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  3. Sustainable Collections

Sustainable Collections (CUMC90029)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

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May
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This subject critically evaluates current theories, international standards and processes for sustaining heritage collections, managing change and creating sustainable environments. It engages with sustainable thinking within situated decision-making contexts and values, technical processes, risk management strategies, the ten agents of deterioration, the environment, and stakeholder structures. It examines continuity and change, and considers how these can be effectively communicated and mitigated in centralised and de-centralised collection contexts.

As such, this subject lays a critical foundation for effective professional practice as a preventive conservation conservator and steward for sustainable collection care. Off campus site visits are a regular activity for this subject, which may include visits to collection and conservation facilities, museums, galleries, library, archives and art centres.

Intended learning outcomes

Upon completion of this subject students should be able to:

  • Develop the theoretical and practical foundations for sustaining collections, preventive conservation, managing change and creating sustainable environments
  • Identify the critical sustainability issues and management strategies for heritage collection environments including the ten agents of deterioration, risk assessments, standards and guidelines, and people-centred decision making
  • Develop the cognitive and analytical, technical and affective skills that underpin innovation in sustaining heritage collections
  • Investigate and apply advanced knowledge and skills in situated collection contexts
  • Demonstrate a critical understanding of the environmental, economic, social and cultural factors related to heritage collections with the cognitive, technical and affective skills necessary to communicate information in professional and community based contexts
  • Understand the array of participatory, intercultural, and interactive strategies for sustaining collections in situated contexts, their potential and limitations

Generic skills

  • Linking theory and practice
  • Critical decision making drawn from a diverse range of sources
  • Technical conservation methods and skills
  • Sustainable management and organisational skills for complex collection environments
  • Adaptive and creative approaches through the application of skills and knowledge to collection contexts
  • Effective communication and written skills
  • Collaboration and interdisciplinary work
  • Social and inter-cultural competency.

Last updated: 8 November 2024