Towards a European strategy on conservation Adopted at the meeting of 21 to 22 September 2000
Vantaa
Part 1: Reason
Apart from the rich tradition of each country, Europeans share a common identity. The fundamental values \u200b\u200band culture of their people are the same for everyone and many points to unify heritage in Europe. Today more than ever there are moves towards greater European unity. Long national governments have similar structures and policies on cultural heritage. Sheltered from the same social and intellectual development of Europe, the museums also share a common philosophy and practice. Public museums emerged in Europe in the nineteenth century and since then the national collections have been formed for the purpose of providing a source of education and enrichment for the citizens. Over the years, museums all over Europe have evolved, though loyal to the idea of \u200b\u200bproviding pleasure, creativity and progress. Their collections are a tool and a source of knowledge.
Today museums are one of the main drivers of cultural policy in Europe. These are institutions that influence and enhance social traditions, culture and science of all nations. collections found in museums not only reinforce the individual identity of each country, but also the identity of Europe in general. Often, libraries help people rediscover, migration, history and ideas that have created and shaped Europe and the world. Are memory and custody of their aesthetic and scientific creations and provide the basis for future progress. Help create a sense of belonging and understanding, with a view stretching from the distant past to the latest developments of society. The challenge is to preserve this cultural heritage in order to transmit to future generations and enrich the future.
European museums have been leaders in developing the theory and practice of preventive conservation: multidisciplinary management to reduce the loss of cultural heritage for the benefit of society. Preventive conservation is essential element of any European policy on cultural heritage conservation.
cultural heritage very fragile. Physical and tangible components of this heritage is threatened by the devastating ravages of war and natural disasters or the effects, quieter, pollution, insects, weather conditions or isolated acts of vandalism. Preventive conservation reduces these risks and lessen the rate of deterioration of entire collections and, therefore, is a cornerstone of any strategy of conservation and a cost-effective way of preserving the integrity of cultural heritage, reducing the need for additional intervention separate objects.
This document is based on innovations made by each country the sum of individual experiences across Europe and the identification of common problems. Content directed primarily on preventive conservation for museums, but also applies in many respects to archives, libraries and other institutions working collections and collecting funds. Preventive conservation is an international spirit. It has always been a unifying power and the current trend is toward greater emphasis on public access to and use of collections. From its origins preventive conservation has led to scientific exchange factors, the free flow of information and the parallel development of training.
same concepts in a few international, European nations have built up a vast experience. Governments have been at the core, developing legal and administrative structures, providing training and services to museums throughout Europe. The museum, meanwhile, have begun to integrate preventive conservation in their overall policies and plans. Interdisciplinary teams of specialists have begun to develop sound methodologies and proven technology for the conservation of collections.
This document brings together a considerable body of contributions made by participants from 24 countries, and make the best use of resources in Europe. Attendees Vantaa meeting to accept the responsibility of translating this document and give it wide distribution.
This document draws from the given by the richest countries and nations emerging from war, for the old and familiar with the principles of preventive conservation and those who are taking their first steps in this field. The strategy, which takes you give practical meaning to the experience from across Europe, making the best use of existing resources and propose the most effective and logical. Calls for a joint European project, supported by the force contributed by each nation.
Part 2: Strategic Points and lines of action
Participants of the meeting of Vantaa has established five strategic points as a framework in which to work for an effective policy and action. Acting under the direction of these is critical to preserve the cultural heritage of each nation individually and Europe in general. Each point is accompanied by a strategic course of action. These lines of action provide a platform for more detailed questioning, analysis and planning, both at national and institutional level, respecting the experience and the realities of all kinds of
1. Leadership
Governments must take leadership in the preservation of cultural heritage and facilitate the development of strategies and plans.
action lines:
- Develop an agreed strategy of sustainable preventive conservation, adoptadapor the government so as to permit its implementation.
- Establish priorities in preventive conservation strategy based enestudios made in museums and public collections context. Participation
- museum professionals and governments in the creation of accreditation or registration programasde museum, where it is fully integrado el concepto deconservación preventiva. Estos programas deben dar lugar a normas, especificaciones ocontratos acordados por museos y gobiernos.
- Utilizar el análisis de impacto económico y social para justificar la puesta en marcha dela conservación preventiva.
- Crear y mantener estructuras lo más amplias posibles de consulta pública para elaborary desarrollar estrategias de conservación preventiva que sean a la vez pro-activas yfácilmente adaptables a los cambios en las necesidades.
