Email digest for the Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList) egroup. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. PCN sponsored Cross-Specialty Conversations about Mold – Upcoming Webinar! 2. IWG quarterly meeting 3. IAP Virtual course: Museum Lighting 4. Job vacancy - Paper Conservator, National Conservation Service, UK 5. Ancient Athenian Agora Conservation Internships 6. RE: The US Committee of the Blue Shield at Twenty: Two Decades of Protecting Cultural Heritage in Peril 2006-2026 7. 2nd European Researchers Night in Conservation Restoration of Cultural Heritage 8. ACS 2027 Spring Meeting Final Reminder – Abstracts Due Monday, Sep 28th ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.From: Eliza Spaulding Posted: Tuesday September 22, 2026 10:35 AM Subject: PCN sponsored Cross-Specialty Conversations about Mold – Upcoming Webinar! Message: Dear All, Sharing a friendly reminder -- 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> ------------------------------ Eliza Spaulding (she/her) Helen H. Glaser Senior Paper Conservator Weissman Preservation Center Harvard Library Cambridge, MA ------------------------------ 2.From: Tessa de Alarcon Posted: Tuesday September 22, 2026 10:35 AM Subject: IWG quarterly meeting Message: The IWG quarterly meeting is rapidly approaching! Mark your calendars and save the zoom link shared here. Date: September 30 Time: 11am-noon ET Zoom link: https://upenn.zoom.us/j/97366582249?pwd=yJaH8bAhPm0NclFudr8nAhNir1ipzm.1 <https://upenn.zoom.us/j/97366582249?pwd=yJaH8bAhPm0NclFudr8nAhNir1ipzm.1> The meeting will include short imaging tip presentations focusing on practical, inexpensive, and creative solutions to help tackle imaging projects. See the attached agenda for all the details. As an additional note, there will not be an IWG open zoom this month in favor of this exciting event. Our next open zoom will be October 30. I hope to see you all there! Tessa de Alarcon IWG secretary ------------------------------ Tessa de Alarcon Conservator Penn Museum Philadelphia PA [email protected] ------------------------------ 3.From: James Black Posted: Tuesday September 22, 2026 1:16 PM Subject: IAP Virtual course: Museum Lighting Message: Museum Lighting Date/Time: 19 & 20 Oct, 9:30am - 1:30pm BST This course will start 9.30am BST both days and run for around four hours including a break and question time Tutor: David Saunders Price: £155.00 Platform: Zoom Registration: You can register on Humanitix <https://events.humanitix.com/museum-lighting> or email us to pay by bank transfer <[email protected]> <https://academicprojects.co.uk/courses/integrated-pest-management-for-collections-a-two-session-virtual-course-2/[email protected]> This course will look at aspects of museum lighting related to conservation, visibility, display, access and sustainability. On the first day we will explore: Defining and measuring light levels and light exposure The effect of light on objects and the assessment of light sensitivity Light levels needed for visibility and comfortable viewing The development of current lighting guidelines On the second day we will build on these topics and cover: Value and significance as factors in decision-making Sustainability in museum lighting Developing balanced lighting strategies Lighting for conservation and access David Saunders is an Honorary Research Fellow at the British Museum where he was formerly Head of Conservation and Scientific Research. He is also an Honorary Researcher at the National Gallery London, where he began his career. David is author of Museum Lighting: A Guide for Conservators and Curators, written while a guest scholar at the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) in 2016 and the inaugural Getty Rothschild Fellow at the Getty and Waddesdon Manor in 2017. He returned to the GCI in 2024 as a guest scholar to focus on issues of sustainability in museum lighting. He was a visiting professor at UCL from 2016 to 2021 and at NYU in 2018 and 2021. ------------------------------ James Black Co-ordinator International Academic Projects London www.academicprojects.co.uk ------------------------------ 4.From: Lucy Charles Posted: Tuesday September 22, 2026 1:16 PM Subject: Job vacancy - Paper Conservator, National Conservation Service, UK Message: Paper Conservator vacancy at National Conservation Service We're seeking a proactive and dynamic Paper Conservator to join one of our busy London studios on a 1-year contract in the first instance, working on a diverse range of archive and library items for a wide range of institutions. The role is full time but a part-time role of 4 days per week can be accommodated. About the Role This is a fantastic chance to immerse yourself in a busy studio contributing to both hands-on treatment and essential preventative projects. You'll be working on a wide variety of materials carrying out a variety of remedial treatments, with a specialist focus on paper conservation treatments. The level and seniority of the role will be based on experience. An example of some of the main tasks are: * Condition assessment, report writing and documentation * Performing complex conservation treatments, including cleaning, repairs and stabilisation, adhering to the highest professional standards * Developing and implementing preventative conservation strategies as necessary, such as digitisation and rehousing * Carry out digitisation capture along with other team members * Working collaboratively with a team of experienced conservators and other specialists * Contributing to project planning * Maintaining accurate treatment records and photographic documentation What We're Looking For * A post-graduate degree or equivalent qualification in Paper Conservation with 2 years post-qualification experience as a minimum * Proven experience of carrying out a broad range of paper treatments of all kinds, preferably archival plus some art on paper * Experience in photographic conservation treatments would be desirable * Experience using digitisation software would be desirable * Exceptional practical skills in paper conservation demonstrating precision and attention to detail * A strong understanding of conservation ethics and principles * Excellent problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach * Strong communication and interpersonal skills, able to work effectively as part of a team and liaise with clients * The ability to manage your time effectively and work to deadlines Why Join Us? We offer a stimulating and supportive work environment where you'll have the opportunity to work on unique and historically significant items, working in our London studio in Hackney. You'll be part of a dedicated team committed to excellence in conservation, with opportunities for professional development and continuous learning. Depending on skills, experience and ICON Accreditation status, the salary range would be between £32,000 to £42,000 fte. Please note that only applicants with a valid work visa for the UK can apply, all applicants will be asked to provide proof of their legal right to work in the UK. If you would like to discuss the role or have any questions, please contact Lucy at [email protected] <[email protected]> Please send expressions of interest and a CV to [email protected] by Wednesday 30 September 12pm. ------------------------------ Lucy Charles Conservation Business Manger National Conservation Service London UK [email protected] ------------------------------ 5.From: Alicia Dissinger Posted: Tuesday September 22, 2026 1:16 PM Subject: Ancient Athenian Agora Conservation Internships Message: The Agora Excavations Conservation Laboratory of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens is offering two Archaeological Conservation Internships for the 2027 summer excavation season.APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 14, 2026 The Agora Excavations Conservation Laboratory of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens is offering two Archaeological Conservation Internships for the 2027 summer excavation season. The Conservation Laboratory functions as an integral part of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens' Agora Excavations. Its aim is to support the excavations by providing services that contribute to the study and understanding of the site. Interns will have an opportunity to treat freshly excavated archaeological finds and to participate in an active on-site conservation laboratory. Under the supervision and guidance of the Agora Conservation staff, interns will carry out general conservation duties including examination and analysis of artifacts; documentation; cleaning; reconstruction; restoration; and photography of artifacts from the current excavation and from storage. In this way, interns will be able to work with a variety of materials including ceramics, stone, glass, copper alloys, iron, lead, bone and occasionally ivory and wood. An introduction to the re-treatment, preventive and long-term care of archaeological collections will also be provided. Applicants must currently be enrolled in a graduate or equivalent conservation program, or they must have recently completed their studies in conservation. Successful candidates are required to obtain their own medical insurance for the duration of their internship. Successful candidates are also responsible for their travel arrangements to and from Athens, Greece and for arranging their own accommodation. A modest expense allowance of 150 Euros per week, and a housing allowance of $200 per week (up to $1600 for 8 weeks and upon submission of receipts payments will be made in Euros depending on the currency rate) will be provided for each intern during their internship. Those persons who are already resident in their own accommodations in Athens are welcome to apply for the program and will receive the same expense allowance, but not the housing allowance. The internship program is planned for eight weeks, 7 June - 30 July, 2027. For more information and to apply: https://www.ascsa.edu.gr/programs/summer-excavation-programs/agora-archaeological-conservation-summer-internships. - Alicia M. Dissinger, PhD Programs Administrator American School of Classical Studies at Athens 321 Wall Street Princeton, NJ 08540-1515 Telephone: +1 609-454-6819 (direct dial) Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.ascsa.edu.gr Pronouns: she, her, hers 6.From: Valeria Orlandini Posted: Tuesday September 22, 2026 3:11 PM Subject: RE: The US Committee of the Blue Shield at Twenty: Two Decades of Protecting Cultural Heritage in Peril 2006-2026 Message: In times of armed conflict and with the proliferation of man-made and natural disasters it is important to be prepared. Am sharing some pictures from the talk by Ali Hamdi Mohamed Hassan Nour entitled "Sudan, Heritage Continuity, The Temporal Gap and What Endures" from Sudan Blue Shield. To become a member of the US Committee of the Blue Shield: Join Us - USCBS <https://uscbs.org/join-us/> To protect movable and immovable tangible heritage, including museums, archives, libraries, monuments, and heritage sites, by providing awareness programs, advocating