The C Word: Recent Episodes
Conservators Podcast
The Conservators' Podcast
We talk about all sorts of things from the perspective of conservation professionals, from museum trends and new technology to the big issues like pay and staying safe at work. In some museums conservation can be a bit of a naughty word but we think it ought to be celebrated!
We kick off season ten with a Zoom get-together! Jenny and Kloe bring some drinks and invite people along to think about how the last 12-18 months have been. We talk about what we’ve been up to, how our workplaces have changed, the absolute state of the job market, supply issues, the ‘planning ballet,’ and what we’re proud of. Many thanks to Mandy Garratt, Kendall Gay, Kaitlin Wieseman, Ellie Sweetnam, Caitlin Jenkins, Martha Jones, Raene Poisson, Odelia Cheung, Atticus Berry, Gwen Thomas, Jane Henderson, and Angélica Isa for joining the conversation!
00:01:01 Who are all these lovely people?
00:07:48 What have Kloe and Jenny been up to?
00:10:21 How has work changed?
00:25:16 Job market and cuts
00:35:48 Sourcing PPE and materials
00:39:27 Planning in uncertain times
00:48:44 What are we proud of?
01:00:17 Patreon shout out
Show Notes:
- Mandy’s art: https://mandygarratt.wixsite.com/arty
- Texas Forestry Museum: https://www.treetexas.com/
- Ellie’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/EllieSweetnam
- Raene’s webpage: https://www.raenepoisson.com/
- Angélica’s blog: https://angelicaisa.com/
- Conserv-a-Llama: https://twitter.com/ConservaLlama
- Odelia’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avec_mesyeux/
- Atticus’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atticusjayphotography/
- Caitlin’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/caitlin_r_j
- Martha’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/marthaejones2
- Museums & Galleries Edinburgh: https://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/
- Museums Association Redundancy Hub: https://www.museumsassociation.org/careers/redundancy-hub/
- Icon’s Conservation and Coronavirus reports: https://www.icon.org.uk/campaigns/current-campaigns/workforce-research.html
- Go follow Tamsin Russell on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TamsinRussell
- Museums Association Well-Being Hub: https://www.museumsassociation.org/careers/wellbeing-hub/
- S05E05 Portfolio Extravaganza (for Tamsin’s pep talk): https://thecword.show/2019/05/15/s05e05-portfolio-extravaganza/
- Remember when we all gave away our nitrile? https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/more-than-40-british-museums-and-conservators-donate-personal-protective-equipment-to-help-the-nhs-fight-the-covid-19-crisis
- Go get your gloves at the chemist: https://twitter.com/conserve_lfcp/status/1435208967664381955
- S08E07 Learning and Teaching Remotely Part 2: https://thecword.show/2020/12/09/s08e07-learning-and-teaching-remotely-part-2/
- #FMJSummit panel with Raene, Gwen and Jenny: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgqBo9pyakU
- Labelling Lightning Round: https://www.connectingtocollections.org/labeling-lightning-round/
- A project I’m proud of (humidity card talk): https://www.icon.org.uk/events/archaeology-group-a-project-i-am-proud-of.html
- S07E05 Mind the Gap (for Ellie’s interview): https://thecword.show/2020/06/10/s07e05-mind-the-gap/
- Couch to 5K challenge: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/couch-to-5k-week-by-week/
- Ellie and Jane’s paper on disruptive conservation: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00393630.2021.1947073
Support us on Patreon! http://www.patreon.com/thecword
Hosted by Jenny Mathiasson and Kloe Rumsey.
Intro and outro music by DDmyzik, used under a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International license.
A Wooden Dice production, 2021.
Together with special guest host Alison Lister we explore the process of dyeing fabrics for textile conservation: from why we do it to the secret of a good colour match. Also tune in for an interview with Laura Peters about her dye research, and a review of ’The Diversity of Dyes in History and Archaeology’ from Kloe.
