Email digest for the Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList) egroup. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. [Job Vacancy, Singapore] Conservator, Digital and Time-Based Media Collection 2. RE: Lead Exposure Hazard 3. RE: Student Training & Onboarding: Looking for Ideas ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.From: Fiona Lee Posted: Saturday August 22, 2026 5:38 AM Subject: [Job Vacancy, Singapore] Conservator, Digital and Time-Based Media Collection Message: The National Heritage Board (NHB) preserves, presents and promotes the cultural heritage of Singapore. Our vision is to make heritage as the Pride in our Past, Legacy for our Future. The Heritage Conservation Centre (HCC) is a purpose-built facility for the storage and conservation of all artefacts under the custodianship of NHB (i.e., the National Collection), with the mission to care for, manage and facilitate access for these artefacts. To enhance the current and long-term access to the National Collection, HCC is committed towards consolidating its capabilities to care for the growing time-based media (TBM)collection, in analogue or digital format. HCC is now seeking an experienced individual to spearhead the development of the preservation and conservation of the TBM subset of the National Collection. Key Responsibilities and Duties: The individual will join a large team of conservators with various specialties such as paintings, objects, paper/photo, textiles alongside a small conservation science lab. The team is also involved in carrying out cross-department activities around issues pertaining to preventive conservation or to care of contemporary art/ design. Reporting to the Senior Conservator, you will be: - responsible for contributing to the preservation of Singapore's National Collection (NC) by participating in a wide range of conservation activities such as producing various condition reports and proposals, providing expert advice on the condition and future maintenance needs of proposed acquisitions and works planned for loans and exhibition, and ensuring preventive maintenance necessary for digital and media works in the NC. - playing an integral role in the development of conservation policies, procedures, and workflows within the HCC regarding the care of TBM collections in analogue and digital forms while likely contributing to the current HCC Contemporary Art Working Group. This includes but is not limited to supporting acquisition, developing guidelines for storage and display, best practices for conservation treatment, procedure and the proper care and handling of digital and media works of the collection; - conducting specialised research on the materials and techniques of artists represented in the collection whenever necessary and while working in collaboration with all relevant parties; - playing a leading role in advising and training HCC staff in best practices for the care, handling, display, storage, packing and shipping of digital and media works; - playing a fundamental role in supporting, planning and implementation for HCC digital storage and the HCC digital and media art conservation & preservation workstation and engaging as necessary in conservation and preservation-related special projects; - supervising conservation fellows or interns as required; and - supporting the development of the professional field involved in the preservation of the cultural heritage digital form in Singapore and SEA region by actively developing &/or contributing to knowledge and expertise sharing and dissemination activities. Requirements: - Background in conservation with specialisation in time-based media or digital art preservation; or equivalent skills and knowledge acquired through specialised professional experiences. - Preferably at least 5 years of practical postgraduate experience working with digital and media artworks; Institutional / museum experience is preferred. Candidate with less experience may be considered for the assistant conservator level. - Team player, at ease with dialogue-based decision-making process and collaboration with a diverse group of HCC conservation team and stakeholders while actively developing and contributing to the collaborative effort that care and display of TBM works required. - Ability and experience to address the preservation needs of complex works that include film, slide, video, audio, software-based, web-based, electronic, and other types of digital art including migration strategies to a high standard with full consideration of practical and ethical issues. - Capable of assisting with collection care activities such as assessments for new acquisitions, facilitation of loans, securing appropriate storage, cataloguing of active and obsolete equipment and creation of installation instructions as well as dealing with the presentation and maintenance of digital and media artworks on display. Experience with complex contemporary installations is desirable. - Ability to use diagnostic tools to examine condition and document the construction of digital art items. - Familiarity and experience with cultural materials in Southeast Asia would be advantageous. - Innovative and enthusiastic