for implementation of the 1954 Hague Convention, and facilitating training for the armed forces, government agencies, heritage organizations, and the general public. September is National Preparedness Month <https://www.ready.gov/stand-ready> The ongoing incredible work done by Rosina Herrera Garrido, Dr. Gemma María Contreras Zamorano and many other colleagues regarding the DANA (Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos/Isolated Depression at High Levels) in Valencia, Spain should also be mentioned. The pictures attached were shared on Facebook by Dr. Contreras Zamorano two years ago. --- From: Rosina Herrera <[email protected] <[email protected]>> Date: Tue, Sep 22, 2026 at 4:29 AM Dear Colleagues, On 29 October 2024, the province of Valencia in Spain was severely affected by a DANA (Isolated Depression at High Levels), causing intense rainfall and widespread flooding across 75 municipalities. Just a few days after the disaster, a spontaneous solidarity initiative started to recover as many photographs and family albums damaged by the floods as possible. What began with a small group of conservators and photography enthusiasts eventually became what is now known as the Salvem les Fotos (Save the Pictures) Project. In February 2025, I was invited to talk about the project at the Winter PMG Meeting in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The support we received from the organization and from the photo conservator fellows was incredible. You shared advice, ideas, materials, and even financial donations. In the months that followed, we continued to receive help, with people sending us materials and even travelling to Valencia to volunteer and work with us. The project has also grown beyond photography. We are now working with books, manuscripts, letters, paintings, and other family treasures. Through our collaboration with the Red de Cine Doméstico (Home Movie Network), we have also recovered and stabilized audiovisual materials affected by the floods, including film, magnetic tape, and optical media. For photographs, the basic conservation treatments involve drying, cleaning, washing, and basic stabilisation, followed in some cases by digitisation. At the beginning, the project relied almost entirely on volunteers and donations. As the amount of material increased, we gradually found different sources of financial support, which allowed us to hire staff and expand the work. One of the most important aspects of the project has always been working closely with the local community and the families affected by the disaster. It is not only about recovering photographs, but also about helping people recover part of their memories, their personal history. Today, two laboratories are still active, working on an estimated 500,000 photographs that still need treatment. I have been one of the project leaders and coordinated one of these laboratories. Since September, I have not been as involved in the day-to-day work as before, but I continue to look for support and help disseminate information about the project. There is also an open-access article about the project in Tabula magazine, which is freely available to download. https://publicaciones.acal.es/tabula/article/view/1090 <https://publicaciones.acal.es/tabula/article/view/1090> I wanted to share this update with you. Once again, thank you for all the support you have given us. It has made a real difference to the project and to the people whose photographs we are trying to salvage and preserve. Best, Rosina --- Salvem les Fotos: A project to safeguard, rescue and conserve family photographic archives affected by La DANA in Valencia | 1 International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works <https://www.iiconservation.org/news/salvem-les-fotos-project-safeguard-rescue-and-conserve-family-photographic-archives-affected> ------------------------------ Valeria Orlandini Conservator of Works on Paper and Photographic Materials Chevy Chase MD (301) 657-2682 ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 09-18-2026 13:39 From: Valeria Orlandini Subject: The US Committee of the Blue Shield at Twenty: Two Decades of Protecting Cultural Heritage in Peril 2006-2026 Date: September 17, 2026 The U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield at Twenty: Two Decades of Protecting Cultural Heritage in PerilUSCBS Annual Conference <https://uscbs.org/annual/> As the U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield celebrated its twentieth anniversary yesterday, the American University's Washington College of Law and USCBS brought together experts in cultural property protection for a day of discourse, engagement, future planning and celebration of this milestone. This worthwhile program was organized and hosted by Attorney Patty Gerstenbith, President, and James H. Reap, Vice-President, from the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) thus engaging in advocacy, legal policy, training and mentoring for heritage protection. It mainly featured talks by international cultural heritage professionals from Sudan, Ukraine and Iran, who provided an update on the Blue Shield around the world and in the US. The USCBS conference schedule can be seen here <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DgeqqnhF17_EYOg4q5XcRY1C9o-M2siC/view?usp=drive_link>. The conference speakers and moderators can be found here <https://canva.link/64uxwncdsg7sgsm>. --- During the USCBS event I mentioned and reminded the attendees and presenters -- how we, as cultural heritage professionals can avoid the risks of another catastrophic fire like the one that destroyed 90% of the collections of the Brazilian National Museum and began around 7:30 PM (19:30 local time) on Sunday, September 2, 2018. