Conservation Services

Home

Profile

Consultancy

Training

Decorative
Arts

Archaeology

Publications
And Links

Enquiry
Service

Consultancy Services

Conservation Services works with curators, architects, developers, archaeological units and display designers on projects of change within the historic context. We work with other specialists to build a team suited to the project in hand. We:

Act as the 'client's friend' in setting up briefs for tenders in conservation projects.
Have experience of raising awareness and funding through the HLF and are able to advise for achieving grant aid for projects.
Generate Risk and COSHH assessments for projects.
Answer Tender briefs.
Produce Conservation Statements for project designs.
Produce Method Statements of Schemes of Investigation.
Cost and timetable works.

Winning tenders is often a question of price and quality (Best Practice). Conservation Services works to guidelines laid down by the UK Institute for Conservation (UKIC), Museums Libraries and Archives, and the Institute of Field Archaeologists. Julia Park is a UKIC accredited conservator.

Working closely with other specialists such as photographers, illustrators and designers as well as metallurgists and other materials specialists we are able to provide a full service for your needs. So if you do not see what you are looking for here, enquire further: julia.park@conservationservices.co.uk.

Environment

Successful preservation of artefacts are achieved through passive preservation techniques. An accurate environmental survey investigates factors such as light humidity and temperature over day/night and seasonal changes and creates a picture of stresses placed on the artefact by the surroundings. The intention is to minimise these stresses within the building, within the display environment and in storage. The resultant product will prevent further expensive conservation intervention.

The conservator is often involved in periods of change those clear aims and objectives for survey need to be defined with the associated professions such as architects, builders and clients. As part of a management team the conservator is able to offer cost effective solutions in the planning stages of a project and to liaise with others to see these achieved.

Survey: Collections

Museums often require an over-view of collection and collection care needs. Surveys are a useful tool which can be directed to the individual needs of the client. For example, prioritising for remedial conservation, or assessing priorities for display will enable realistic planning and costing for subsequent income generation. Surveys can be presented in paper or electronic format and tailored to the needs of the individual or Museum involved.

Survey: Collection Care

Increasingly Conservation Services has been asked to deliver surveys of wider needs particularly for small Museums. 'Benchmark' type surveys will deliver needs in areas such as Policy, Buildings, Storage, Housekeeping, Handling and Use of Collections, Environmental Monitoring and Control, Conservation, Surrogates, and Emergency Procedures. Training Sessions have often addressed these factors. For more information, click on the Training section.

Exhibition and Display

The hidden dangers of materials used in exhibition and display can be counteracted by conservation measures particularly if agreed in the planning stage of the project. Conservation Services consultancy will build a conservation factor into the building and display case programme to achieve an effective yet protective environment which is cost effective and non-intrusive.
Conservation Services carries out condition surveys, loan agreements, handling, packing and transport of collections, production of mounts and case dressing.

New Builds and Restoration

Historic buildings undergoing major changes require assessment of their contents, measures for protection during works and planning to minimise harmful effects of those changes on the contents in the longer term. Conservation Services will advise and carry out necessary preventative and remedial treatments according to the client's needs.