A do-it-yourself method will be developed by which means registrars and conservators are able to identify a large part of their plastic collections themselves, enabling them to take appropriate preventive conservation measures and better monitoring. In addition, the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE) will train two junior professionals who will become specialists in this field. The project runs from April 2017 until April 2019. It has kindly been supported by financial contributions from the Gieskes-Strijbis Fonds and Mondriaanfonds.

Objectives

The objective of the project is to improve the sustainability, visibility and accessibility of objects made of plastic. A representative part of the plastics in collections will be identified and registered in the museum information systems. Participants learn to identify plastics ‘on the job’ and when needed additional research will be carried out. By developing preventive measures in cross-disciplinary collaboration, plastic collections will be maintained in a proper way and knowledge will be secured within the organizations.

Research and practice

During the first phase of the project (April 2017 - April 2018) a decision tree will be developed on the basis of which a survey can be performed. A do-it-yourself kit for identification provides a basic means for identification and a digital platform helps collection managers by distributing information on the most common and / or problematic types of plastics. Those examples are illustrated by iconic works to which the plastics have been applied.

During the second phase (April 2018-April 2019) ten surveys will be carried out during on the job workshops, in which collection keepers of participating institutions work closely with the senior and junior scientists from RCE. This is also a test for the do-it-yourself kit and information platform. The results will be discussed with a wider audience during a seminar planned at the end of the project. 

Partners

Project coordinators:

• Foundation for Conservation of Contemporary Art (SBMK) 
• Netherlands Institute for Conservation, Art and Science (NICAS), a collaboration between:
• Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands
• Rijksmuseum
• University of Amsterdam

Project partners:

• Bonnefantenmuseum
• Centraal Museum Utrecht
• Gemeentemuseum The Hague
• Kröller-Müller Museum
• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen
• Schunck*
• Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
• Van Abbemuseum
• Rabo Art Collection
• RCE Collection

More information: