Conservation treatment and advice
Programs include conservation treatments of all types of materials; such as paintings, works on paper, photographs, books, frames, textiles, other organic (leather, wood, plant fibres etc.) and inorganic (ceramics, metals, glass etc.) objects, archaeological materials and architectural projects.
Available conservation services include:
- free quoting service
- on-site visits
- condition reporting, 3D photogrammetry and RTI documentation
- sampling and scientific analysis
- insurance and quarantine reports (quarantine accredited (classes 2 to 8))
- consultation and reports for exhibition, travel, loan and purchase
Collection care and advice
The Grimwade Centre provides collection care advice and assistance on a variety of topics
- targeted preventive conservation advice
- the development of conservation strategy management plans
- conservation surveys
- condition reports for travel, loan or the purchase of artworks
- disaster planning and recovery
- integrated pest management
- purchase of archival quality storage materials
Technical analysis
The Grimwade Centre provides a scientific analysis service for analysing cultural heritage objects or works of art.
At the Grimwade Centre we have access to fundamental non-invasive examination and various advanced instrumentation techniques. The collection of data and subsequent interpretation of results (we collaborate with scientific researchers at the University of Melbourne and other nearby universities), provide information about the physical composition of an object, its nature and the extent of deterioration of the object or associated intervention materials. This information assists art historical research, cultural heritage material science research, and the selection and assessment of appropriate conservation treatment methodologies.
Conservation workshops and training programs
Some of the workshops and training programs we can deliver include:
- General preventive conservation theory and practice
- Environmental monitoring
- Storage, handling and display techniques for different materials and object types
- Condition reporting of all material types and objects
- Basic conservation techniques
- Caring for family history collections
- Archival materials - what are they, why use them, when it use them
- Conservation mounting and framing of works on paper
- Conservation framing of paintings
- Varnishing paintings - techniques for practising artists
- Construction of storage folders and boxes
- Construction of simple object supports for display
- Disaster preparedness planning
- Disaster recovery
- Dealing with mould damaged objects, including OH&S issues