team player with strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, have strong oral, written and interpersonal communication skills in English. - Successful candidates will be offered a 2-year contract in the first instance. Remuneration · Monthly salary ranges from SGD3,500 to SGD6,000. · Medical coverage and other advantageous benefits. Successful candidates will be offered a 2-year contract in the first instance. To apply, please click below to submit your application. Conservator, Digital and Time-Based Media Collection <https://sggovterp.wd102.myworkdayjobs.com/PublicServiceCareers/job/NHB-Heritage-Conservation-Centre-HCC/Conservator--Digital-and-Time-Based-Media-Collection_JR-10000048460> All interested applicants should follow the instructions at the careers@gov <careers@gov> website to submit their application. We regret that only short-listed candidates will be notified. Deadline for submission: 18 September 2026 For any questions, please contact Esther Ng, Senior Conservator (Photograph) via email: ([email protected] <[email protected]>) ------------------------------ - ------------------------------ 2.From: Monona Rossol Posted: Saturday August 22, 2026 1:15 PM Subject: RE: Lead Exposure Hazard Message: I thought the fact that lead metal and inorganic lead compounds absorb through the skin was common knowledge. Apparently not. So here's some very old references and some new ones that all touch on this issue in some way. Sweat helps it absorb, but cutaneous absorption without skin moisture occurs only more slowly. Best summary of what we knew in 1988.* SKIN ABSORPTION OF LEAD - Lancet, Lancet Letters, Issue 16, July 1988. - summary of the CSIRO Center study listed by the Australian Government Skin absorption is not usually considered a significant mode of uptake of lead, unless the lead is present as a lipid-soluble compound such as tetraethyl lead or lead naphthenate. We have found that inorganic lead can be absorbed through skin and rapidly distributed throughout the body. The figure shows the appearance of raised levels of lead in sweat samples taken from the right arm, after a 25 mm diameter membrane filter, to which 60 ul of 0.5 mol.l lead nitrate solution (6 mg Pb) had been added, was placed on the left are, covered with a square of "Parafilm", wrapped firmly with plastic lunch-wrap, and left on the arm for 24 hours. Pilocarpine iontophoresis sweat samples, taken from the right arm periodically before and after the application of lead, were analyzed for lead by anodic stripping voltammetry. The sweat lead concentration continued to rise even after the lead was removed, and increased from the normal value of 15-30 ug/l to over 350 ug/l after 2 days (figure). Similar results were obtained when 100 mesh lead metal or oxide powder were used in place of lead nitrate. Both the increase in sweat lead, and the time taken for skin transport, depended on the extent of skin sweating. If the arm was kept cool and dry, little skin transfer occurred, with profuse sweating large increases in sweat lead occurred rapidly. These results can be explained by a diffusion model involving simultaneous diffusion of lead ions through a filled sweat duct (rapid) and through the stratum corneum (slow). Much more......... Additional studies1. Stauber, J.L., Florence, T.M., The determination of trace metals in sweat by anodic stripping voltammetry, Sci. Total Environ., 1987; 60:263-2712. Stauber, J.L., Florence, T.M., A comparative study of coper, lead, cadmium and zinc in human sweat and blood, Sci. Total Environ., 1988; 74:235-2473. Stauber, J.L., Florence, T.M., Gulson, B.L., Dale, L.S., Percutaneous absorption of inorganic lead compounds, Sci Total Environ., 1994 May 2;145(1-2):55-70. doi: 10.1016/0048-9697(94)90297-6.4. Houk J., Guy R.H., Membrane models for skin penetration studies, Chem Rev, 1988; 88:455-4715. Rabinowitz, M.R., Westrill, G.W., Kopple J.D., Kinetic analysis of lead metabolism in healthy humans, J. Clin. 1976; 58:260-2706. Chee-Ching Sun, et. al. Percutaneous Absorption of Inorganic Lead Compounds, AIHA Journal., Vol. 63, September/October 2002, pp. 641-646. [Stauber revisited]7. In vitro percutaneous absorption of metal compounds. Larese F, Gianpietro A, Venier M, Maina G, Renzi N. Toxicol Lett. 2007 Apr 5;170(1):49-56. doi: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2007.02.009. Epub 2007 Feb 23. PMID: 173824948. Rapid Review of Dermal Penetration and Absorption of Inorganic Lead Compounds for Occupational Risk Assessment. Niemeier RT, Maier A, Reichard JF. Ann Work Expo Health. 2022 Mar 15;66(3):291-311. doi: 10.1093/annweh/wxab097. PMID: 35051994 Free PMC article.9. