Welcome Letter To Visitors

15 and December 16, 2005 gathered at the Guggenheim Museum curators and restorers of the following institutions:

• Artium, Vitoria-Gasteiz
• Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporaneo, Sevilla
• DA2, Salamanca
• Diputación Foral de Álava
• Balenciaga Foundation, Getaria
• Fundación Museo Jorge Oteiza, Alzuza
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
• English Historical Heritage Institute, Madrid
• Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao
• Museo del Prado, Madrid
• Costume Museum, Madrid
• National Museum of Natural Sciences CSIC , Madrid
• National Museum Reina Sofia Museum Madrid
• Herreriano Patio, Valladolid
• Basque Country University

The conservator-restorer. Preventive conservation.

The conservator-restorer is a professional with the technical knowledge required and valid to predict slow, stop and reverse the deterioration of the appearance and material (physical, chemical and biological) that can undergo the objects and works of art. Among the functions carried out by the conservator-restorer in museums (besides those involving direct intervention on the objects and works of art) is preventive conservation, understood as a set of technical strategies and management that apply to prevent deterioration and ensure the physical preservation of objects and works of art. These strategies include, among others, the definition of standards for handling and packaging, the establishment of means of protection, storage and display appropriate monitoring and control of environmental conditions, and collaboration in developing plans emergencia.De the same way as is necessary to involve other professionals in preventive conservation efforts is also essential to the intervention of the conservator-restorer, to through reporting and other means, in the management of collections and exhibitions, to ensure efficient and cost-effectiveness, proper conservation of objects and works of art held by museums and similar institutions.

Participation conservator-restorers in the museum's activities.
Conservators-restorers
should be involved from the outset in the design and definition of infrastructure (needs plan, museum plan ,...) so you can develop a correct preventive conservation. Also, his opinion should be considered in the acquisition phase, acceptance of deposits and donations for the institution has all the information necessary to ascertain the nature of the work and assess potential risks and costs. Any requests for loans of the works of the collection, conservation status report is mandatory and discouraged if the loan should be binding. As for the production of exhibitions, the conservator-restorer debería colaborar estrechamente con la coordinación y todos los departamentos implicados en el proyecto.

Difusión y formación

Divulgación del trabajo de conservación preventiva de objetos y obras de arte:
Colaboración con el departamento de Educación en la elaboración de material didáctico.
Proyectos expositivos sobre conservación preventiva.
Inclusión en las audioguías y soportes de información de mensajes específicos.
Colaboración con el departamento de Publicaciones para el diseño de señalización específica en zonas de acceso.
Difusión en medios de comunicación the importanc of preventive conservation work. Promoting collaboration between training centers and museums and archives to bring students to the professional reality. Dissemination of prevention practices among the staff of the institutions (security, cleaning, maintenance ,...).