The goal of Preventive Conservation is to slow the natural rate of deterioration and maintain the present condition of art and cultural materials for as long as possible. Rather than looking at individual objects, preventive conservators look at the museum environment as a whole to anticipate agents of deterioration and strategize how to reduce or eliminate them. This strategic planning requires in-depth knowledge about the wide variety of materials used to make art and cultural heritage and how these materials age. Additionally, preventive conservators understand environmental factors, pollutants, pests, and how to prepare for natural disasters. Preventive Conservation is often a more cost-effective and ethical way to preserve cultural heritage, as limiting damage and degradation reduces the need for interventive treatment and stabilization in the future.
We offer Preventive Conservation Services in the following areas:
Collections Care
We can advise on how the agents of deterioration, such as humidity, temperature, physical forces, and light, can be effectively limited in your storage or display spaces. We consider the unique needs of the materials represented in your collection and how to achieve an environment that supports preservation sustainably in your space.
We offer Preventive Conservation Services in the following areas:
Collections Care
We can advise on how the agents of deterioration, such as humidity, temperature, physical forces, and light, can be effectively limited in your storage or display spaces. We consider the unique needs of the materials represented in your collection and how to achieve an environment that supports preservation sustainably in your space.
Storage and Rehousing
Creating a storage space that supports preservation is an essential step in maintaining your collection for future generations. We can help you plan for major storage enhancements and also suggest incremental improvements you can make within a budget to better support your collection. Making intentional decisions about rehousing priorities can be daunting - we’re here to help!
Preservation Survey and Planning
BACC staff have the expertise to assess the spaces where you store and exhibit your collection to identify areas for improvement. We also offer support as you apply for external funding to conduct a preservation assessment. A long-range preservation plan that sets out tasks, time lines, and realistic goals is key to funding preservation projects. We can help at all stages along the way to ensure the most competitive grant application to facilitate your preservation planning.
Emergency Planning
Our team can provide information and guidance while your institution develops its emergency response and recovery plan. We can also help you put together an emergency kit that is unique to the size of your institution and the types of artworks in your collection to ensure that you have everything you need on-hand to preserve your assets during an emergency. We fully tailor our emergency planning advice to your space and the needs of your art or cultural collection.
Integrated Pest Management
Insects and other pests pose an ongoing threat to our cultural heritage and pest challenges in museums are only escalating with increasing temperatures and extreme weather. When insects and other pests feed on artwork and cultural collections, they cause irreversible damage that weakens the overall structure of the material and causes devastating aesthetic changes. Integrated pest management (IPM) refers to the complementary set of methods used to limit pest presence in museums and identify pests quickly when they do manage to enter. We can help you develop your IPM plan, taking into account the unique challenges of your space and collection.
Our Preventive Conservator, Elizabeth Salmon, specializes in museum pest management. Her PhD research focuses on sustainable solutions to preserve cultural heritage using methods familiar in traditional knowledge. Elizabeth is uniquely qualified and particularly excited to talk through your institution’s pest-related challenges!
Creating a storage space that supports preservation is an essential step in maintaining your collection for future generations. We can help you plan for major storage enhancements and also suggest incremental improvements you can make within a budget to better support your collection. Making intentional decisions about rehousing priorities can be daunting - we’re here to help!
Preservation Survey and Planning
BACC staff have the expertise to assess the spaces where you store and exhibit your collection to identify areas for improvement. We also offer support as you apply for external funding to conduct a preservation assessment. A long-range preservation plan that sets out tasks, time lines, and realistic goals is key to funding preservation projects. We can help at all stages along the way to ensure the most competitive grant application to facilitate your preservation planning.
Emergency Planning
Our team can provide information and guidance while your institution develops its emergency response and recovery plan. We can also help you put together an emergency kit that is unique to the size of your institution and the types of artworks in your collection to ensure that you have everything you need on-hand to preserve your assets during an emergency. We fully tailor our emergency planning advice to your space and the needs of your art or cultural collection.
Integrated Pest Management
Insects and other pests pose an ongoing threat to our cultural heritage and pest challenges in museums are only escalating with increasing temperatures and extreme weather. When insects and other pests feed on artwork and cultural collections, they cause irreversible damage that weakens the overall structure of the material and causes devastating aesthetic changes. Integrated pest management (IPM) refers to the complementary set of methods used to limit pest presence in museums and identify pests quickly when they do manage to enter. We can help you develop your IPM plan, taking into account the unique challenges of your space and collection.
Our Preventive Conservator, Elizabeth Salmon, specializes in museum pest management. Her PhD research focuses on sustainable solutions to preserve cultural heritage using methods familiar in traditional knowledge. Elizabeth is uniquely qualified and particularly excited to talk through your institution’s pest-related challenges!