00:39 Our experiences with dyes
09:49 Artistry vs repeatability in colour matching
12:08 Barriers to novice dyers and Jenny’s conundrum
14:03 When not to dye and what to do instead
15:55 The process of dyeing
21:37 Interview with Laura Peters
31:47 Conservators are creatures of habit
34:07 The kit you need
35:15 Natural vs synthetic dyes
38:33 Research questions for students
41:08 Alison shares some dye hacks
47:29 Review: The Diversity of Dyes in History and Archaeology
52:10 Patreon shout out
Show Notes:
- Alison’s company: https://textileconservationlimited.co.uk/
- Information on LANASET dyes: https://www.textile-dyes.co.uk/lanaset.pdf
- A little bit about the Textile Conservation Centre (now Centre for Textile Conservation): https://www.tccfoundation.org.uk/centre-for-textile-conservation
- Get in touch with Laura: https://www.th-koeln.de/personen/laura.peters/
- Conservation in Colour symposium postprints: https://www.icon.org.uk/asset/4C8851C0-0209-4C1C-907647C9FC0E408E/
- ’Evaluation of the dyes used in conservation and restoration of archaeological textiles’ article: https://www.academia.edu/19973882/Evaluation_of_the_dyes_used_in_conservation_and_restoration_of_Archaeological_textiles
- The Diversity of Dyes in History and Archaeology: https://archetype.co.uk/our-titles/the-diversity-of-dyes/?id=255
Support us on Patreon! http://www.patreon.com/thecword
Hosted by Jenny Mathiasson, Kloe Rumsey, and Alison Lister.
Intro and outro music by DDmyzik used under a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International license.
A Wooden Dice production, 2021.
We’re joined by Front of House champions Will Tregaskes and Abi Godfrey as we talk about how conservators and visitor services can join forces, smash silos, and all enjoy our jobs more. What’s it like being the face of the museum? What does good teamwork look like? And what’s the best bit about working as FoH?
03:24 What do we mean by Front of House?
07:03 Volunteering vs paid work
12:18 The journey into FoH
18:37 A seat at the table
21:41 FoH as conservators’ BFFs
34:01 Siloing is toxic
39:11 Impact of the pandemic
43:50 Looking ahead
48:09 Questions, comments, corrections
48:036 Patreon shout out
Show Notes:
- Front of House in Museums: https://fohmuseums.wordpress.com/
- The FoH 2019 survey: https://fohmuseums.wordpress.com/category/fohmuseums-research/
- A Front-of-House Charter for Change: https://www.museumsassociation.org/campaigns/workforce/a-front-of-house-charter-for-change/
- Tate redundancies in 2020: https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/tate-job-redundancies-coronavirus-union-strikes-1202696706/
- Follow #FoHmuseums on Twitter: https://twitter.com/fohmuseums
Support us on Patreon! http://www.patreon.com/thecword
Hosted by Jenny Mathiasson, Kloe Rumsey, William Tregaskes, and Abigail Godfrey.
Intro and outro music by DDmyzik used under a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International license.
A Wooden Dice production, 2021.
We get a little extra jolly with our festive co-host Emily O'Reilly as we open Christmas crackers with terrible jokes and rustly hats, attempt some predictions for the year ahead, do a conservation quiz, and play a game of deception. Tune in for a seasonal Dear Jane, a holiday tipple at the Benchwork Bar, and of course: a new conservation Christmas song!
04:02 The smouldering ruins of our 2020 predictions
08:28 Attempted predictions for 2021
11:28 Cracker time!
14:56 The Big Fat Conservation Quiz
27:50 Would I lie to you?
34:41 What’s in your tree?
43:32 What are we grateful for?
46:02 A Conservator’s White Christmas
49:54 Benchwork Bar: Scrapbook
52:48 Dear Jane
Show Notes:
- Books found in Romanian (not German) basement: https://www.euronews.com/2020/09/18/stolen-books-worth-2-7m-found-in-romanian-basement-during-police-raid
- Darwin’s missing notebooks: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/nov/24/charles-darwins-notebooks-reported-stolen-from-cambridge-university
- Bubble lights video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5un4DdKQZvs
- CSP Music: https://www.instagram.com/csp_music/
- Go follow Amanda Richards for more conservation cocktails: https://twitter.com/ConserveItAll
A Conservator's White Christmas (lyrics by Jenny Mathiasson and Kloe Rumsey; vocals by Chris from CSP Music)
I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
All archival and acid free
With safe exhibits within RH limits
To smiles in the gallery
I’m dreaming of a dry Christmas
The ones where ceilings never leak
May your stores be stable all week
May you find the blunder traps you seek
I’m dreaming of a safe Christmas
Just like the ones I’m hoping for
No objects missing and curators listen
Binning the last cotton glove
I’m dreaming of a clean Christmas
Without a health and safety fright
May your labs be cozy and bright
And may all your Christmases be right
Support us on Patreon! http://www.patreon.com/thecword
Hosted by Jenny Mathiasson, Kloe Rumsey, and Emily O’Reilly.
