Work-from-home workshops

WUDPAC alumni helped host virtual Modular Cleaning Program (MCP) workshops for colleagues around the world who are staying at home during the Covid-19 pandemic. Conservators in private practice Chris Stavroudis (WUDPAC, ‘83) and Nina Roth-Wells (Queens University, ‘94) hosted the free workshops in May 2020, after announcing the workshop through the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC)’s Global Conservation Forum (previously known as the ConsDist List) and AIC’s Member Communities. Over 1100 conservators signed up for the course. Since their Zoom meetings were limited to 500 individuals Chris and Nina agreed to repeat the 4-day course. The online MCP course included PowerPoint lectures on the theory behind aqueous cleaning systems in the MCP database. The practical mixing and testing of cleaning solutions, along with navigating the database, were demonstrated live and through short videos. 

​The Zoom platform allowed for discussion which was moderated by Nina through the Zoom Chat function. Nina also hosted afternoon "Office Hours" to allow for further live discussion with smaller groups. In the second run of the workshop Nina was joined by Tiarna Doherty (WUDPAC '00). Tiarna had worked with Chris over 15 years ago to design the first MCP workshops, which continue to be offered internationally by Chris to conservators in all disciplines. Chris and Nina did an exceptional job in adapting the MCP workshop to an online platform, which accommodated a professional development opportunity for 1000 people. Participants from five continents expressed their enthusiasm for the workshop content and appreciation for the opportunity to come together as a professional community.

The Modular Cleaning Program (MCP) is both a database system and an approach for the cleaning of artworks. This system has been developed to assist conservators in their approach to cleaning with solvents, solvent gels or water-borne systems. While developed from the perspective of paintings conservation, the methodology is universal and applicable to any cleaning environment. MCP was developed by Chris Stavroudis, Paintings Conservator in Private Practice in Los Angeles with the cooperation and support of the Winterthur-University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation. Archived information about MCP is available here. Access to the MCP files is available here.