3 Advantages of Preventive Conservation in Museums
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What is preventive conservation in museums and museological spaces? What its advantages are and what it entails. What processes should be implemented to ensure the correct preventive conservation in museums and museological spaces.
This article systematizes the advantages of implementing a plan for preventive conservation in museums and museological spaces.
We must first point out that when we talk about the importance and advantages of preventive conservation in museums we must not forget that the assumptions and advantages inherent in preventive conservation apply to all spaces in which works of heritage value are safeguarded, whether publicly or privately.
Prevention involves predicting and assessing the risks that could affect our art objects.
Prevention also allows us to define mechanisms that can provide an immediate response when risk situations occur, thus preventing the loss of or damage to cultural goods.
While it is important to understand why it is important to have guidelines for the preservation of artistic works that make it possible to prevent various risks such as theft, vandalism, accidents or degradation, it is also essential to know the threats that affect, or could affect, the collections and the building that houses them, to provide conservation and security measures and to assess risks that reduce or prevent the deterioration of the collection.
What is a Preventive Conservation Plan?
A Plan for Preventive Conservation in museums is a set of strategies and actions planned to minimize the deterioration of collections without the need for direct interventions on the objects.
The aim is to create a suitable environment for the preservation of collections, reducing the risk of damage caused by environmental, biological, physical and human factors.
Main Elements of a Preventive Conservation Plan
Environmental Control
Control of temperature and relative humidity.
Lighting control (intensity and type of light).
Ventilation and air quality (reduction of pollutants).
Pest control
Regular inspections to identify insects and rodents.
Use of physical barriers and non-toxic traps.
Proper Handling, Transportation and Storage
Use of gloves and appropriate equipment.
Safe transportation and packaging techniques.
Appropriate storage materials and furniture.
Safety and Risk Management
Fire, flood and natural disaster prevention.
Emergency and evacuation plans.
Cleaning and Preventive Maintenance
Specific procedures for cleaning exhibition spaces and technical reserves.
Use of non-aggressive products.
Education and Training
Ongoing training for museum staff and external collaborators.
Raising public awareness of good conservation practices.
So let’s take a schematic look:
What are the advantages of adopting a Policy for Preventive Conservation in museums ?
1 – Economic advantages.
The process of controlling the environment, light, pests, etc. is less expensive than restoration work.
Maintaining works of historical and artistic value in a good state of conservation allows them to be seen as an “asset” since, with proper interpretation and communication, they can generate income in terms of cultural tourism and the promotion of cultural events.
2 – Scientific advantages.
Ensuring the principle of minimum intervention through the evolution of scientific knowledge that allows us to learn about artistic evolution, production techniques, better identification and dating of pieces;
3 – Cultural advantages,
Cultural, artistic and heritage advantages. In addition to the artistic value and the memory value that each object carries, the preventive conservation of works also allows them to be better valued by tourists.
Let’s not forget that Cultural Heritage is an invaluable educational, social and economic resource.
Preventive conservation of cultural heritage – concepts and methods
Unit 1 Preventive conservation
1.1. Preventive conservation
General notions
Basic principals
Institutions
1.2. Preventive conservation plan: what to do and how to implement it?
1.3. Contingency plan
Unit 2 – Preventive conservation plan and risk assessment
What is preventive conservation
Advantages of a preventive conservation plan
How to implement an intervention plan: methods and tools
Risk assessment methodology
Risk assessment tools
Practical example of risk assessment
Unit 3 – Agents of deterioration and control measures
