Email digest for the Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList) egroup. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. CALL FOR PAPERS on the theme of HVAC shutdown 2. Pinacoteca Brera: Conservation in Progress Display 3. Seeking advice: Monitoring conservation materials (B-72 & A81) in high-humidity tropical climates 4. Identifying Leather and Skin - CPD Course 5. Caring for Automotive Leather - CPD course 6. REMINDER | Registration Open for Online Symposium | The History of Drawings Conservation and Its Ethics (May 13-14, 2026) 7. Intervention Techniques in Leather Conservation - CPD course ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.From: Sirpa Kutilainen Posted: Friday May 1, 2026 7:11 AM Subject: CALL FOR PAPERS on the theme of HVAC shutdown Message: 'Cool Under Pressure: HVAC, Collection Care and the Climate Challenge' Day Conference, 2027 Sustainability and the reduction of carbon emissions are pressing issues for organisations across the cultural heritage sector. The traditional reliance on energy-intensive HVAC systems to maintain strict environmental storage conditions has become increasingly unsustainable and organisations are seeking ways to reduce energy consumption while still ensuring the long-term preservation of the collections in their care. Established in 2024, the UK-based HVAC Shutdown Group emerged as a community-driven response to challenges and knowledge gaps around this subject, with heritage professionals sharing expertise and experience, and developing solutions together. This conference looks to build on this and address both the practical and theoretical challenges of working with existing buildings housing heritage collections, while building capacity for more sustainable and cost-effective practices. It will showcase innovative approaches to reducing energy consumption; centre discussions on safeguarding historic collections; encourage collaboration across the cultural heritage community; and strengthen the existing network for professional committed to a greener, more sustainable future for collections. We invite submissions of abstracts of up to 500 words. Selected presentations should be 30 minutes in length. We welcome contributions from across the sector that offer fresh perspectives on managing climate-controlled environments within storage settings, as well as innovative approaches to HVAC management in the context of the climate crisis. This will be a hybrid event; however, all speakers will be expected to present in person in Leeds, West Yorkshire in early 2027 (date to be confirmed). Funding is available to support selected speakers with travel and accommodation for the night prior to the conference. The conference is led by the University of Brighton Design Archives <https://blogs.brighton.ac.uk/brightondesignarchives/> and enabled by an award from the University of Brighton Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) / UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) supported Impact Acceleration Account and organised in collaboration with the University of Leeds Libraries' Cultural Collections & Galleries <https://library.leeds.ac.uk/info/1500/special_collections>. Please send proposals by midnight (BST) on the 1st of June 2026 to [email protected] <[email protected]> and [email protected] <[email protected]>. 2.From: Niccolo Caldararo Posted: Friday May 1, 2026 9:26 AM Subject: Pinacoteca Brera: Conservation in Progress Display Message: We have been visiting in Milan and came to the beautiful Pinacoteca Brera where the staff have installed a conservation in progress display with didactic displays and a video that show the public how it is done. 3.From: Chit Keong Ng Posted: Friday May 1, 2026 4:43 PM Subject: Seeking advice: Monitoring conservation materials (B-72 & A81) in high-humidity tropical climates Message: Hello everyone, I'm Tony Ng Chit Keong, an oil painting conservator from Malaysia. Today, I'd love to share some thoughts and get your insights on oil painting restoration practices in our local climate. Our oil painting scene is relatively young, with a history of only about 70 years. In the past, restorations were typically handled by the original artists themselves, but as the need for third-party restorations has grown, small independent studios like mine have begun to emerge over the past decade. Preserving artworks here presents a significant challenge: we face year-round high humidity (60% to 90% RH) and temperatures between 30°C and 40°C. Since most private collectors do not have climate-controlled environments, artworks are highly vulnerable over time. This has raised a practical concern for me: standard restoration materials might not always perform optimally in these specific environmental conditions. To better understand this, I've decided to start a long-term monitoring project to track how these materials behave in our climate. Specifically, I am using Paraloid B-72 as an isolation layer and Laropal A81 as a sacrificial layer on several pieces. Moving forward, I will be monitoring the following data points: -Ambient humidity and temperature -Micro-environmental conditions (humidity and temperature around the artwork) -UV light exposure -Observations under a digital microscope -ATP index to assess biological/mold contamination Additionally, I aim to explore whether appropriate human intervention (such as regular checks and minor preventive adjustments) can