Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Seminars / Tutorials | 4 x 1.5 hrs |
| Lecture | x 8 |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Essay | 50% |
| Semester Assessment | Project | 50% |
Learning Outcomes
1. to make informed choices when choosing a conservator
2. beware aware of the considerations for packing, handling, and transportation of works of art
3. identify possible hazards and the risks to the collections inside and outside the museum environment
4. articulate ideas about the role of the conservator
5. undertake a condition report
6. plan a secure and environmentally controlled exhibition space
7. prepare works of art for transportation
Relation to assessment:
Project (2,4,5,6), Essay (3,4)
The project provides the opportunity for students to apply all the practical skills learned on the module and the essay is a means to assess the students? sure handling of the technical terminology, issues surrounding preventative conservation, and environmental control.
Brief description
An introduction to the conservation of collections and examination of conservation issues associated with restoration, display, exhibition, packaging and transport. The course will involve visits to conservation studios such as Liverpool Conservation Centre, the National Museum of Wales, and various private/commercial studios. Good practice for the storage of collecitons is identified, and the role that the curator may play in preventative conservation is discussed. Special reference will be made to oil paintings, works of art on paper, wood, textiles and ceramics. Methods of environemntal control and monitoring of the museum are also demonstrated; hazards and the risks to works of art inside and outside the museum are explained. By the end of the module students will be able to make informed choices when coosing a conservator
Aims
1. examine issues that surround the preservation and conservation of museum artefacts
2. discuss issues specifically related to the conservation of oil paintings and works of art on paper
3. stress the importance of preventative conservation, in all its various aspects
4. introduce methods of environmental control and monitoring in the museum
5. define good practice for storage of collections
Content
- the Role of the Conservator
- Conservation versus Restoration
- Monitoring the Museum Environment: Temperature, Humidity, Lighting and Security
- Conservation of Oil Paintings
- Conservation of Decorative Art - Wood, Textiles and Ceramics
- Conservation of Works on Paper
- Condition Reports
- Handling, Packing and Unpacking Objects for an Exhibition
Transferable skills
- Conservation and Environmental Monitoring Assisgnments
- Course work and essay 2. It and information handling
- Word processing
- Environmental monitoring equipment 3. Use and analysis of numerical information
- Environmental monitoring statistics: relative humidity, temperature 4. Writing in an academic context
- Essay 5. Oral disucssion and presentation
- Seminar Preparation
- Group Activities 6 Careers need awareness The module is specifically for student considering a career in musuems, art gallery administration, public art organisations, freelance curators and exhibition organisers, and in private galleries 7. Self-management
- Course Work
- Seminar Preparation 8. Group activity
- Seminars
- Workshop
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Communication | .6 Careers need awareness * The module is specifically for students considering a career in museums, art gallery administration, public art organisations, freelance curators and exhibition organisers, and in private galleries .7 Self-management * Course Work * Seminar Preparation |
| Problem solving | The module will assist the development of the following academic and transferable skills * Conservation and Environmental Monitoring Assignments. * Course work and essay. IT and information handling * Word processing * Environmental monitoring equipment |
| Research skills | Use and analysis of numerical information Environmental monitoring statistics: relative humidity, temperature .4 Writing in an academic context * Essay .5 Oral discussion and presentation * Seminar Preparation * Group Activities |
Reading List
Garry Thomson (1995) The Museum Environment Butterowrkth-Heinemann, London Primo search Museums Association (1992) Manual of Curatorship Butterworths, London Primo search Nicholas Stanley Price, M Kirby Talley Jr, Alessandro Melucco Vaccaro (eds.) (1996) Historical and Philosophical Issues in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage The Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles Primo search Simon Knell(editor) (1994) Care of Collections Routledge, London Primo search Museums Association Museum Practice 'Storage', Issue 1, Vol 1 March 1996, 'Environment', Issue 4, Vol.2, No 1 1997'Lighting, Issue 6, Vol.2 No.3, 1997, 'Security', Issue 8, Vol.3, No2, 1998 Primo search
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 5