Conservation of Transport and Industrial Collections

West Dean College runs an annual training course in the Conservation of Transport and Industrial Collections.  The 2012 course will be held on 19-24 February 2012.

This course delivers the fundamental information needed to understand the role and approach of the conservator involved in the care of a transport collection, and to extend their knowledge of conservation principles. The programme consists of demonstrations, lectures and handling sessions, concentrating on conserving the many different materials encountered in transport collections, preventative conservation, handling, storage and display, and environmental monitoring and control.

Topics will include:

• The history and current direction of conservation and restoration treatments;
• Recognising the properties of different categories of fabrics, leather, woods, paint and varnish finishes, metals etc;
• Recognising the main causes and effects of degradation of the material;
• Identifying the major environmental parameters for safe handling, storage and display;
• Understanding the different roles of objects within private and public collections and the influences of these roles on treatment;
• Understanding basic passive techniques and housekeeping methods; Identifying and discussing the pros and cons of in-situ treatments and treatments involving temporary removal of one or more element of the object.

Find out more on their website here or please contact Liz Campbell: liz.campbell@westdean.org.uk or +44 (0) 1243 818219. For booking information please telephone the Bookings Office on +44 (0)1243 811301.