Conservation in context

For enquiries please contact Katherine on 020 7670 2923.

Projects, Money, Deadlines, Science and Heritage Projects in ConservationOne day meetingat the Michael Faraday Museum at the Royal Institution 

Many important conservation projects are often neglected after completion and important knowledge that could be shared is lost. This meeting, held jointly with the Historical Group of the Royal Society of Chemistry, will discuss conservation science, conservation of objects and conservation heritage projects in their historical, contemporary and national contexts. 

The Royal Institution's building has recently undergone a major reinterpretation, partially funded by the HLF. The overall programme of works included a number of major conservation projects to the building's fabric and contents.Some of the speakers will talkfromtheir experience about delivering this project,including the Conservation of Scientific Objects,Architectural & Collection Conservation andConservation in context-the Ri archives experience.

An evening reception will be held on Thursday the 24th from 18:30- 20:30 at the RI to open the conference. Many companies involved in the heritage project will be attending the conference and there will be an opportunity to gather information on the projects and people involved.

Closing date for registration is Wednesday 16th of July.

The programme will include the following talks:

David Saunders, Head of Conservation, British Museum. ‘Conservation science and the wider aims of the museum'.

Prof Robin Clark, Dept Chemistry, UCL. ‘Advanced scientific methods in conservation. Understanding how the methods and knowledge that have been developed have fed into the daily routine of conservation work'.

Dr Vincent Daniels, Research Fellow, RCA/V&A. ‘The changing appearance of objects‘. 

Bronwyn Ormsby, Senior Conservation Scientist, Tate Gallery. ‘The Tate AXA Art Modern Paints Project - the conservation of acrylic emulsion paints'. 

Helen Hughes, Head of Historic Interiors Research and Conservation, English Heritage, Kenwood House. ‘Theory and practical Work - there is a link'.

MLA Prism Fund and Angela Karsten, Archaeological Conservator at English Heritage, Fort Cumberland. ‘Conservation of the RI's scientific collection'.

Rupert Harris, Rupert Harris Conservation. ‘Treatment of the Grand Staircase metalwork and an overview of the problems associated with the conservation of English 18th century lead garden sculpture'. 

Mark Sandiford and Daniel Gillberg, Sandiford and Mapes. ‘Kinkarakami at the RI'.

Katharine St Paul, Curator of Collections,The Royal Institution. ‘From Faraday to Japanese wallpaper, an overview of the RI'sheritage project'.

Lenore Symons, Archivist, The Royal Institution. ‘Conservation in context - the RI archives experience'.

Anthony Peers, Conservation architects Rodney Melville & Partners. ‘Conservation planning: The value of documentary research and fabric analysis in forming the process of change'.

Frank James, Professor of the History of Science and Head of Collections, The Royal Institution. ‘Reflections on the Royal Institution's role in the history of conservation'.

Barry Knight, Head of Conservation Research, British Library, ‘SurveNIR project'. EU project to develop a technique of using Near Infra Red spectroscopy to estimate important properties of paper, such as strength, pH, lignin content.

Registration for the meeting including, lunch, coffee, tea and the reception, is £70 standard, £40 concessions,Ri& RSC HG members

9.00am-9.30am registration, 9.30am welcome

In association with MLA Prism Fund