To all museum colleagues -
I am currently writing my dissertation on period room displays, in fulfillment of a Master in Arts in Preventive Conservation from Northumbria University, UK. Literature on the topic tends to focus on the Curatorial and Educational importance (or drawbacks) of the period room, rather than the Conservation implications involved. My goal is to focus on the methods of preservation employed, including when and how certain measures may take place, specifically for rooms that have been removed from their original setting and installed in an American museum. In order to ensure thorough research and investigation into the methods of conservation and preventive care used in these rooms, I have developed a survey which I am circulating to American institutions (historic houses and open-air museums count as well as the traditional arts and/or decorative arts museum).
If you work in an institution with one, or multiple, rooms in your collection, your participation would be much appreciated. The survey itself should only take 15-20 minutes (though there is also an option to save and continue later), and focuses on topics as varied as lighting, textile reproduction, and visitor access.
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/PeriodRoomPreservation/
My immense thanks for your consideration.
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Brandi Pomfret
Echelon Arts Management
NY, NY and London, UK
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