effectively mitigate the effects of these environmental fluctuations. I'm very interested to see if this kind of active, long-term care can play a significant role in preservation here. This data should help me assess how restored works behave in Malaysia's unique conditions and provide insights into adapting our practices. I would deeply appreciate any feedback from the community: Does this monitoring approach seem on the right track? Are there any other factors, methods, or specific details you think I should consider to improve this project? Thank you all for your time! ------------------------------ Chit Keong Ng Art Conservator Puchong Malaysia ------------------------------ 4.From: Arianne Panton Posted: Friday May 1, 2026 4:43 PM Subject: Identifying Leather and Skin - CPD Course Message: A full-day professional training course introducing features used to identify common (and uncommon) species in leather and skin-based samples found in a range of heritage collections. Through guided examination, hands-on reference samples, and structured exercises, participants will learn how to recognise key markers, understand variation, and apply identification skills to collection care and conservation decision-making. Suitable for conservators, heritage professionals, and researchers working with organic materials. 📅 Thursday 14th May (£220 per person) ⏰ 10:00 – 16:00 📍 Leather Conservation Centre, Canopy 📌 What3Words: ///dish.drama.mugs Booking via Eventbrite - Identifying Leather and Skin in Heritage Collections <https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1975964532107?aff=oddtdtcreator> Events may be subject to cancellation if the minimum number of signups is not reached. ------------------------------ Arianne Panton ACR Manager of Conservation & Research The Leather Conservation Centre Canopy Duke Street Leicester LE1 6WB ------------------------------ 5.From: Arianne Panton Posted: Friday May 1, 2026 4:43 PM Subject: Caring for Automotive Leather - CPD course Message: This full day course focuses on preventive care, cleaning, and conservation of automotive leather, from classic and vintage vehicles to modern interiors. Combining theoretical knowledge with practical techniques, the course is suitable for conservators, collectors, heritage and automotive professionals looking to develop a more informed and considered approach to leather care in a vehicle context. 📅 Monday 16th June (£220 per person) ⏰ 10:00 – 16:00 📍 Leather Conservation Centre, Canopy 📌 What3Words: ///dish.drama.mugs Booking via Eventbrite - Caring for Automotive Leather <https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1985901478782?aff=oddtdtcreator> Events may be subject to cancellation if the minimum number of signups is not reached. ------------------------------ Arianne Panton ACR Manager of Conservation & Research The Leather Conservation Centre Canopy Duke Street Leicester LE1 6WB ------------------------------ 6.From: Michelle Sullivan Posted: Friday May 1, 2026 4:44 PM Subject: REMINDER | Registration Open for Online Symposium | The History of Drawings Conservation and Its Ethics (May 13-14, 2026) Message: This two-day symposium explores the history and ethics of drawings conservation, from early restoration methods to contemporary approaches in professional practice. By examining how drawings have been repaired, stabilized, and preserved over time, the sessions consider the evolving standards of care and address ethical questions of intervention. They also reflect on the role of material evidence in art-historical interpretation and the changing responsibilities of artists, conservators, curators, and collectors over a drawing's lifetime. Co-organized by the J. Paul Getty Museum and the Rijksmuseum, the symposium will feature presentations spanning four centuries of drawing from an international slate of speakers. Full two-day program listed below. Registration link: The History of Drawings Conservation and Its Ethics | Getty Events <https://www.getty.edu/calendar/drawings-conservation-ethics/> Symposium Program Day 1 Wednesday, May 13, 2026 8am–12pm Pacific, 5pm–9pm Amsterdam 8am Opening Remarks 8:10am Session 1: History of Drawings Conservation Second Touches. Redrawing the Lines, Conserving the Idea in Early Modern Drawings Dr. Alice Ottazzi, cultrice della materia, Università degli Studi di Torino Living Drawings: Pounce Papers and Workshop Practices of Preservation in Qajar Iran Seyed Abdolreza Hosseini, doctoral researcher, University of Vienna Cropped, Mounted and Fixed: Degas's Relationship with Paper Conservation Lucia Elledge, Andrew W. Mellon Fellow, Los Angeles County Museum of Art and Dedalus Foundation Fellow in Conservation, New York University Institute of Fine Arts 9:10am Break 9:30am Session 2: Methodologies Traces as Testimony in the Conservation of Drawings Margaret Holben Ellis, professor emerita of paper conservation, New York University Institute of Fine Arts; Lisa Conte, assistant professor of paper conservation; co-chair of the Conservation Center, New York University Institute of Fine Arts To do or not to do, that is the question Ilaria Camerini, Ales spa, Archivio di Stato di Rieti Image Reintegration in Graphic Art Conservation: Methodological Reflections and Practical Experience Gabriella Pace, head of paper conservation laboratory, Istituto Centrale per la Grafica, Ministry of Culture, Rome; Miriam Pitocco, Paper Conservator, Istituto