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [2007] Toxicological profile for Lead (update) [http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp13.pdfpdf <http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp13.pdfpdf> icon (PDF 4.8 MB, 582 pages)] Public Health Service Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Also related to this question -- the shedding of particles of lead from lead metal surfaces:9. AIHA Journal,"Potential Health Hazards from Lead Shielding," 57:1124-1126, 12/96Uncoated metallic lead is widely used as radiation shielding in research and development, manufacturing, and in nuclear medicine and radiology. Tests of the dust around lead storage areas and of the air while workers move lead objects indicated that handling and storage of metallic lead may present an insidious health hazard. Enjoy Monona ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 8/20/2026 6:05:00 AM From: Maickel van Bellegem Subject: RE: Lead Exposure Hazard Hello Heather, as a metals conservator having worked with lead and corroded lead objects. It is my understanding that metallic lead or lead corrosion does not directly penetrate through the skin. For children this may be different(?), or there would likely be a higher chance of ingestion through transfer via their hands. I would not say covering lead in polycarbonate is a protocol as such, and depending on the object and display design, various options may be considered to form a barrier with the aim to prevent visitors touching objects. Hope that might help in the decisionmaking. Best, maickel. ------------------------------ Maickel van Bellegem ACR Conservator (freelance) Sluis (NL) and London UK +31 648775052 / +44 7890628526 [email protected] ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 08-17-2026 16:00 From: Heather Jackson Subject: Lead Exposure Hazard Good Afternoon, I was forwarded an email from a patron regarding a large stained glass window (creation date 1957) that is on permanent display in our galleries. They are concerned with the possiblity of lead exposure to children with this piece, as it is 115.5" in height, children can easily touch this piece as they walk by. This patron being an Industrial Hygenist is aware of certain risks and statistics pertaining to lead exposure for children and are recommending that we cover the piece in polycarbonate. Is this a common protocol, covering lead in polycarbonate? Does anyone have experience dealing with similar lead issues within a collection? Any information or suggestions would be welcome. Thank you, Heather ------------------------------ Heather Jackson Collections Manager Flint Institute of Arts Flint United States ------------------------------ 3.From: Éowyn Kerr-Di Carlo Posted: Saturday August 22, 2026 6:07 PM Subject: RE: Student Training & Onboarding: Looking for Ideas Message: Dear Natalie, I would be more than happy to discuss how we negotiate similar challenges when training student intern employees and time management. I wont pretend that I have all of the answers, as it is an ongoing learning process, but perhaps we could share ideas for streamlining training. A video call might be the best option. Please feel free to contact me. Eowyn [email protected] <[email protected]> owyn Kerr-Di Carlo, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Conservation of Art & Cultural Heritage Candis J. Stern Conservation Laboratory Department of Art New Mexico State University ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 8/21/2026 10:05:00 AM From: Natalie Granados Subject: Student Training & Onboarding: Looking for Ideas Hello all, I'm exploring ways to reduce the amount of time I spend training student employees in the conservation lab. During the fall and spring semesters, training can easily take up to three days per week. Given that I am the sole conservator at UConn and am also responsible for environmental monitoring, disaster planning and response, conservation treatment of general and special collections material, among other responsibilities, this represents a significant investment of time. My student employees perform the majority of our general collections repair work, so effective training remains essential. However, I'm looking for ways to make the process more sustainable and scalable. I'm curious whether anyone has incorporated videos or other training methods beyond written instructions and one-on-one, in-person training as part of their onboarding process. While I recognize that hands-on training is ideal, I'm trying to be a bit more pragmatic about how I use my time. If you've experimented with alternative training approaches, I'd love to hear about your experience: What training tools or resources are you using? What platform are they hosted on? Have they reduced the amount of time you spend training students? If you're using videos, did you create them yourself or use publicly available content? How well do students retain information compared to traditional one-on-one training? What have you found to be the biggest benefits and drawbacks? Thank you in advance for sharing your experiences and insights. Best, Natalie ------------------------------ Natalie Granados Book & Paper Conservator UCONN Library Storrs, CT United States ------------------------------ You are subscribed to "Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList)" as [email protected]. To change your subscriptions, go to http://community.culturalheritage.org/preferences?section=Subscriptions. To unsubscribe from this community discussion, go to https://community.culturalheritage.org/HigherLogic/eGroups/Unsubscribe.aspx?UserKey=d16eaa87-0f69-494b-9f2f-303dbc1222e1&sKey=fab9aa4f27a04c5d876e&GroupKey=757a8f16-505f-4323-8e74-e376757aa9f7.
