Email digest for the Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList) egroup. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Call for Survey Participants: Rapid ATP Tests in Conservation 2. Newly acquired conservation titles available in the Getty Library's Conservation Collection 3. Vacancy: Royal Collection Trust. Paper and Photographic Conservator (Maternity Cover) 4. Sustainable Exhibitions with designer Douglas Flandro: A new Green Tea Episode 5. Call for Proposals: LACDG at the AIC 2027 Annual Meeting 6. Reminder: Contract Opportunity at the National Air and Space Museum-Objects Conservators 7. RE: Thought question: The pressures on traveling art. 8. PCN Sponsored Cross-Specialty Conversation about Mold Webinar Friday, October 30th 9. Call for Papers: Pressure Sensitive Tapes Symposium - Deadline Oct 1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.From: Andrea Faustine Isaac Posted: Wednesday September 2, 2026 2:09 AM Subject: Call for Survey Participants: Rapid ATP Tests in Conservation Message: Hello everyone, My name is Andrea Isaac, I am a student in the Master of Cultural Materials Conservation programme through the Grimwade Centre, University of Melbourne. As part of my master's program, I am undertaking a minor thesis on the assessment of the mould remediation treatment on photographic materials through ATP-bioluminescence. This thesis is supervised by Dr. Caroline Kyi and co-supervised by Noni Zachri. Participation involves completing a short anonymous online survey which takes approximately 5-10 minutes. All conservators are welcome to answer this survey, whether or not you have experience with rapid ATP tests. If you would be willing to assist with my research, I would very much appreciate it. This project has human research ethics approval from The University of Melbourne under Ethics Approval 36083. The survey will remain open until October. Should you agree to participate, you will be provided with the plain language statement and consent form within the survey. The survey can be accessed via the link below: https://q.surveys.unimelb.edu.au/jfe/form/SV_daIGLFEulXlUp7w Short description: This research monitors the conservation treatment of a hand-coloured photograph that is heavily affected by mould. A luminometer will be used to measure the degree of contamination on the object by measuring the levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) on the surface before and after treatment. Mould produces and releases ATP during their life cycles, which the luminometer samples and converts to bioluminescence (light). The amount of light detected is directly proportional to the degree of contamination. As such, the treatment aims to find decreasing values of bioluminescence as the treatment progresses. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or clarifications related to this project, and I look forward to your response via email. Kind regards, Andrea Isaac [email protected] University of Melbourne ------------------------------ Andrea Faustine Isaac Graduate Student Grimwade Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation, University of Melbourne Parkville Australia ------------------------------ 2.From: Sheila Cummins Posted: Tuesday September 1, 2026 8:52 AM Subject: Newly acquired conservation titles available in the Getty Library's Conservation Collection Message: Every month the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) acquires new research materials for the Conservation Collection, housed in the Library at the Getty Research Institute (GRI). The collection represents an ongoing collaboration between the GCI and the GRI to acquire and retain critical resources required to fulfill the long-term research and scholarship needs of the international conservation community. In July, we added books on emerging technologies in conservation, overviews of archaeological field practices, women in renaissance art, adaptive reuse practices in architecture, perspectives on social work in museums, archaeology in Tuscany, and a history of regional lace practices: https://gty.art/459Dfkc <https://gty.art/459Dfkc?fbclid=IwcGRvZgFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF2N2pQSW5tMll6djV5dENvc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHkwL5KTUmu3taIBtkjcNvnZuBKynT_AeP_XvQGKYvn3VJZHsheWEGuRj04NV_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw> The holdings of the Conservation Collection may be consulted at the Getty Center or borrowed through your Library's Interlibrary Loan Department. ------------------------------ Sheila Cummins Collection Development Librarian Getty Conservation Institute Los Angeles, CA 310-440-7619 [email protected] ------------------------------ 3.From: Eoin Kelly Posted: Tuesday September 1, 2026 8:53 AM Subject: Vacancy: Royal Collection Trust. Paper and Photographic Conservator (Maternity Cover) Message: Paper and Photographic Conservator (Maternity Cover) - The Royal Household <https://theroyalhousehold.tal.net/vx/mobile-0/appcentre-3/brand-3/candidate/so/pm/1/pl/6/opp/3861-Paper-and-Photographic-Conservator-Maternity-Cover/en-GB> Paper and Photographic Conservator (Maternity Cover) Household / Department Royal Collection Trust Section / Branch Conservation and Curatorial Location Windsor Castle Contract/recruitment type Fixed Term Contract Start date November 2026 End date November 2027 Starting salary circa £35,000 per annum Hours of work 37.5 hours a week, Monday – Friday About the role It's preserving some of the world's most magnificent works on paper and photographic collections. It's developing your skills, and it's ensuring that an extraordinary collection remains accessible for future generations. That's what makes working for the Royal Collection Trust so special. The Royal Collection contains internationally important holdings of prints, drawings and photographs, including one of the world's great collections of old master drawings. The Paper Conservation team is responsible for the conservation, preservation and care of these remarkable collections, supporting their display, storage, study and loan. Immersing yourself in this fascinating collection, you'll undertake conservation treatments, assess object condition and contribute to preservation projects, helping to ensure the highest standards of care for works of international significance. Key Responsibilities: Conserve works on paper including drawings, prints, photographs, watercolours, and other Royal Collection objects. Assess, document and report on the condition of objects required for display, exhibition and loan. Maintain accurate written, photographic and digital conservation records. Provide recommendations on storage, handling, mounting, framing and display of works on paper and photographs. Ensure conservation materials, equipment, studios and stores are maintained to a high standard. Collaborate with colleagues across Royal Collection Trust and represent the organisation through professional and public engagement activities where required. About you Essential Criteria: A degree in paper conservation (or equivalent professional experience), with proven experience managing conservation projects including treatment of framed, loose and bound works on paper and conservation of photographic material. An understanding and knowledge of paper conservation theory, ethics, materials, conservation science, and health and safety requirement together with knowledge of preventive conservation principles and practice. Knowledge of historical and contemporary mounting and framing methods for works on paper, including photographs, as well as housing and storage solutions. Excellent manual dexterity and competence in the use of conservation tools and equipment. Highly organised, with the ability to deliver conservation projects within deadlines, work independently and make informed decisions. Good communication and teamwork skills, able to collaborate well with colleagues and experts to achieve results. Good IT skills, including experience using databases, spreadsheets and image-processing software. Desirable Criteria Experience conserving works within a historic environment. Full UK driving license for potential travel between Royal Residences. Benefits We know that to deliver our best work, we need to feel at our best. That's why at the Royal Household we offer a generous benefits package designed to support your wellbeing and life priorities. Enjoy 25 days annual leave, (pro rata, plus bank holidays) Our excellent non-contributory pension plan is highly valued by our employees, as is complimentary lunch on-site. We also offer a range of leave options to support your life priorities, such as parental pay and leave and volunteering days, as well as benefits to support your physical and mental wellbeing. Other perks include 20% off at our Royal Collection Trust Shops and complimentary admission tickets across all our locations, along with many more exclusive employee discounts. Find out more about the full range of benefits available to our employees here. <https://www.royal.uk/rewards-and-benefits-1> Vacancy Closing Date: 13/09/2026, 23:55 ------------------------------ Eoin Kelly Senior Paper Conservator Royal Collection Trust Windsor Castle Windsor SL4 1NJ [email protected] ------------------------------ 4.From: Lindsey Williams Posted: Tuesday September 1, 2026 11:36 AM Subject: Sustainable Exhibitions with designer Douglas Flandro: A new Green Tea Episode Message: Sustainable Exhibitions with designer Douglas Flandro: A new Green Tea Episode (S3 E8) <https://rss.com/podcasts/green-tea/> In this episode, Lindsey is joined by Douglas Flandro, an exhibitions designer and director of sustainability at Cambridge Seven Associates, to discuss the multifaceted nature of sustainable exhibitions. Like in previous conversations about this topic, the intersectionality of sustainability comes to the forefront of the conversation. Douglas suggests starting from your own institutions values to build sustainable practices into your exhibition program instead of trying to approach the concept to include as many factors as possible. Some institutions aim for materials with low carbon emissions or cruelty-free labor, while others might prioritize toxin-free materials for a touch-friendly exhibition. Starting small and iteratively shifting is often more palatable and feasible than trying to reinvent the entire exhibition process. His book, The Sustainable Museum Exhibition Handbook, is available for pre-order (see below) and encompasses a wide range of themes, ideas, and practical tips for how to start shifting practices and reassessing our processes. For previous episodes discussing this topic, see S3 E7 Sustainable Exhibitions and Carbon Literacy with Elise Foster Vander Elst <https://rss.com/podcasts/green-tea/2951106/> S3 E4 Multifaceted Approach to Sustainable Exhibitions with Kim Kraczon <https://rss.com/podcasts/green-tea/2612382/> S1 