A well looked after building and its operations
Remember that the basis for green change for a stationary cultural institution is the building – how we use energy, water and other materials in it, how our service points, such as cafés or bookshops, but also warehouses or conservation spaces, operate. In conservation workshops, it is worth ensuring that there is a fume cupboard, i.e. a special ventilation chamber that protects against harmful vapours, dust and gases, as well as fires and explosions. This ensures the safety of the people working there.
Ongoing monitoring of environmental conditions of collections
This solution may require financial investment, but it allows you to monitor changes in temperature and humidity on an ongoing basis, create reports and visualisations, send alerts, and support proactive conservation decisions.
The most basic issues include:
1. Adapt the temperature and humidity to the specificity of the collection.
2. Minimise energy-intensive systems.
3. Filter the air and monitor its quality to prevent excessive levels of pollution developing.
4. Reduce water consumption.
5. Reduce the use of disposable materials.
6. Monitor resource consumption to identify areas where institutional performance can be improved.
7. Protect the collection from dust.
More on this topic in BUILDING.
> Read about conservation experiences at The Royal Albert Memorial Museum. The text highlights the specific nature of the objects and the importance of carrying out conservation work as soon as possible, as the later the work begins, the greater the interventions required. When working with individual lenders, find out what conditions the object requires. You can also secure a ‘buffer’ space in the institution where the objects will be stored before they enter the galleries.
Cooperation between departments
Conservation departments should work closely with curators and those responsible for installing exhibitions. The condition of objects loaned for exhibition must be analysed, and sometimes loaned works are refurbished. Conservation care also involves cooperation in the selection of transport (see: TRANSPORT), packaging and courier services. In the case of external transport companies, reusable packaging may be suggested.
Raising awareness and educating
It is worth drawing on the knowledge and experience of national or international museum networks.
> The CIMAM network promotes the idea of sustainable development and calls for urgent action in response to the climate and ecological emergency. It provides its members with access to resources, tools and guides which demonstrate how to reduce their carbon footprint. You can familiarise yourself with the ‘Toolkit on Sustainability in Museum Practice,’ which was created in 2021 and addresses topics such as intervention practices, sustainability planning, carbon footprint measurement and certification, sustainability consulting, inspiring projects, platforms, resources and bibliography. It is updated on a monthly basis.
> The ICOM network (International Council of Museums) builds its concept of sustainable development around three imperatives: needs, limits and justice. Listen to the podcast ‘Museums and Chill,’ in which environmental and climate reflection is one of the most important topics. ICOM also consciously promotes the idea of climate justice – without social sensitivity and changes in this area, green change will not be possible, as you can hear in one of the podcast episodes. ICOM’s recommendations for museum collections can be found here.
> The Declaration on the Collections Preservation Environment of The Smithsonian Institution.
> The Sustainability in Conservation initiative is a community organisation bringing together people interested in introducing sustainable practices in conservation.