2. Planificación institucional
Los museos deben incluir la conservación preventiva en la planificación institucional a largo lazo y utilizar metodologías consistent with the concept. action lines:
- Involve all departments or sections in the development of global actuacióninstitucionales plans that incorporate the concept of preventive conservation as an integral part of a such plans, with adequate budgetary allocation. Base
- institutional action plans in the good knowledge of the composition, size and condition of the collection, through studies and procedures evaluationof risks.
- Implement preventive conservation in museums through interdisciplinary groups of specialties, both within and outside the museum, specifically trained in their respectivasactividades. Syndicate
- responsibilities within the staff regarding the conservaciónpreventiva, including them in their respective job descriptions of trabajo.Determinar who will have ultimate responsibility within the senior management team.
- Establish guidelines and methods of preventive conservation activities, including building plans and equipment for emergency situations.
3. Training
All persons are related to the collections should be adequately trained and updated in the field of preventive conservation, according to its function and responsibility.
action lines:
To ensure that internal and external personnel who work with collections and decision makers receive adequate training and information on preventive conservation is necessary: \u200b\u200b
- establish and develop content knowledge fundamentalesrelacionados to preventive conservation.
- develop educational materials in a number of languages \u200b\u200bin support of training activitieslisted of each museum. Organize
- means for the periodic updating of knowledge.
To promote a common understanding of preventive conservation necessary: \u200b\u200b
- introduce the concept of preventive conservation, in the appropriate levels inall curricula related to cultural heritage.
- Establish, develop and provide a conservation plan preventivapara curricular training institutions in conservation and restoration.
To increase knowledge on preventive conservation, is necessary: \u200b\u200b
- Create opportunities for specialization in preventive conservation (as cursosde post-graduate and doctoral).
- stimulate research in preventive conservation.
- develop teacher training programs for conservaciónpreventiva.
4. Access to information
All persons who are related to the care of collections must have knowledge and access, according to their needs, international information on preventive conservation.
action lines:
- Using internationally recognized terminology.
- put within reach of all by translating texts that are useful and preventive sobreconservación serious.
- Undertake and publish an extensive list of publications and other information documents, available from domestic sources and international.
- promote access to information technologies for museums {Internet, WEBSITES) to exchange information on preventive conservation.
- Make a list of organizations that will be sure to have the informaciónactualizada and international links. Create
- resource service centers for many institutions, beginning with reference to texts by the international bodies of knowledge.
- promote the exchange of information on preventive conservation through means such as the creation of professional associations, conferences, professional exchanges and support for national meetings and international.
- Working with existing professional bodies to identify and evaluate preventive conservation seek advice.
5. The role of the public to information
The public must know the concept of preventive conservation and participate.
action lines:
- Develop programs to ensure the principle of shared custody lascolecciones, actively involving the public and creating a feeling common deresponsabilidad the cultural heritage. Direct
- different communication strategies for specific groups (groups age, cultural heritage professionals, authorities, legislators, media) to raise awareness of the needs and benefits of conserving cultural delpatrimonio.
- Encourage each person who directly or indirectly involved in conservation quetome part in the decision process in order to develop a sense of public ownership model.
- ensure that the rational long-term vision is essential for all accionesrelacionadas with collections.
- promote the idea that cultural heritage makes more sense and more value across sucontexto.
Part 3: Recommendations European level
These are the specific actions recommended for implementation at European level, with the aim of fostering progress in all nations, and should be subject to immediate cooperation. Its purpose is to join and benefit from the wealth of European resources and support the unique evolution of each country. These actions are practical and feasible, despite its innovative nature, and across Europe. Maintain the tradition of preventive conservation as a common concept of progress for Europe's cultural heritage.
Participants of the meeting of Vantaa are calling for the following actions:
- invite the Council of Europe to convene a group of experts to derealizar a European Charter for Sustainable Preventive Conservation, yet future-oriented European Convention.
- Develop a preventive conservation strategy for adoption by elConsejo of Ministers of the European Union and other member states of Councilof Europe.
- promote the fundamental principle of joint custody, making participaractivamente politicians, professionals and the public in the development of strong unsent common responsibility for preventive conservation.
- facilitate the development of training programs and materials models from existing resources.
- Develop guidelines for action plans of museums, for queincluyan preventive conservation, using models and experienciaexistentes.
- Promote equal access to the Internet for museums across Europe.
- create a network of institutions that are responsible for collecting and disseminating informationabout preventive conservation, taking into account existing bodies comoICOM, through the Working Group on Preventive Conservation of Conservation ComitéInternacional, and ICCROM. Share experience
- awareness initiatives decomunicación media and public, with evaluation of these actions.
Document provided by: Juan Antonio Herráez, IPHE.
