New Ventures in Education
Archived Content
Information identified as archived on the Web is for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It has not been altered or updated after the date of archiving. Web pages that are archived on the Web are not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards. As per the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada, you can request alternate formats on the "Contact Us" page.
CCI Newsletter, No. 26, November 2000
New Ventures in Education
by Sonya Milly, Learning and Development Officer
Participants' Comments
"I really liked the risk assessment tools, i.e./Urgency, Fractional loss, etc. The exercises were great and helped to understand the process. I will be able to apply this to my work at any museum."
"The course has enhanced my current knowledge & skills & has helped me confirm what I know."
"The instructor was so knowledgeable and experienced; he shared with us so many real-life situations. He appears to be on the cutting edge of the field."
"I am so glad I took it."
CCI recently collaborated with the Cultural Resource Management program of the University of Victoria to present a 6-day intensive course Caring for Collections. Offered by the Faculty of Fine Arts in cooperation with the Division of Continuing Studies at the University of Victoria, this course was held on campus in Victoria in April 2000. CCI's Stefan Michalski (Manager, Preventive Conservation Services) was the instructor.
The curriculum of Caring for Collections included the preservation of collections, the wide range of physical and organizational factors that must be coordinated in order to provide a safe and secure environment for artifacts, and concepts such as risk management and priority planning. The course covered the principles and techniques of preventive care in-depth. Risks such as shock, vibration, theft, vandalism, fire, water, pests, contaminants, lighting, temperature, and relative humidity were individually analysed. Providing a safe environment for collections, along with handling, packing, display, and transportation of objects, were also incorporated. The purpose of collections was examined from various perspectives, and philosophical issues associated with cultural collections were explored. Discussions concerning ethical, economic, and cultural issues in collections care were also a key component.
Through research, group discussions, and individual and collective projects, participants gained experience in developing policies and procedures for collections care, assessing the condition of objects, and recognizing a wide range of factors that can cause deterioration in heritage collections. A field trip to the Royal British Columbia Museum (RBCM) allowed them to see first-hand how various display and storage concepts in heritage institutions are linked to preventive conservation and general collections care. RBCM's Valerie Thorp (Chief Conservator, who had engineered the move of their reserve collections to a new facility) and Colleen Wilson (Textile Conservator) provided a tour. Robert Byers (the museum's Exhibits Art Technician) gave a talk on case design and Bill Barkley (Chief Executive Director of RBCM) presented a lecture "Preserving the Museum: The Director's Job."
Participants from Canada, Britain, the Dominican Republic, and the United States brought many different perspectives to the sessions. Many of these individuals were established practitioners in various cultural sectors, some from major institutions. This collective wealth of experience was shared among the group, and added to the richness of the learning environment.
If you are interested in attending this course in the future or would like more information, please contact:
Cultural Resource Management
Program
Division of Continuing Studies
PO Box 3030
Station CSC
University of Victoria
Victoria BC V8W 3N6
tel.: (250) 721-8462
fax: (250) 721-8774
e-mail: crmp@uvcs.uvic.ca
Web: http://www.uvcs.uvic.ca/crmp/
