The Conservation Advisory Network (CAN) Conference 2015
Conservation and Access
27 February 2015 | Head of Steam - Darlington Railway Museum
The Conservation Advisory Network (CAN) is a free collections care advice service
delivered by The Bowes Museum and TWAM’s Museum Development Programme. The
2015 conference theme is ‘Conservation and Access’ and is open to all museum staff and
volunteers. The event is free and provides tips, practical advice and inspiring
presentations as well as opportunities for networking. For further details please see the
conference agenda below or contact Karen Barker, Regional Conservator,
karen.barker@thebowesmuseum.org.uk.
9.30 - 10.00
Arrival
10.00 - 10.45
“Minimal intervention: making collections accessible in
archives” Jenny Halling Barnard
The words ‘Do Not Produce’ are infuriating for any researcher;
unfortunately many items within an archive are too deteriorated to
be handled without causing further damage. Using the principles
of minimal intervention and repairs for ‘once-only’ handling, it is
possible for archive conservators to make collections accessible
to the public by preparing them for digitisation.
10.45 - 11.30
“Where Curators Feared to Tread” Dawn Bradshaw
On the opening up of a Science and industry collection store, this
had been ignored for too long; with big heavy collections full of
asbestos and carcinogenic oil. It was transformed from a store
containing unidentifiable potential collection to one which tells the
story of electricity through our collections. Where we once needed
to wear hard hats, masks and steel toe cap boots, there are now
regular store tours along with research and learning from school/
college/ university involvement.
11.30 - 12.15
“How the National Trust seeks a sustainable balance” John
Wynn Griffiths
Conservation and access could be seen as being at odds;
however conservation is only sustainable when access is
managed well. The Conservation for Access Toolkit, C4A, is how
the National Trust quantifies the ways and means to achieve
sustainable access. Done well the C4A becomes a powerful tool
to plan and manage how visitors enjoy our properties and
collections.
12.15 - 12.30
Questions
12.30 - 1.30
Lunch (included)
1.30 - 2.15
Jon Old (The Bowes Museum) Title and synopsis tbc
2.15 - 3.00
John Greenwood (English Heritage) Title and synopsis tbc
3.00 – 3.15
Questions
To book your place at the 2015 CAN Conference please contact Karen Barker:
Phone: 01833 690107
Email: karen.barker@thebowesmuseum.org.uk