Introduction to furniture collections
Event information
Date: 18 June , 2024
Time: 10:00 – 16:00
Organiser: National Museums Scotland
Venue: National Museums Scotland Collection Centre, 242 West Granton Road, Granton Edinburgh EH5 1JA
In this training, curatorial and conservation staff from National Museums Scotland will introduce you to best practice methods for how to identify, handle, store and care for furniture collections.
The training will involve presentations, discussions, practical demonstrations and exercises, and will provide information on other useful resources and networks. You will go behind the scenes at the National Museums Collection Centre to see furniture stores and conservation labs. The day is also an opportunity to meet peers from other museums and share learning.
The training will enable you to:
- Gain basic knowledge of British furniture history and how to identify and catalogue furniture collections
- Understand how to handle and move furniture collections safely
- Learn basic cleaning methods for furniture collections
- Gain awareness of suitable storage and display conditions for furniture collections
- Gain awareness of preventative conservation methods, how to identify damage and pest issues, and how to deal with common problems
- Understand when you need a furniture conservator and know where to go for further information and advice.
This training is for people who:
- Work or volunteer for an organisation that holds a furniture collection in Scotland, such as a museum or historic house; and
- Have responsibilities for helping to care for their organisation’s furniture collections; and
- Have no or limited experience or knowledge working with furniture collections.
Due to space and resource NMS have limited places. Please note that:
- Registering for a spot lets us know that you would like to attend; it does not automatically guarantee you a place.
- If we’re oversubscribed, we’ll use the information provided in the order forms to prioritise people who can immediately apply the training to benefit their organisation’s collection.
- NMS will contact you at least four weeks before the training to let you know if your place is confirmed.
- NMS usually ask that only one person from your organisation attend.
The training is free and lunch and refreshments will be provided.