Summer School: A Human and Professional Experience

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CCI Newsletter, No. 32, November 2003

Summer School: A Human and Professional Experience

by Frédérique Vincent, Conservator of Ethnographic Objects and Preventive Conservation Consultant

When ICCROM suggested that I take part in a special course ("Preventive Conservation: From Current Issues to Common Strategies") as a moderator, I did not hesitate.

CCI, a legendary institution since my university days, whose name evokes knowledge, research, innovation, the desire to share knowledge acquired through publications and conferences... and ICCROM, with whom I work regularly, and whose mission seems to be essential in the global context because it aspires, through conservation, to make cultural heritage benefit humanity. It also contributes to preserving heritage in the world today and for the future through training, information, research, cooperation and advocacy...

The alliance between these two institutions could only be exciting!

This course at CCI brought together 22 conservation professionals from 12 countries who are involved in training and have varied skills and experience, in order to offer them access to the most recent research in the field and to fully maximize the dissemination of knowledge, methodologies, and practices through a large and effective teaching team.

This challenge was successfully met. First, because the participants were united by strong motivation, the desire to improve the situation in their countries or institutions, and the desire to better inform others and share their knowledge. Second, because the entire CCI team, including administrative staff, researchers, and librarians, gave us a warm welcome and was always available to listen, help, and give as much information as possible to participants. And finally, because the entire teaching team, i.e. CCI experts and partner institutions, shared their knowledge freely and listened to requests and questions. These factors combined to create a true synergy around the theme of preventive conservation.

Over the three weeks, a broad range of themes was addressed and new subjects were explored, including decision-making techniques, risk management, and non-chemical pest control. Varied and dynamic learning techniques were used. On any given day, only one or two lectures of about one hour were given, allowing learning time not only for numerous professional discussions during group reflection exercises, site visits, and practical exercises, but also free time for individual exercises and access to the bookstore, workshops, and various professionals in order to derive the greatest benefit from this opportunity at CCI.

This course afforded all participants and stakeholders a new perspective on their work, a different vision of preventive conservation, and new approaches to teaching it. It helped create a true network of professionals, as reflected by the many e-mails exchanged between all the players. It also gave rise to international cooperation such as the metal conservation initiative between Austrian, Canadian, and Dutch participants and the mobile laboratory project for South American countries, and to new planned courses, including the national course in India in January 2004, and new programs created by the various participants.

Finally, since CCI celebrated 30 years of excellence in heritage preservation in 2002, what could have been more fitting in 2003 than training professionals from around the world?

Thanks to ICCROM and CCI for making this possible.

The 22 Summer School participants and their institutional affiliations:

• Patrick Albert
  Centre de conservation du Québec, Canada
• Denise Allard
  Centre de conservation du Québec, Canada
• Bart Ankersmit
  Netherlands Institute of Cultural Heritage, The Netherlands
• Martijn De Ruijter
  Tropenmuseum & Reinwardt Academy, The Netherlands
• Ziva Domingo
  Instituto Nacional do Patrimonio Cultural-UNESCO, Angola
• Bent Eshoj
  Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Conservation, Denmark
• Fiona Graham
  Canadian Museum of Nature, Canada
• Martina Griesser-Stermscheg,
  University of Applied Arts, Austria
• Kamal K. Jain
  National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property, India
• Rosanna Kuon
  Museo de Arte de Lima/Universidad Ricardo Palma, Peru
• Gayle McIntyre
  Sir Sandford Fleming College, Canada
• Emanuela Sara Leite Fragoso
  Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
• Catherine Mathias
  Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada
• Iona McCraith
  Archives Association of Ontario and Sir Sandford Fleming College, Canada
• Mallika Mitra
  Intach Indian Conservation Institute, India
• Alison Murray
  Art Conservation Program, Queen's University, Canada
• Katalin Orosz
  National Archives of Hungary, Hungary
• Anny Ostau de la Font Jordi
  Externado de Colombia University, Faculty of Restoration of Cultural Heritage, Colombia
• Krysia Spirodowicz
  Art Conservation Program, Queen's University, Canada
• Susanne Sutherland
  Parks Canada, Canada
• Douwtje Van Der Meulen
  Department of Conservation, University of Oslo, Norway
• Vesna Zivkovic
  DIANA Centre for Conservation, Serbia and Montenegro