New Course in 2007
Postgraduate Certificate in Photographic Conservation
Course code: 377PC
Almost everyone in the western world has photographs that they treasure - so much so that it has been said that there are more photographs in the world than bricks!
Every State and National library, archive, museum and gallery in Australia collects photographs - these collectively number in the tens of millions and cover the full 150 years of the history of photography. They vary greatly in their condition and preservation needs - due to the varying types of photographic processes and materials that have been used - and yet there are only a small number of specialist conservators in Australia and world wide who are skilled in this area of conservation. In fact, there are currently only two conservators in Australia specifically employed to work with photographic collections.
The deterioration and preservation processes for photographic material are highly complex and require knowledge of a range of material types such as glass, metal, plastic, paper, and even leather and textile. The world wide professional practice of photographic conservation is still quite under-developed, and there is an identified demand for more research and training in this field.
The CCMC Postgraduate Certificate in Photographic Conservation seeks to address this situation. It will be the only course of its kind in Australia and our broader geographic region. This course has been designed on a proven model, which was tested by the Australian Institution for the Conservation of Cultural Materials with funding through the Getty Conservation Institute, between 2002 and 2004, and follows a similar course funded by the Mellon Foundation in the United States.
The course will bring leading international experts to Melbourne to teach four week-long intensive subjects that cover the theory and practice of photographic conservation. The subjects may be taken as stand-alone workshops; or together to lead to the formal qualification.
The first subject, 'Preventive Care of Photographs and Film', is scheduled for July 2007, and is expected to attract a wide audience consisting of conservators, photographers, archivists, librarians, registrars, and curators.
The three subsequent subjects will be targeted at mid-career conservation professionals and will be technically based.
For further details, refer to course information on the CCMC website www.culturalconservation.unimelb.edu.au/courses/photon.html