West Dean College of Arts and Conservation in West Sussex has launched a new series of Professional Development courses devoted to Object and Materials Conservation (OMC courses). The first course, Housekeeping and Dust with Helen Lloyd on Tuesday, June 8, 2021 between 9am – 3.15pm, offers participants the chance to learn about the properties of dust and its impact on historic collections. Students will explore how rates of dust deposition inform housekeeping routines and learn practical methods for management of dust for preventive conservation and public benefit. The cost of the course is £157.

Helen Lloyd is both Consultancy Manager for National Specialists in Collections and Interpretation at the National Trust for England, Wales and Northern Ireland and, as one of those specialists, the Preventive Conservation Adviser - Housekeeping.

The yearly programme of OMC courses offers those working in museums, galleries and collections professional development opportunities to refresh skills and knowledge of materials and collection care techniques. Collaboration with relevant organisations and specialists has resulted in an outstanding range of expertise on each course. Some courses are practical and workshop-based while others are conference-style events.

Feedback from previous OMC courses shows that 100% of participants are likely to recommend the College (based on 2019 and 2020 student survey).

Other OMC courses to be held at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation in 2021 include:

June 28 – July 1: Managing Environmental Monitoring with Phil Parkes (£510)
An in-depth look at strategies to understand and modify conditions to deliver optimum collections care. How to develop a collection management plan with targets for light, temperature and humidity, as well as monitoring of pests and pollution.

June 28- July 2: Conservation of Transport and Industrial Collections with Chris Knapp (£668)
The fundamental information needed for conservators involved with transport and industrial collections, including material conservation, preventive conservation, handling, storage and display and environmental monitoring and control.

To find out more, please see www.westdean.ac.uk.

West Dean College of Arts and Conservation can be found on Social Media: https://twitter.com/westdeancollege
https://www.facebook.com/westdeancollege
https://www.instagram.com/westdeancollege/
https://www.linkedin.com/school/westdeancollege