Services
Though in essence an institution of higher learning, the Institute's academic and technical expertise also lends itself to a range of consultative, analytical and remedial conservation services to the heritage environment. These services are routinely retained or contracted by other academic or heritage institutions, architects, significant collections, facility managements, metropolitan councils or the State.
In-lab Consultations (ZOOM)
The Institute's senior faculty are now readily accessible to fellow-conservators, prospective students, curators, architects (and also members of the general public) via booked Zoom sessions, conducted from the Institute's laboratories.
Restoration referrals, technical support and far-ranging consultations are all readily accommodated in a friendly, helpful and practical manner, greatly aided by the video element.
Two faculty colleagues attend to each session, bringing a combined 50 years of experience to bear - whatever the topic or enquiry may be.
A remarkably efficient service at modest cost, delivered via an easily accessible platform.
Capacity Development
Many entities, whether institutional, private or corporate, lack the ability to safeguard, care or conserve the heritage objects of which they have stewardship. Even museums – vast repositories that they are – very often demonstrate an inability to undertake even basic conservation.
The Institute's Capacity Development Programme (a one- to three-year programme) specializes in patiently and systematically transferring and instilling sustainable in-house conservation capacities within the client facility and ranks.
Not only does the demonstration of such a valuable capacity add prestige to the entity and encourage staff morale, it also proves inspiring to the visiting public.
Significantly, a conservation department can also (if so mandated) become a nett contributor to the principal entity's budget through the profitable deployment of excess capacity.
Remedial Conservation
When engaging with the inherent challenges of historical sandstone structures, decorative bronzes, terrazzo, iron, timber, marble, ceramic mosaics, granite or traditional mortars, the prevailing scarcity of traditional artisan’s skills, and a wide spread lack of specialized conservation proficiency, frequently jeopardize the success, integrity and aesthetic results of such a project. The Institute, by way of its field unit, The Heritage Conservation Group, possesses the expertise and facility to act as a specialized sub contractor, undertaking technical conservation treatments countrywide.
On sandstone, conservation services can be deployed to consolidate granulating stone, to stabilize laminar exfoliation, to re-instate lost portions, to provide breathable, mineral-based weather shielding, algaecidal treatments, to remove paint layers and/or black sulfite staining, to repair rust jacking and oxide stains, and similar.
Typically, outdoor bronzes... more