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Michael - I respectfully disagree. In my years in museums and conservation I have all too often seen the attitude that instead of investing time and some resources for proper collections management and preventive conservation, that "We'll just repair it" or "Buy another one". Not every institution does that, but many do, especially when budgets are short. The problem is that most deterioration and damage to historic objects and art is cumulative and when that color fades, the material becomes brittle, and corrosion invades, you have already lost the fabric of the past. Much damage happens from well-meaning volunteers or staff just wanting to "fix it" when objects may be far better being left alone. So putting monitoring and maintenance off means far more money is spent to me as a contract conservator to halt damage to an already damaged artifact. Yes - keep me in business by all means. But when the objects of culture, art, and the past are eroded and gone - what is left to educate with? Opinions? Words? Digital images? The Past is not replacable - what's lost is lost.

Now on the positive side I have seen inspiring work and efforts in education and awareness of the care of collections done without great expense. A true model in my opinion is what the Alaska State Musuems have done over the years. They have been a true leader in the field of collections management and preventive conservation in using limited funding to eponentially raise standards, even in the smallest museums, in some of the most remote communities, with practical and common sense approaches and methods. We need far more of that, not less.

On Mar 20, 2013 10:07 AM, "Michael Diaz" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> I feel that the boards and administrators of many museums are forgetting what is important - collections care and preservation, and research - in an effort to get more bodies through the door.

I would disagree here. What use is it to keep the stuff in a museum in good repair if there is no educational or interpretive programming in place to give the artifacts meaning an give those bodies through the door something to do once they arrive?

From: Sarah LeCount <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2013 11:27 AM
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Contract Staff/Educators, but off on the "gripe" comment

Marc,

Thank you for bringing this out, and I agree wholeheartedly. In my career I've seen conservators and curators overworked, underpaid, and their positions left unfilled when they leave an institution. I admire what educators do (goodness knows I haven't the patience for it!) but I feel that the boards and administrators of many museums are forgetting what is important - collections care and preservation, and research - in an effort to get more bodies through the door.

Just my 2 cents . . .

Sarah

---- Marc A Williams <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Deb, and all,
>
> If all of us are allowed to gripe for a moment, I would postulate that currently the bottom of the ladder are conservators. How many small to medium institutions have staff conservators? Virtually none? How many such institutions would have anything to educate about if they did not have collections or historic buildings? Why is preservation of such historic assets near the bottom of their agendas? Everything lasts forever without planning and preservation actions? In this era of digital collections, it just might be possible to have a "museum" without a collection. But is this what most institutions want? I was trained in the 1970s as a conservator. In the nearly 40 years since then, there has been very, very little movement in museums/institutions hiring conservators on staff. ALL museum professionals are having a hard time gaining employment, partially due to too many training opportunities being offered at all the universities/colleges across the country without consideration for the number of potential jobs. However, the number of conservation training venues has remained fairly constant, excepting paper/library/archival programs, which have been a bit exuberant. But, not that many more conservators are on staff at institutions. Why? Every survey that has ever been done indicates that preservation in our institutions is severely neglected at best. And in smaller institutions, it is nearly non-existent.
>
> I suggest that every institution advocate for preservation of their collections, whether objects or architecture. And I mean REAL advocacy, not an occasional mention. With real physical objects being preserved, institutions can educate and tie their collections to their local history. Without them, can they still do this? Will a "collection" with virtual objects be the same? Advocacy for preservation generates interest and excitement and a growth of the perceived need for educators, curators, and museum administrators. And this leads to jobs and perceived worth. What is the base of the pyramid, and what is the top?
>
> Marc
>
> American Conservation Consortium, Ltd.
> 4 Rockville Road
> Broad Brook, CT 06016
> www.conservator.com
> 860-386-6058
>
> Marc A. Williams, President
> MS in Art Conservation, Winterthur Museum Program
> Former Chief Wooden Objects Conservator, Smithsonian Institution
> Fellow, American Institute for Conservation (AIC)
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>

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