Museum Environment and Preventive Conservation

Course Description

Course Theory

Study and understanding the cultural and museum environment.

1. a) Environmental parameters museums and archaeological sites: moisture, temperature, radiation, air pollution, vibration. – Procedures for the operation and effects of environmental factors on Objects of Cultural Heritage. – Types of corrosion in materials of construction of objects of cultural heritage from the effects of these parameters. – Measuring instruments and methods of environmental regulation of these parameters.
2. b) Human activity.
3. c) Natural disasters.

Preventive Maintenance: Preventive Maintenance Principles – Performance – Strategies: Clarifying basic concepts and procedures and introducing students to the principles and the reasoning processes of preventive maintenance. Development issues are dealt with preventive maintenance and how these issues are addressed in a well organized company (Design prevention program). Building and environment, cultural exhibits: Students will understand the operation of the first building as a shield for the preservation of collections. It will consider issues and environmental management procedures (examination of factors affecting the environment of cultural exhibits, application and interpretation of environmental control, appropriate strategies for environmental management). Collections management: Students will understand the changes that are the materials of objects in relation to the collective risks and management of these changes through the prism of preventive maintenance. It will also analyze the importance of recording and documentation of collections and the study and evaluation of conservation status of objects (writing component required) to interpret the causes of deterioration and eliminate them. Report-Store: looks at the design museum exhibition spaces in the planning and organizing the implementation of a museum exhibition on safe ways of presenting exhibits, to create appropriate conditions report, security, suitability of materials. In addition, this section will develop the standards and methodology for the proper design or reorganize repositories example, citing issues, functionality, support – packaging – protective items, finding information, ease of access typology storage equipment, security. Move-cultural evidence Transfer: Highlights the multiple risks to a project within the movement, either within or outside a museum environment (process of borrowing) and the appropriate procedures for achieving a safe travel (Procedures for handling objects – Packaging – Modes of transport etc). Programme Planning and Disaster Preparedness: We develop a general framework design appropriate strategies to reduce or eliminate the likelihood of a disaster, the reduction of damage to collections and the preparation in an emergency. We provide information for analysis and risk management, for prevention, preparedness and disaster response.

 

The Scope of the Course and Objectives

The Scope of the Course

To understand the environmental factors that the affect the building materials or works of art and artefacts, and how they influence their condition.

To identify which environmental factors can be regulated so as to preserve the condition of these materials, including to discuss which tools, devices, or methods can be applied to measure these levels.

Course objectives

The course also aims to understand the important role of preventive conservation in terms of long term preservation for cultural heritage. The course highlights the different approaches for curative and preventive maintenance. Furthermore, the The Scope of the Course to introduce fundamental concepts of prevention and to develop an overall understanding in applying preventive conservation. Finally, we provide students with information on with the tools to ensure safe conditions for the conservation of cultural heritage.

 

STUDENT ASSESSMENT

Language of evaluation: Greek

The student’s final grade results from 50% of the grade of the theoretical part and 50% of the grade of laboratory practice.

Students’ evaluation (100%): THEORY (50%): Short-answer questions LAB PRACTICES (50%): Written work

 

SUGGESTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Greek:

Kontou E., Kotzamani D., Lambropouloς V. (1995). Glass, Technology Corrosion and Maintenance. Athens. Lambropoulos V. (2022). Monuments and war. Athens. Lambropoulos V. (2021). Monuments and works of art and their destruction. Athens. Lambropoulos V. (2020). Preventive Preservation of Monuments and Works of Art. Athens. Lambropoulos V. (2019). Packaging and Transportation of Works of Art and Antiquities. Athens. Lambropoulos B.N. (2004). Environment of Monuments, Museums and Archaeological Sites, Athens. Lambropoulos V. (1993). Ceramics, Technology Corrosion and Maintenance. Athens. Lambropoulos V., Maneta Ch. (1993). Porcelain, Corrosion Technology and Maintenance. Athens. Bouchelos K. (1991). “Prevention and protection of museum items from insects”, Proceedings of the Conference on the Preservation of Folklore Objects, Athens. Foreign language: Ashley – Smith J. (2000). “Museum lighting – who is it for?” Museum Practice, Issue 14, Vol. 5, No 2, p. 46 – 48. Bandes S. J. et al. (1984), Caring for Collections: Strategies for Conservation, Maintenance Documentation, (AAM). Bradley S., (1990), Guide to the Storage, Exhibition & Handling of Antiquities, Ethnographia & Pictorial Art, (BMP). Brimblecombe P. and Ramer B. (1983). “Museum display cases and the exchange of water vapour”, Studies in Conservation 28, No 4, p. 179 – 188. Camuffo D. (1998). Microclimate for cultural heritage, Ed. Elsevier. Cassar Μ. (1984). “Air pollution levels in air-conditioned and naturally ventilated museums: A pilot study”, ICOM, Committee for Conservation, 12th Triennial Meeting, p. 31 – 37, Lyon. Cassar Μ. (1984). “Proposal for a typology of display case construction designs and museum climate control system”, ICOM, Committee for Conservation, 7th Triennial Meeting, Copenhagen. Lampropoulos V. (2022). Βioclimatic Μuseums. Athens. Lampropoulos V. (2021). Monuments and Works of Art and their Destruction. Athens. Lampropoulos V. (2020). Preventive Conservation of Monuments and Works of Art. Athens. Lampropoulos V. (2019). Packing and Transportation of Works of Art and Antiquities. Athens. Lampropoulos V. (2003). Environment of Monuments, Museums and Archaeological Sites. Athens. Lampropoulos V. (2003). Environment of Monuments, Museums and Archaeological Sites. Athens. Lampropoulos V. (1996). Ceramics, Technology Erosion and Conservation. Athens. Lampropoulos V. (1995). Glass, Technology Erosion and Conservation. Athens. Lampropoulos V., Maneta Ch. (1993). Porcelain, Technology Erosion and Conservation. Athens. Thomson G. (1986). The Museum Environment, Ed. Butterworth – Heinemann. Pye, E. (2001). Caring for the Past – Issues in Conservation for Archaeology and Museums. London: James & James Ltd.