ARTC photo conservation workshop in the UK

​ARTC Chair Debra Hess Norris traveled to London and in collaboration with the Institute for Conservation, taught a photo conservation workshop for professionals from across Europe. From the Institute for Conservation (ICON) website:

"Debra Hess Norris, Professor of photograph conservation at the University of Delaware, visited London last week to teach a three-day workshop and give an evening lecture. Debra has taught and practised photograph conservation all over the world and is a renowned author in her field, and the opportunity to study with her proved very popular. . . . The workshop brought together 26 conservation and cultural heritage professionals from across Europe for seminars and practical exercises. There are no further education courses in photograph conservation in the UK, and opportunities to gain and share knowledge of these materials are rare.

​Identifying different historical photographs is often very challenging. The students were tested on their ability to do so, and on the implications for conservation treatment and disaster planning. Different techniques for examination, cleaning and repair were practiced with test samples. Various brushes, erasers,  liquids and gels were trialled. Debra was constantly on hand to provide guidance and encouragement, encouraging her students to experiment with new approaches and to share their findings. [In an evening lecture after the workshop, Debra] spoke about the significance of photographs to people around the world and the benefits that their preservation can bring, particularly at times of hardship and trauma."

To read more about the workshop, visit ICON's Photographic Materials Group (PhMG) blog page here. The website also includes a pre-workshop interview with Norris, where she talks about breaking into the profession, the challenges the field faces, and the importance of making global connections in conservation.