No. 3 adhesives in textile conservation: a select annotated bibliography of references about adhesives in textile conservation compiled by Karen Thompson

A select annotated bibliography of references about Adhesives in Textile Conservation, compiled by Karen Thompson. The aim of the Chantry Library Subject Bibliographies is to support the work of Icon members, by providing an up-to-date list of the most relevant source material on a topic in conservation with annotations giving information about the relevance, accuracy and quality of the sources cited, making it easier to evaluate the literature on a given subject. The Bibliographies have been compiled by recognized specialists, who have selected the key works in their field of specialism. This bibliography, the third in our series, provides a compilation of selected references about the use of adhesives in textile conservation. Drawing on specialist knowledge from research and best practice at the Centre for Textile Conservation at the University of Glasgow, the references reflect much of the current thinking and issues in this area of expertise and specialism

The UK association conference attendance decision-making process

This paper reports on research carried out into the consumer behaviour displayed by UK association conference delegates when deciding to attend a conference. Examination of the available literature suggested that there has been little investigation of the delegate's perspective on attending a conference, as most research into business events has traditionally been centred on the supply side particularly convention destination image, and association site selection. The paper found six underlying dimensions of the UK association conference delegate decision-making process - personal/professional development, networking opportunities, cost, location, time and convenience and health and wellbeing. Additionally, regression analysis showed that two of the dimensions (networking opportunities and cost) were significant predictors of intention to attend the conference again in the future

An Evaluation of the Teaching and Learning of Reflective Practice at the Centre for Textile Conservation, University of Glasgow

The value of reflective practice in both professional education and lifelong learning is well established. In conservation the concept is fundamental to our ability to make informed decisions: to develop the cognitive and affective skills necessary to implement appropriate conservation strategies confidently, competently and ethically in wide ranging and dynamic contexts. Beyond the broad understanding of reflective practice as a process of learning through and from experience in order to gain new insights, it can have a considerable diversity of meanings. Its complexity can make it intimidating and, for conservation students, it has been found to be a challenging task. Through an evaluation of the learning, teaching and assessment of reflective practice at the Centre for Textile Conservation and Technical Art History (CTCTAH), University of Glasgow (UoG), this paper aims to peel back the layers of complexity to consider why it is challenging for students and how learning can be developed and assessed effectively

The adoption of open sources within higher education in Europe : a dissemination case study

For some time now, the open-source (OS) phenomenon has been making its presence felt; disrupting the economics of the software industry and, by proxy, the business of education. A combination of the financial pressure Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) find themselves under and the increasing focus on the use of technology to enhance students' learning have encouraged many HEIs to look towards alternative approaches to teaching and learning. Meanwhile, the "OS" has challenged assumptions about how intellectual products are created and protected and has greatly increased the quantity and arguably the quality of educational technologies available to HEIs

Normansfield theatre scenery: materials and construction revealed through conservation

Described as one of the finest collections of stock scenery in the country, and a rare survival from the 19th century, the painted scenery from Normansfield Theatre is the focus of this paper. A team of conservators from the Textile Conservation Centre, in collaboration with paintings conservators, conserved a representative selection of painted flats, a backdrop and a false proscenium for display on the stage as well as stabilising and storing the other items in a bespoke system so that they are accessible to researchers. Normansfield Theatre was a small private Victorian theatre and entertainment hall built in the grounds of a former hospital for people with learning difficulties. The theatre was used by the staff and patients for both therapeutic and recreational purposes between 1879 and 1909. The stage is a miniature version of a typical Georgian theatre, with grooves for scenic flats and mechanisms for hanging backdrops, set within a Victorian proscenium arch. Unusually over 100 pieces of stock scenery, created by established scene painters and dating from the 1870s, survived in its original setting. Although textile conservators are familiar with treating painted textiles, the Normansfield scenery with its large flexible canvases and water soluble, under-bound paint presented new conservation challenges. Research into the scenery’s materials and construction, collaboration with paintings conservators and the conservation treatment itself were able to shed more light on the scene painter’s art

