny Mathiasson | Chair’s welcome
Jenny Mathiasson, Kuriosa Conservation and The C Word podcast, opens the event with a brief welcome.
1110-1150
Jane Henderson | New approaches to conservation decision-making
Jane Henderson, professor of conservation, Prifysgol Caerdydd – Cardiff University, on balancing conservation risks against public access.
This is a 30-minute talk followed by 10 minutes for questions.
1150-1230
Natalie Brown | From gatekeeping to gateways
Natalie Brown, head of audiences (collections care), The UK National Archives, on conservation as a route for audience engagement.
This is a 30-minute talk followed by 10 minutes for questions.
1230-1300
Peer learning support groups
We often do our best learning when we speak to colleagues from across the sector about the challenges or barriers we are facing – listening and learning from each other can increase our confidence and communication skills, and give us ideas to take back to our organisations.
For this part of the programme, delegates will be placed into small breakout groups on Zoom for 15 minutes and given a few prompts to discuss. At the end of the discussion, all delegated will return to the main Zoom where there will be the chance to share your discussion either verbally or via the Chat function.
Delegates who do not wish to take part in group discussions, are invited to consider the prompts independently and may still feedback if they wish to.
1300-1400
Lunch
A one hour lunch break.
1400-1435
TBC
More information will be available soon.
1435-1515
Melangell Penrhys and Siobhan Barratt | Making collections ‘used and useful’
Melangell Penrhys, heritage conservator and Siobhan Barratt, senior national conservator, access and conservation, National Trust, share strategies behind their audience-led practice along with recent cases studies that demonstrate collaborative decision-making.
This is a 30-minute talk followed by 10 minutes for questions.
1515-1555
Sarah Klopf and Paul McLaren | Sustainability in conservation
Sarah Klopf, senior conservator, RAMM and Paul McLaren, M&E engineer, on reconsidering environmental conditions in the age of climate crisis.
This is a 30-minute talk followed by 10 minutes for questions.
1555-1600
Close
Important booking information
Please sign in and check the email address on your profile before booking. Your confirmation and joining instruction emails will go to the email address you use to log in to the website.
If you create a new record with a different email address your membership will not be recognised and you will be charged the incorrect fee. You can check and change your email address before booking.
Competency Framework
Our events programme supports the Museums Association’s Competency Framework, which is designed to inform professional development, improve professional practice and support museums in making a positive difference to people’s lives. This event supports the following competencies: Empowering Collections.
