The Sharing Conservation Decisions Course concluded in Paris on 10 November.

During the final two weeks, participants were introduced to different methodologies that enhance understanding of an object, its messages and its context, and aid the development of a conservation strategy. They also discussed the role of documentation, scientific analysis, techniques of decision-making, and tools for formulating different conservation options.

The group visited Florence during the fortieth anniversary of the 1966 flood which caused such widespread damage to works of art that restoring them is today still a major activity of all conservation institutions in Florence. The group also visited Assisi. Both visits provided a background to discussions on risk management in emergency situations.

The course concluded with a study visit to Paris hosted by the INP (Institut National du Patrimoine. France).  The visit focused on the presentation of three large-scale projects in collections’ management:

• the recently opened Musée du Quai Branly (ethnographic collections),
• the storage areas of the Musée des Arts et Métiers (science and technology collections), and
• the Museum d’Histoire Naturelle (natural history collections).

Special emphasis was given to the main conservation decisions that were taken during these projects.

A special thanks to everyone involved in the course who, together with the course participants, contributed to its success by sharing their own experiences.

Member States represented: Brazil, China, Croatia, France, Georgia, Germany,  India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, Viet Nam

updated on: 24 November, 2007