What should be our set point levels? The complex question of environmental conditions in museums

Abstract Relaxed environmental parameters for museums have been on the table for consideration by the conservation community for at least the last five years, promoted by building managers and directors alike. Two years ago it looked as though international agreement on relaxation of environmental conditions in museums and galleries to reduce energy consumption, whilst not compromising the preservation of collections, was close. The AICCM Taskforce on Environmental Guidelines produced a draft document, but this never saw the light of day, and the reality is that agreement is still a long way off, due to strongly held and often polarised views within the conservation profession. It is acknowledged that existing environmental parameters for collections are based on a blanket approach, and are unnecessarily tight for all but the most vulnerable of artworks (e.g. panel paintings), and major museums and galleries worldwide are recognising this and implementing relaxed parameters, such as The Tate, the Smithsonian and the V&A. However a significant proportion of the conservation profession are not convinced that the risks in relaxing these parameters can be safely managed, a position best articulated by the National Gallery in London. Accordingly consensus amongst conservators internationally is not going to be achieved and therefore there will be no new blanket environmental standards. This paper examines the current situation on this complex issue

Climate and Conflict: The complex question of environmental conditions in museums

Abstract Environmental parameters for museums have been under discussion by the conservation community for at least the last five years, promoted by conservators, building managers and directors alike. Three years ago it looked as though international agreement on the broadening of environmental conditions in museums and galleries to reduce energy consumption, whilst not compromising the preservation of collections, was close. The current reality however is that agreement is still a long way off, due to strongly held and often polarised views within the conservation profession. It is acknowledged by many conservators and conservation scientists that existing environmental parameters for collections are based on a blanket approach, and are unnecessarily tight for all but the most vulnerable of artworks (e.g. panel paintings). However a significant proportion of the conservation profession is not convinced that the risks associated with this change can be safely managed. Accordingly, consensus amongst conservators internationally is not being achieved. The paper discusses how the lack of consensus has come about, and the broad positions being taken. It also reports on the interim findings of the working group jointly established by IIC and ICOM-CC, which has been charged with exploring the current positions being taken globally on environmental standards, and establishing whether a common position can be reached

Sustainability, access and process: A discussion about collection environments

There's an unspoken but underlying assumption in preventive conservation that our role is to make things last as long as possible. I'm not sure we should consider ourselves in charge of how long things last. We should be in charge of interpreting, explaining, and managing the life expectancy and longevity of objects

Sustainability, access and process: A discussion about collection environments

There's an unspoken but underlying assumption in preventive conservation that our role is to make things last as long as possible. I'm not sure we should consider ourselves in charge of how long things last. We should be in charge of interpreting, explaining, and managing the life expectancy and longevity of objects