Investigation of Travel Behaviour of Visitors to Scotland

Tourism in Scotland is both an important and extensive land use and a major contributor to Gross Domestic Product. In 2005, it is estimated that Scotland received around 10.5 million visitors from outside Scotland. Just over 76% of the visits originated in the rest of the United Kingdom, with the remainder having an international origin. Tourism relies heavily on passenger transport both to access the destination, but also to travel around within it. However, there has been a lack of attention to the internal accessibility of Scotland from the visitor perspective. Whilst some attempts have been suggested and prioritised for facilitating tourists' travel around Scotland, such efforts are mainly undertaken by tourism organisations throughout Scotland, whose ultimate power to enable changes to transport systems is largely limited to lobbying. Moreover, without a clear picture of how accessible Scotland is internally as a destination, or of the transport demands of visitors in terms of internal accessibility, any measures taken to enhance visitor transportation remain largely uninformed. How tourists travel around Scotland, the extent to which they are reliant on public transport and the importance of existing transport provision in their travel behaviour and experience of the destination, including the areas they ultimately visit, merits further clarification. To this end, this study was commissioned by the Transport Department of The Scottish Executive to provide an overview of existing research into the travel behaviour of visitors to Scotland. The principal aim of the study was to review and collate existing sources of information on the use of transport by those visiting Scotland for leisure, recreation and business purposes. In conjunction with the objectives of the Scottish Executive, a thorough review of the literature and secondary data sources pertaining to the use of transport by visitors to Scotland for leisure, tourism and business purposes was conducted

Mongolian hospitality: intrepid travelling

Continuing the series on exploring diverse hospitality practices, Kevin O'Gorman and Karen Thompson explore the origins of Mongolian hospitality. They highlight the lack of commercial hospitality provision in Mongolia and reflect on some of the contemporary hospitality customs and practices centred on the 'home'

Culture, authenticity and sport : a study of event motivations at the Ulaanbaatar Naadam Festival, Mongolia

Drawing on the results of an empirical study, this chapter examines the case of the Ulaanbaatar Naadam within the framework of the literature on cultural authenticity and with reference to the contribution of sporting events and competitions to the latter. Differences between overseas and domestic markets attending the event are investigated and conclusions are drawn on the role of cultural authenticity in motivating visitors to attend the Naadam festival

A literature review of analytical techniques for materials characterisation of painted textiles - Part 2: spectroscopic and chromatographic analytical instrumentation

Part Two of this Literature Review of analytical techniques for materials characterisation of painted textiles focusses on the application of vibrational and x-ray spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques used in the analysis of painted textiles to inform understanding of their materials, methods of making and degradation. The principles of detection methods, technique limitations and advantages, and how they complement each other, are explained and advances in techniques applicable in the study of painted textiles are discussed, such as mapping in Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Raman, surface-enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy, and secondary ion mass spectrometry. Most informative work relating to painted textiles comes from close collaboration between conservators and scientists in interpreting findings and this literature review provides a useful starting point to further develop the capabilities of analytical techniques to enhance the study and conservation of painted textiles

A literature review of analytical techniques for materials characterisation of painted textiles - Part 1: categorising painted textiles, sampling and the use of optical tools

Many types of painted textile are represented in museum collections. Their flexibility, draping qualities, and heterogeneous, layered nature make painted textiles complex objects to conserve. What do we know about their materials and making? There has been limited research into painted textiles and particularly their analysis. Whilst much valuable information can be gleaned from paintings analysis, there are many distinct differences in materials behaviour between stretched paintings and painted textiles that need to be identified and addressed. This paper, together with Part 2, aims to raise the awareness of textile conservators, in particular, of potential analytical techniques to identify and characterise the materials, thus enhancing understanding and conservation of painted textiles. Part 1 focuses firstly, on the categorisation of different groups of painted textile providing a context for their study and secondly, it reviews sampling and optical techniques that can be used by conservators, highlighting some of the challenges they present