Summary
Many factors led me to pursue a career in heritage conservation, but the practical element truly drew me in. I find great joy in detailed, hands-on work. From painting and woodwork to sewing and crocheting, crafting has always been a passion. Coupled with my deep appreciation for the value of historical objects, which help us understand our past and evolution. I believe preserving artifacts is essential to our collective learning and cultural identity. My experience on this course has only strengthened these beliefs.
Career Aspirations
When I first started my degree, I was very keen to pursue a master’s in easel paintings conservation, however after learning more about the world of conservation during this course, the list of avenues I am interested in pursuing has widened greatly. After I complete my degree, my wish would be to gain experience in a hands-on trainee role in a practical conservation discipline.
Personal Reflection
This course has shown me just how broad and varied conservation can be. Every object we come across is different. Each object is unique and requires something different. This course has taught me the skills necessary; ranging from understanding how objects deteriorate, to writing condition reports and researching different treatment options. The challenging element of decision making – determining what the object actually needs and whether the planned treatment is beneficial for the object’s integrity – is especially important in interventive conservation, as potential risks have to be assessed and weighed. A lot of the time, it feels like we are object detectives, which can be great fun.
Other Projects
During the second year of this course, we had the option of completing a 12-week placement. I was fortunate to partake in a placement with Lincoln Conservation, a commercial conservation studio based at the University of Lincoln. During this placement, I had the opportunity to work on several exciting projects, including on-site work at Stowe House in Buckinghamshire, uncovering an 18th-century wall painting and conserving painted mayoral boards at the town hall in Stamford. These projects awakened my enjoyment for on-site work, which I hope to be able to do more of in the future.
Objects
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