C2C Care Course Keeping Collections Safe in Storage

With the vast majority institution’s collections in storage rather than on display, understanding the 10 Agents of Deterioration and the way that they affect different collection materials is at the core of a risk management approach to preventive care. In this course students will learn about the specific deterioration risk factors for collection materials, how materials deteriorate and what practical steps can be taken to improve storage conditions and promote long-term preservation for institutions of various sizes and collection materials. Information from the recently published Storage at a Glance chapters in the 2019 Preventive Conservation: Collection Storage edited by Lisa Elkin and Christopher A. Norris will be featured along with other resources and materials. Participants of the live course will also receive a special code the lowers the cost of the book to $75 plus shipping (down from $95 plus shipping).

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the course participants will:

  • Understand the matrix graphics in the Storage at a Glance chapters in the Preventive Care: Collection Storage volume.
  • Have an understanding of the risks caused by various agents of deterioration for a range of collection materials.
  • Be able to identify the greatest deterioration risks for materials in their storage areas
    Know which chapters in the Storage volume contain information to best address the storage needs of various materials.
  • Devise practical improvements for their storage needs.
  • Be familiar with a range of complementary resources to address storage needs.

Course Schedule

Webinar 1 – Risk Management Approach to Storage
Materials to be covered: Overview of Storage issues, Storage at a Glance, and book resources
-Lead Presenter: Rachael Arenstein
-Date: October 13, 2022 1pm-230pm ET

Webinar 2 – Natural Science Collections
Materials to be covered: Keratin, Skin/Leather, Fossils/Minerals

-Lead Presenter: Fran Ritchie
-Contributor: Stephanie Hornbeck
-Date: October 20, 2022 1pm-230pm ET

Webinar 3 – Fine Arts Collections
Materials to be covered: Paintings (traditional & non-traditional), Fine Art Photos
-Lead Presenter: Sarah Spafford-Ricci
-Contributor: Paul Messier
-Date: October 27, 2022 1pm-230pm ET

Webinar 4 – Humanities Collections
Materials to be covered: Textiles
-Lead Presenter: TBD
-Contributor: Ann Frisina
-Date: November 10, 2022 1pm-230pm ET

Webinar 5 – Libraries and Archives
Materials to be covered: Book/Paper, Film / Negatives, Electronic Media
-Lead Presenter: Tara Kennedy
-Contributor: Andrew Robb
-Date: November 17, 2022 1pm-230pm ET

Coordinator
Rachael Perkins Arenstein is a Professional Associate member of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) and began her career working in museums at the age of 15. She has worked at the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, the American Museum of Natural History and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She completed internships at the British Museum and the Israel Museum as well as other international institutions. Rachael’s degree in art conservation is from the University of London where she studied at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London. She received her B.A. in Near Eastern Studies and Archaeology from Cornell University where she wrote her honors thesis on the Dendrochronological analysis of an Urartian archaeological site. She has excavated at Tel Miqne-Ekron in Israel and has been the on-site conservator for Tel Gezer excavations. Rachael was in private practice for four years before co-founding A.M. Art Conservation, LLC in 2009. In addition, she is active in several professional organizations including positions as the e-Editor for the AIC and the Co-Chair of the MuseumPests Working Group.

This self-study program is presented as a series of recordings of a live course offered October 13 – November 17, 2022. Please note that any assignments are designed for enrichment only and will not be reviewed.

Registration Fee: FREE

Connecting to Collections Care courses are made possible in part by generous support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Connecting to Collections Care courses are made possible in part by generous support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.