Open Forum

The energy used to heat, cool, de/humidify, and light buildings is one of the biggest environmental impacts of the cultural heritage sector.  After decades of regarding one-size-fits-all, non-fluctuating indoor environmental parameters as the gold standard, the field is now questioning the value of this approach, as this recent article in the New York Times attests ("As Energy Costs Bite, Museums Rethink a Conservation Credo" by Alex Marshall, published February 1, 2023). 

The AIC Sustainability Committee, in collaboration with the ICON Sustainability Network, is excited to announce the next in a series of webinars during which we chat with conservators and allied professionals who are implementing changes to reduce the energy consumption of their buildings. 

On Tuesday March 28 11 - 11:45 est, we will talk with Robert Pearce, Principal Preventive Conservator at Amgueddfa Cymru (Museum Wales) about the energy-savings strategies implemented at his institutions. Amgueddfa Cymru includes seven major museums and one collection center in Wales with collections encompassing art, archaeology, social history, botany and zoology, industry, and library and archives.  Amgueddfa Cymru uses multiple energy saving strategies to address the needs of its myriad collections and sites. The conversation will end with an audience Q&A.