conserving material culture: engaging the public through education and outreach at the lunder...

Conserving Material Culture

Engaging the public through education and outreach at the Lunder

Conservation Center

“The Public Lives of Things”May 6, 2010

Amber Kerr-AllisonPaintings Conservator, Samuel H. Kress Fellow

Smithsonian American Art MuseumLunder Conservation Center

Photo by Julie Heath

Images taken from: http://newsdesk.si.edu

Smithsonian American Art Museum (AAM)

Lunder Conservation Center

Photo by Julie Heath

Photo by Mildred Baldwin

Educational kiosks, didactics, and public lectures

Photo by Julie Heath

Photo by Mildred Baldwin

Public tours

Photo by Julie Heath

Media wall

Public Engagement and Material

Culture Institute (PEMCI)

From Avatars to Radio Sound Bites:

Using Accessible Language and New Digital Technologies

to Inspire the Public

June 2-12, 2008

The PEMCI challenge

“ cultivate new ways of engaging public interest in conservation in

order to educate people on how they may best care for their family

heirlooms and collections, as well as contribute to the preservation needs of artworks and cultural property.”

Interacting with public tours

• Stepping out from behind the glass wall

• Using images to convey the story of the artwork

• Answering questions

Photo by Mildred Baldwin

Collaborating with educators toconnect science and art

Photso by Julie Heath

Behind-the-scenes studio and lab tours Advance chemistry research projects

Providing gallery talks on conservation treatments

Photos by Julie Heath

Communicating through new media and social networking

Servicing the public withfree monthly conservation clinics

• Consult with conservators• Examine artifacts• Provide reference materials• Advise on collection care

Photos by Julie Heath

Educating and outreach using media sources