In this takeover special the conservators at the National Trust take us behind the scenes: telling us their stories, sharing their hopes for the future, and smashing myths about NT properties!
00:00:12 Have you heard of BevArt?
00:02:12 Sarah and Siobhan introduce the National Trust
00:08:18 Urban gems
00:10:14 Managing collections in houses
00:17:04 Changing approaches to preservation
00:22:30 Anita and Rebecca go for a walk
00:27:34 Saying hello to Sarah and the book conservation volunteers
00:32:41 Clare and Claire in the textile studio
00:39:01 Internships and learning
00:43:54 Looking to the future of the studio
00:45:55 Sarah visits Emma at the Knole studio
00:52:37 Sharing the space
01:00:45 Sharing the knowledge
01:04:40 Routes into the profession
01:07:54 Going into the Royal Oak studio
01:11:15 Saying hi to Anna and the artworks
01:19:04 Bonus content: stags at sunset!
Kloe and Solange give an update on their respective journeys while Liz and Phaedra talk to Bethany Jo Mikelait and Mariana Onofri about how the profession (and accreditation) works in Canada and Brazil. Also tune in for a Dear Jane about gently refusing to work on an object.
00:00:23 Solange and Kloe’s updates
00:15:29 Who are our co-hosts?
00:16:32 How it works in Canada
00:31:28 How it works in Brazil
00:45:48 How can we be regulated BUT also inclusive?
01:01:51 Dear Jane
Echoes of the past, dead objects, and creepy stores – Solange, Kloe and Jenny have a lot on their minds in this year’s spooky special! Jenny also visits a newly opened paranormal museum, Liz reviews an enchanting chapter from a sumptuous tome, and Jenny reads a book of ghost stories set in heritage locations.
00:34 Have you heard of BevArt?
04:59 What are ‘ghost signs’ exactly?
16:17 Solange’s haunted attic dwelling
21:19 We get philosophical about the lives of objects
27:52 Spooky stores
33:01 Jenny visits Rowtons’ Museum of the Paranormal and Spirituality
39:59 Jenny reviews ‘Eight Ghosts’
43:00 Liz reviews ‘Art as a Spell’
47:01 Patreon teaser – Phedra’s mystery
What’s it like to work on glass? Jenny and Phedra are joined by emerging conservator Terri Costello as they explore this fragile but ancient material. Also tune in for Solange’s interview with artist Freya Laughton about preserving memories in glass.
01:40 Phedra’s adventures with Roman glass
04:30 All the exciting places we find it in collections
11:36 Trying out glassblowing and involving expert makers
19:03 Chemistry, imperfections and tools
34:00 Colourful chemistry and stresses in glass
41:56 Getting started in glass
43:31 Interview with Freya Laughton
54:44 Patreon shout-out
Fess up: when did you last lose something? Liz, Phedra, Kloe and Jenny explore what ‘loss’ can mean in collections, in heritage generally, and in conservation.
00:01:10 What do we mean by lost?
00:02:13 Misplaced, disassociated, data loss
00:05:59 Kloe is a fan of the hard copy
00:11:53 Theft in museums
00:15:37 Does loss enhance the value of art?
00:17:56 The motivation behind a theft matters
00:21:30 Freeports and their implications
00:29:09 ‘Redistributed’ or looted heritage
00:34:09 Climate change brings loss
00:36:44 Custodial neglect in our personal lives
00:50:14 Have you lost something during treatment?
01:04:07 Support us on Patreon
We recap our experiences at Icon24: Conservation for Change as we reflect on the conference and our first nearly-full-team meet-up! Phedra also interviews Patrick Whife from Icon about organising the event. Finally we all share our various summer adventures and plans for the autumn!
00:02:07 We went to a conference (you might’ve guessed)
00:08:11 Audio adventures from Icon24
00:42:41 Phedra has a great idea (please steal it)
00:44:13 Creating a better experience online
00:50:32 We’d have Icon Loughborough or Icon Doncaster
00:53:06 Interview with Patrick Whife
01:13:16 What have Jenny, Phedra and Kloe been doing this summer?
01:19:22 Solange’s summer update
01:21:45 And a summer update from Liz
01:23:55 Support us on Patreon
In this year’s travel special we go on FOUR individual journeys: a sort of deconstructed road trip. Kloe goes to sunny Spain, Liz takes her bike to the Rijks Museum, Jenny darts between museums in Sweden, and finally Phedra goes on a watery adventure in Cyprus. Don’t miss the return of Cass Fino-Radin at the end of the episode, when they interview emerging conservation professionals at the recent AIC conference in Salt Lake City. Sit back and enjoy the journey!
00:00:36 What’s a deconstructed road trip exactly?
00:04:06 Kloe excitedly explores Spain
00:21:44 Liz visits the Rijks Museum
00:34:40 Jenny wanders around Sweden
00:53:01 Phedra goes underwater in Cyprus
01:10:45 Cass interviews ECPs at AIC
Kloe and Phedra are joined by Jill Carruthers in an episode all about newer, fresh-faced museums. What’s it like opening a brand NEW museum? Phedra talks to Matt Turtle from the Museum of Homelessness AND Eleni Loizides from the Cyprus Archaeological Museum, while Solange sits down to chat with James Hogg from the Yorkshire Natural History Museum. Also tune in for a review of ‘Conservation Skills for the 21st Century’ from Jenny!
00:01:20 What’s a new museum?
00:12:34 How Showtown came to be
00:31:56 Making a museum yours
00:37:24 Redefining museums
00:42:05 Is less more?
00:49:54 Reminder!
00:51:19 Interview with Matt Turtle
01:04:09 Interview with James Hogg
01:17:10 Interview with Eleni Loizides
01:26:11 Review of ‘Conservation Skills for the 21st Century’
Liz and Phedra are joined by Jonathan Santa Maria Bouquet as they talk about the conservation of musical instruments: from tuning and treatment considerations to ethics and philosophy. Also tune in (pun somewhat intended) for an interview from Solange with Emma Hardy, violin maker and repairer. There’s even some lovely music at the end!
00:22 More announcements!
02:26 Origin story
07:01 The perils and pleasures of working in a fishbowl
09:38 Tuning and a crash course in ‘temperament’
17:10 Working with musicians
19:29 To play or not to play?
23:04 Seeing the history of an instrument
27:55 Treatment considerations and the need for balance
31:07 A place for copies and reconstructions
37:17 Patreon appeal
37:42 Interview with Emma Hardy and music from Rosie Butler Hall
Jenny, Solange and Phedra are joined by Luisa Casella as we talk about AI: how can conservators use these tools and what are their pros and cons? Luisa tells us about CRAIG, a large language model for conservators, while Jenny frets about the climate impact. Also tune in for a review of a recent lecture on AI usage from Solange and Phedra!
01:35 What do we mean by AI?
04:11 Building a LLM for conservators
13:33 Climate impact and ethical concerns
20:28 Sophisticated users needed
24:13 Future impact on conservation
35:25 Best AI uses we’ve seen
37:46 How is CRAIG different from ChatGPT?
39:42 Teaser: Interview with Robert Erdmann
40:18 Review of Dr Nicholas Eastaugh’s recent AI lecture
47:34 Patreon appeal