Intro and outro music by DDmyzik used under a Creative Commons Attribution license. Additional music and sound effects by Audio Jungle, CSP Music, and Calum Robertson.
Made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International license.
A Wooden Dice production, 2020.
Together with guest host Jane Henderson we explore how university teaching has changed this year and what conservation training looks like in a pandemic. Kloe and Jenny take turns to talk to people from different teaching institutions about this year’s challenges and victories. Also tune in for a Dear Jane about what makes a good dissertation!
00:02:05 Remember the time of supreme over-coping?
00:08:54 How has teaching changed?
00:16:14 Finding a new way
00:22:13 Kits galore!
00:24:47 Time and distance are kings
00:26:40 Student responses
00:31:57 Upskilling but also setting limits
00:34:37 What would we like to keep once this is over?
00:37:37 Interview with Karen Thompson from University of Glasgow
00:47:00 Interview with Eric Nordgren from West Dean College
00:58:57 Interview with Emily Williams from Durham University
01:09:38 Interview with Lynda Skipper from University of Lincoln
01:21:16 Interview with Renata Peters and Carmen Vida from UCL
01:34:00 Dear Jane
01:40:44 Patreon shoutout
Show Notes:
- Icon Conservation Higher Education Institutions Network (CHEIN): https://icon.org.uk/groups/higher-education-network
- Student resilience event: https://icon.org.uk/events/students-and-graduates-resilience-in-the-current-climate
- Heritage Conservation Learning in the COVID World - Challenges and Opportunities: https://www.iccrom.org/video/heritage-conservation-learning-covid-world-challenges-and-opportunities
- Jane’s article on managing uncertainty in collections care: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00393630.2018.1479936
- UoG Textile Conservation blog: http://textileconservation.academicblogs.co.uk/
Support us on Patreon! http://www.patreon.com/thecword
Hosted by Jenny Mathiasson, Kloe Rumsey, and Jane Henderson.
Intro and outro music by DDmyzik used under a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International license.
A Wooden Dice production, 2020.
Together with special guest host Libby Finney we chat about professional development and training in the time of Covid-19: what counts as CPD, how do we access training opportunities, and what is it like delivering training remotely? Also tune in for an interview with Abigail Bainbridge, chair of Icon Book & Paper Group, about the webinar series ’Conservation: Together at Home’ from earlier this year.
01:27 What remote CPD have we been doing?
08:42 Switching from traditional training to online only
12:47 What do we miss about in-person CPD?
22:02 What works for delivering training?
37:35 Interaction online
42:10 Opinions from listeners and followers
46:17 Live, recorded, both!
49:09 Advice for lockdown learners
52:06 Interview with Abigail Bainbridge
Show Notes:
- Regional collections care training via Museum of London: https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/supporting-london-museums/training-and-skills/collection-care-training
- Future Learn courses: https://www.futurelearn.com/
- Creating engaging videos on a budget: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBDXRF6LgU8
- Link to our poll on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecwordpodcast/status/1325089036080394240
- Mental health and Zoom meetings: https://peoplemanagingpeople.com/general/facts-remote-work-mental-health/
- Icon Book & Paper Group conference next year: https://icon.org.uk/groups/book-paper/bpg21-conference-mod-cons
- Conservation Together at Home webinar series: https://icon.org.uk/groups/book-paper/conservation-together-at-home-webinar-series
Support us on Patreon! http://www.patreon.com/thecword
Hosted by Jenny Mathiasson, Kloe Rumsey, and Libby Finney.
Intro and outro music by DDmyzik used under a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International license.
A Wooden Dice production, 2020.