Centrale per il Restauro, Ministry of Culture, Rome 10:30am Session 3: Case Studies, Part One Drawing by the Circle of Filippino Lippi's Head of Hercules Covered by a Lion Skin: Interaction of Art Historical and Physicochemical Methods of Analysis Liubava Christova, curator of Italian drawings of the XVI–XVIII centuries, The State Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg Between a Disaster and the Work of Art – Issues Surrounding the Restoration of Lagoa Henriques' Burned Drawings Adriana Ferreira and Alice Nogueira Alves, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Belas-Artes, Centro de Investigação e de Estudos em Belas-Artes (CIEBA), Largo da Academia Nacional de Belas-Arte Conserving the Drawings of Brett Whiteley Analiese Treacy, manager of paper and frames, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney Irrevocable Choices: Peeling Back the Layered History of Stradanus' Sketches Caitlin Condell, associate curator & head of Drawings, Prints & Graphic Design Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, New York City; Heather Hendry, senior paper conservator, Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts, Philadelphia 11:50am Closing Remarks Day 2 Thursday, May 14, 2026 8am–11am Pacific, 5pm–8pm Amsterdam 8am Welcome 8:05am Session 4: Case Studies, Part Two Damaged and Beautiful: Reconstructing the Conservation History of Canaletto's Drawings Camila Pietrabissa, PhD, adjunct lecturer in art history, Università di Venezia Risen from the Ashes: Treatment of a Drawing by Pirro Ligorio Kimberly Schenck, former head of paper conservation, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC On Drawings by Daniela Sissi Olivieri: Conservation Challenges of Rapidly Changing Industrial Materials Between Diagnostic Studies and the Principles of Sissi's Theory of Parallel Anatomy Beatrice Marseglia, paper conservator and PhD candidate, Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna Excavating Four Possible Clouet Drawings from Layers of 'Restoration' Eve Menei, independent paper conservator, Paris Ethical Considerations in the Conservation of Two Large-Scale Architectural Drawings by Boris Zinserling Zuzanna Ciepielewska, paper and leather conservation, Museum of the Polish Army, Warsaw; Magdalena Grenda-Kurmanow, PhD, faculty of conservation and restoration of works of art, Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw 9:45am Break 10:05am Session 5: History of Drawings Conservation, Institutional Histories Beyond the Science: A Personal Exploration of Restorers in the Rijksprentenkabinet (1933–1964) Diane Coetzer, senior project manager, Erasmus Centre for Women and Organisations, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University >From Artistic Intuition to Scientific Discourse: Ethics and >Professionalization in Paper Conservation Education at the Academy of Fine >Arts Vienna (1965–2000) Dr. Sigrid Eyb-Green, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna; Andreas Hartl, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna; Catherine Bouvier, private practitioner Celebrating at 75: Paper Conservation at the Morgan Library Reba Fishman Snyder, Walter and Constance Burke Paper Conservator, Thaw Conservation Center, The Pierpont Morgan Library and Museum, New York City Narrating Practice: Using Oral Histories to Document and Examine the History of Drawing Conservation Lindsey Tyne, conservation librarian, Barbara Goldsmith Preservation and Conservation Department, New York University Libraries; Lisa Conte, assistant professor of paper conservation; co-chair of the Conservation Center, New York University Institute of Fine Arts; Kayhan Qaiser, graduate student, Experimental Humanities and Social Engagement, New York University 11:25am Q&A, Closing Remarks, and Reflections ------------------------------ Michelle Sullivan Associate Conservator of Drawings, Department of Paper Conservation J. Paul Getty Museum Los Angeles United States ------------------------------ 7.From: Arianne Panton Posted: Friday May 1, 2026 4:44 PM Subject: Intervention Techniques in Leather Conservation - CPD course Message: This intensive 3-day course focuses on practical repair techniques that are applied to leather and skin materials in heritage collections and participants will become familiar with fundamental treatments such as humidification, lining and infilling. This course will look at selecting compatible materials and appropriate application techniques, creating mock repairs and sample packs which can be taken away for future reference. Please note this course is aimed at practising conservators - to book a place, please initially email a brief summary of professional background to [email protected] <[email protected]> 📅 Tuesday 21st - Thursday 23 July (£660 per person) ⏰ 10:00 - 16:00 Daily 📍 Leather Conservation Centre, Canopy, Leicester, UK 📌 What3Words: ///dish.drama.mugs Events may be subject to cancellation if the minimum number of signups is not reached. ------------------------------ Arianne Panton ACR Manager of Conservation & Research The Leather Conservation Centre Canopy Duke Street Leicester LE1 6WB ------------------------------ You are subscribed to "Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList)" as [email protected]. To change your subscriptions, go to http://community.culturalheritage.org/preferences?section=Subscriptions. 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