E8 Mitigating Exhibition Plastic Waste with Alessandro Scola <https://rss.com/podcasts/green-tea/2462893/> You can also find all of our episodes on the Sustainability Forum <https://www.culturalheritage.org/communities/community-home?communitykey=3f831779-9ff7-4cad-a8b0-83fd90c01011> community page under the Library tab. If you have any feedback, questions, or recommendations for future episodes, please email us at aicsustainability (at) gmail (dot) com with the subject heading "Green Tea". ------------------------------ Lindsey Williams Conservation Technician Producer of Green Tea ------------------------------ 5.From: Melina Avery Posted: Tuesday September 1, 2026 3:18 PM Subject: Call for Proposals: LACDG at the AIC 2027 Annual Meeting Message: Library bindings abound: Past and present use of commercial binderies in libraries & archives The Libraries and Archives Conservation Discussion Group (LACDG) is seeking proposals for AIC's 2027 annual meeting in Albuquerque, NM! About: LACDG is an annual forum for conservation professionals to discuss, collaborate, and delve into a particular topic within the realm of library and archives collections care. During this session, panelists will briefly present their institutions and their work, followed by a moderated discussion where attendees will be invited to ask questions and share insights and experiences. Discussion topic: Library bindings abound: Past and present use of commercial binderies in libraries & archives In keeping with AIC's 2027 theme, "Community of Trust," this years' discussion topic will center around the historic and current use of commercial binderies in effort to preserve and maintain materials. We will discuss how outsourcing library materials requires a level of trust in the businesses we work with, the materials used, and the standards outlined by the ANSI/NISO Library Bindings Standard (2000). We will also address current challenges conservators, preservation administrators, and collections care professionals are facing in times of limited resources and shifting institutional priorities. Speakers will provide a short, 10-minute presentation, followed by open discussion. Deadline: September 30, 2026 Please send proposals to [email protected] <[email protected]> A brief proposal of a few sentences is enough. Just let us know why you'd like to participate and/or get in touch to ask any questions you have about the session. LACDG co-chairs Savannah Adams Deutsch & Melina Avery ------------------------------ Melina Avery Interim Head of Conservation and Senior Conservator University of Chicago Library Chicago United States ------------------------------ 6.From: Lauren Horelick Posted: Tuesday September 1, 2026 3:18 PM Subject: Reminder: Contract Opportunity at the National Air and Space Museum-Objects Conservators Message: The National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution seeks to contract 1 to 2 Objects Conservators to provide conservation assessments and treatments. The Request for Quote and Statement of Work, which contain the details regarding this contract opportunities are available upon request until September 8, 2026. Requests to obtain these documents will not be accepted after that date. Bids are due by 5:30 on Sept 14th, 2026. All correspondence regarding this request should include the subject line "Conservation Treatments" Please submit your request for the RFQ, SOW, and any questions to: Lauren Horelick Objects Conservator NASM Conservation [email protected] <[email protected]> 7.From: Sarah Lowengard Posted: Tuesday September 1, 2026 3:19 PM Subject: RE: Thought question: The pressures on traveling art. Message: I had one response to my inbox that suggested that an advantage to lending artwork might be the payments from the borrowing institutions, that this might help to keep the owner-institution afloat. Is this, then, a situation where the greatest responsibility of an art collecting institution and its staff is sustaining the institution? Does this mean that preservation concerns can be set aside because conservators can always fix what goes wrong? What happens when the most famous artwork becomes irreparable by public (not conservators) standards? I'm curious for your thoughts about this. sl ------------------------------ Sarah Lowengard New York United States ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 08-28-2026 10:37 From: Sarah Lowengard Subject: Thought question: The pressures on traveling art. A recent essay in the New York Times (Link below) raises questions about the entwined forces of public opinion about art/artifacts, the economics of museum management, who owns public heritage and how best to steward it.So here is a hypothetical for discussion: You are responsible for a small collection housed at what is considered an off-the-beaten-path location. The collection includes many gems that tell a valid story about the institution and its location. Owing to external forces -- a best-selling book perhaps, or a well-placed social media post, the cycles of imagination or the vagaries of serendipity -- you receive a nearly constant flow of requests to borrow and exhibit about 6 items in your collection. [Calling on language from a course in the professional responsibilities of a conservator that I led in the '00s] What are the responsibilities engaged in the decisions about saying yes or no? What do you owe to the object, the institution, the community, the public-at-large, posterity, and how would you rank these? Would that ranking change depending on your role in the owning institution, a guardian of the estate of the artist, a board member of the lending or borrowing institution, the curator in charge, teh conservator responsible for care, the world's biggest fan of the artworks, a serious but un-knowledgeable student?Francisco Berzunza, "This is Looting by Another Name" New York Times Op-Ed, 28 August 2026. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/28/opinion/mexico-frida-kahlo-art.html?unlocked_article_code=1.81A.fHQ9.ISFEOSuTqO04&smid=nytcore-ios-share <https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/28/opinion/mexico-frida-kahlo-art.html?unlocked_article_code=1.81A.fHQ9.ISFEOSuTqO04&smid=nytcore-ios-share> ------------------------------ Sarah Lowengard Strategies for Solo Practitioners Art Conservator of Textiles Historian of technologies & sciences New York City ------------------------------ 8.From: Lisa Goldberg Posted: Tuesday September 1, 2026 4:18 PM Subject: PCN Sponsored Cross-Specialty Conversation about Mold Webinar Friday, October 30th Message: Participants in Cross-Specialty Conversations about Mold: Culturing a Community of Practice <https://virtual.oxfordabstracts.com/event/75903/program?session=199309&date=%222026-5-1%22> at the 2026 AIC-CAC Annual Meeting indicated a strong interest in further conversation on the topic of mold in collections. In response, the Preventive Care Network (PCN) has invited the authors, Emma Richardson and Kelly McCauley, Jessica Pace, and Silvia Manrique Tamayo, for a follow-up conversation that will build on discussions begun during the session. The PCN Continuing Conversations about Mold webinar will be held Friday, October 30th, at 12 pm ET/11 am CT. This online event will focus on mold germination, mold remediation for archival collections, and large-scale mold remediation as presented by the authors at the 2026 AIC-CAC Annual Meeting. The session will begin with a brief summary of each talk, followed by a moderated discussion. Participation is encouraged whether or not you attended the original session. Please kindly respond to the questionnaire to help guide the conversation by September 30, 2026. Survey participants will be invited to register for the online webinar. The link to the survey is: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/J2R9C9J <https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/J2R9C9J> ------------------------------ Lisa Goldberg Conservator Goldberg Preservation Services LLC Corning, NY 607-368-3963 ------------------------------ 9.From: Sarah Saetren Posted: Tuesday September 1, 2026 5:48 PM Subject: Call for Papers: Pressure Sensitive Tapes Symposium - Deadline Oct 1 Message: The Call for Papers for the upcoming symposium, Pressure Sensitive Tapes: Manufacture, Deterioration, and Evolving Approaches to Treatment <https://learning.culturalheritage.org/products/pressure-sensitive-tapes-manufacture-deterioration-and-evolving-approaches-to-treatment> is now open. Proposals for talks will be accepted until October 1, 2026. This two-day symposium will take place on October 4-5, 2027 at the Indiana State Library, followed by an optional workshop and tours on October 6. The symposium will be recorded and post-prints will be produced to extend the reach of the content more broadly following the event. The goal of the program is to refresh participants' understanding of the practical issues surrounding pressure sensitive tapes as well as gain knowledge of some of the evolving research and treatment approaches. We are seeking speakers to present on topics such as historic and modern manufacture of pressure sensitive tapes; characteristic deterioration pathways of different tape formulations; traditional and cutting-edge approaches to pressure sensitive tape removal and stain reduction; ethical considerations when treating objects made of or having pressure sensitive tape; health and safety concerns when working with tape removal/reduction; tips and tricks for approaching tape removal with limited lab spaces; tape treatment on non-book and paper materials; as well as other topics related to the general topic. We welcome paper proposals across disciplines and encourage a broad range of topics. Practitioners and scholars at any stage of their career are welcome. Proposals should include a 500-word abstract and a 150-word biography. Presentations will be approximately 35 minutes in length, plus Q&A, and will be delivered in person, in English. Speakers must approve to having their presentation recorded for later distribution as well as commit to submitting a post print of their talk in the months following the event. Notifications of proposal status will be sent via email by the first week of November. Accepted speakers will receive complimentary symposium registration (registration to workshops and tours not included) and a $375 speaker stipend. A travel stipend (up to $1,000) can requested if needed. Learn more here: https://learning.culturalheritage.org/products/pressure-sensitive-tapes-manufacture-deterioration-and-evolving-approaches-to-treatment <https://learning.culturalheritage.org/products/pressure-sensitive-tapes-manufacture-deterioration-and-evolving-approaches-to-treatment> ------------------------------ Sarah Saetren FAIC Education Manager ------------------------------ 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.
