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Preventive Conservation (CUMC90029)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
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Overview
Availability | May |
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Fees | Look up fees |
This subject examines the physical and chemical causes of deterioration of cultural material, and considers how these can be effectively mitigated. Areas of study include the ten agents of deterioration that include light, incorrect relative humidities, incorrect temperature, physical stresses, biodeterioration, pollutants, pests, fire, criminal activity and dissociation. Students will critically evaluate current theories, international standards and guidelines for the management of museum and cultural collection environments and contexts. The context and opportunities for the implementation of a preventive conservation approach within an overall risk management framework will be emphasised, including environmental impact, budgetary implications, sustainability, and stakeholder management.
It is now readily acknowledged by most commentators that it is culturally preferable as well as financially advantageous to minimise or prevent deterioration of cultural material than to apply remedial conservation intervention after avoidable damage has been sustained. However this is a collective decision-making process embedded in individual, institutional and community needs. As such this subject lays a critical foundation for effective professional practice as a conservator in preventive conservation.
Intended learning outcomes
Upon completion of this subject students should be able to:
- identify the main deterioration mechanisms that affect cultural material using the ten agents of deterioration;
- explain the causes and effects of different physical and environmental conditions on cultural materials;
- formulate the risks associated in different physical and environmental conditions and collection contexts using an evidence based framework;
- apply preventive conservation principles to collection surveys, environmental risk strategies, storage, packing, transport and display methods for cultural material in diverse contexts, communities, geographic locations and environments; and
- apply sustainable thinking and strategies in preventive conservation.
Last updated: 2 December 2019