Preservation Services for collections of all sizes

I am passionate about working with regional and remote communities to help preserve their collections through various programs and services. I am currently working as a Museums Advisor for three regional Councils across NSW.

The community museum sector holds Australia’s unqiue and significant collections These collections are cared for by volunteers and museums with small or non existent budgets. I provide invaluable advisory services to aid in the preservation of these collections, including:

• Assistance with grant applications

• Identifying funding opportunities
  

• Engaging with the community through exhibitions and events

• Educational programs and public talks

• Promotion of cultural heritage and collection value

• Cataloging support and standards compliance

• Database management

• Collection documentation and records management

And of course all of the services listed on this page.

We are living through unprecedented times. Natural disasters are occurring more frequently and more severely. Floods, fires, storms, leaking buildings, mould and dust storms are just some of the disasters that can cause damage to your collection.

Are you PREPARED?

I can help you edit, re-write or guide you through the disaster plan process. A disaster plan can help focus resources, allocate budgets and bring a team together. The plan might seem like a big job, however I can help make it simple, straight forward and achievable.

Have you been impacted by a DISASTER?

I can help you respond following a disaster. How you respond when a disaster occurs can determine what is saved, what is the level of damage and best options for recovery.

I can help you and your organisation with a range of disaster services including:

• Building in-house knowledge in collection based risk assessment

• Development of distinct roles within the response plan

• Development of clear response guidelines to ensure effective response

• Development of relevant “ how to” salvage guidelines

Let’s protect your collection from disasters.

A preservation plan or needs assessment is a process highlighting both the broad and specific needs for the care of the collection and ultimately defines the priorities and resources for implementation.

I have conducted numerous Preservation Needs Assessment reports for small to large collecting institutions within NSW and around Australia.

Key elements of PNA include:

• Collection condition assessment

• Building assessment

• Documentation of environmental elements

• Monitoring of environmental conditions

• Risk assessment

• Collection management documentation

• A priority preservation plan

Digitisation of your collection is a preservation tool. Capturing your objects digitally and sharing them via your online catalogue or website creates a long lasting record of your collection. I can assist with object selection for your online presence, preparing the object for digistation, museum standards for archiving the digital files as well as understanding and navigating copyright and Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property.

Learn more about my digitalisation projects with two distinct regional communities to provide:

• Support to museum volunteers and staff in development of content

• Upskilling museum volunteers in research and development of collection histories

• Upskilling museums volunteers in preparing objects for photography

• Assisting in writing engaging and meaningful stories to connect audiences with museum collections on the digital platforms

• Development of workflows including cataloguing, copyright and Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property, object preparation and photography.

Whether you are planning a temporary loan or a long-term exhibition, showcasing your collections is an essential part of sharing them with the public and preserving their cultural significance.

With expertise in ensuring that your collections are handled with the utmost care and attention to detail, I understand the importance of object preparation, installation, and risk assessment when it comes to exhibitions and loans.

From meticulously cleaning and preparing each object to expertly installing them in a visually appealing and engaging manner, I make sure that your exhibition tells a captivating story to visitors. Moreover, a comprehensive risk assessment process identifies potential hazards and vulnerabilities, allowing us to implement effective measures to protect your valuable artifacts throughout the exhibition period.

Services include:

• Object preparation

• Installation

• Risk assessment

• Plus condition reporting

Understanding the condition of your collection is critical to allocate resources and prevent deterioration. I can collaborate with you and your team to establish condition baselines and provide priorities for treatment, stabilisation or preventive conservation.

Condition reporting is essential prior to exhibitions, loans, acquisitions or transportation. I work with registrars, collection managers, archivists, art handlers and other collection professionals to ensure that the condition report meets best practice standards.

I have previously been the lead conservator at Biennale of Sydney, both NIRIN and RIVUS where condition assessment is crucial to the role.

Services include:

• Development of condition report templates

• Integrated use of existing templates and software

• Light and UV assessments and guidelines

• Pre-installation and post de-installation checks

• Environmental monitoring

The environment that your collection is stored and displayed has a direct influence on the rate of deterioration. The light, temperature, and relative humidity that your collection is exposed to can accelerate the deterioration of your objects.

I can provide an environmental assessment to determine how to prevent these influencing agents from interacting with your collection.

Services include:

• Data logger installation

• Environmental monitoring

• Climate control recommendations

• Building assessments

• Storage assessments

Check out a workshop I developed for mould in museums.

Collection storage is fundamental to the preservation of your collection. Storage is always at a premium and enclosures are expensive. I can assist with determining priorities and highlighting risks and provide recommendations to reduce costs through assessments, onsite analysis and cost effective strategies. Let me provide some ideas that are affordable and achievable within your team and resources.

Services include

• Site assessments

• Building assessments

• Storage furniture recommendations

• Storage enclosures

• Storage reorganisation projects

• Environmental control guidelines