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