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Museum_of_Brazil_fire>National Museum of Brazil fire <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Museum_of_Brazil_fire> 8 years have passed and many challenges remain urgent for cultural institutions in the Southern region and in the Americas. I encouraged the USCBS members and attendees to look for ways to help more Latin American countries where they had recent earthquakes, for example in Venezuela and in Colombia. The risks and hazards exist, and it's important to work together. American University's Washington College of Law 4300 Nebraska Ave NW Washington, DC 20016 All the best, The USCBS Team *Attached please find some imaged that I recorded during the conference (without any 'copyrights' from the presenters/ authors/ organizers). ------------------------------ Valeria Orlandini Conservator of Works on Paper and Photographic Materials Chevy Chase MD (301) 657-2682 ------------------------------ 7.From: Laura Fuster López Posted: Tuesday September 22, 2026 9:03 PM Subject: 2nd European Researchers Night in Conservation Restoration of Cultural Heritage Message: FREE WEBINAR 🇪🇺 European Researchers' Night in Conservation Restoration of Cultural Heritage 📅 25 september 2026 ⏰ 12.00-15.00 h (CET) 📖 Find the program below. 🔗 Access:https://l1nk.dev/yjik2ul <https://www.encurtador.dev/redirecionamento/index.html> This webinar offers students and professionals a glimpse into the extraordinary research being conducted in our field and demonstrates the power of interinstitutional collaboration, showcasing some of the most relevant research initiatives currently taking place at a European level in the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage. We hope this will be an informative and inspiring event for younger generations, providing an overview of how professionals from diverse disciplines in the humanities, natural sciences and technology come together to preserve cultural heritage and showcase joint efforts in building extraordinary scientific infrastructures and platforms. TALKS AND SPEAKERS: Integrating Lifetimes in Heritage Capital (ITHACA) Josep GRAU-BOVÉ (University College London, Institute for Sustainable Heritage, UK) Care2Share -Reinforcing Research into Conservation at the Royal Danish Academy Cecil Krarup ANDERSEN & Line Clausen PEDERSEN (Royal Danish Academy, Denmark) Innovative activities to support heritage science in the Île-de-France region Loïc BERTRAND (École Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay, France) Sharing Practices for a Sustainable Future in the Conservation of Modern Art (SHARE-ART) Francesca C. IZzO (Ca' Foscari University, Italy) Introduction to DARIAH ERIC: The Digital Research Infrastructure for the Arts and Humanities. Erekle Gozalishvili (Project Communications Officer) & Marco Raciti (European Project Manager). EXCALIBUR-ECCCH- Advanced Toolkits for Enhanced Study, Conservation, and Restoration in Burial Excavations and Findings Eleftherios Anastasovitis (Coordinator) & Georgia Georgiou (Technical Project Manager) ------------------------------ Laura Fuster López Professor Universitat Politècnica de València, Instituto Universitario de Restauracion del Patrimonio Valencia (Spain) ------------------------------ 8.From: Celia Chari Posted: Tuesday September 22, 2026 9:03 PM Subject: ACS 2027 Spring Meeting Final Reminder – Abstracts Due Monday, Sep 28th Message: A final reminder that the call for abstracts is now open for the Art and Archaeological Chemistry symposium at the 2027 American Chemical Society (ACS) Spring Meeting in New Orleans, LA (March 21–25, 2027). Submissions are open through Monday, September 28. The symposium will run over two days and is organized into four sessions, reflecting support from four ACS divisions: ANYL (Analytical Chemistry), COMP (Computers in Chemistry), HIST (History of Chemistry), and CHED (Chemical Education): Session I: Novel Analytical Methods >From neutron activation analysis to muon-induced X-ray emissions in cultural >heritage, featuring a keynote by Brandi MacDonald (University of Missouri >Research Reactor). Session II: Computational Methods Including emerging applications of AI in materials classification for art and archaeology, featuring a keynote by Emeline Pouyet (Centre de Recherche sur la Conservation, CNRS). Session III: Recipes, Replication, and Archaeo-inspired Materials Addressing provenance, processing, and properties of mineral and synthetic pigments, with a keynote by Barbara Berrie. Session IV: Archaeological Chemistry in STEM Education Exploring the use of heritage science in teaching across classrooms and museums, featuring a keynote by Thiago Puglieri (UCLA/Getty). More invited speakers to be announced soon! Abstracts can be submitted via ACS MAPS under New Approaches and Results in Archaeological Chemistry: https://callforabstracts.acs.org/acsspring2027/HIST <https://callforabstracts.acs.org/acsspring2027/HIST> Please feel free to get in touch if you need help with the submission process. We look forward to receiving your contributions and hope to see you in New Orleans. ------------------------------ Celia S. Chari Nicholas Zumbulyadis Organizers of the 2027 ACS Archaeological Chemistry Symposium E-mail: [email protected] ------------------------------ 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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