Caring for collections
Caring for Collections: the complete Conservation Series
Gain a complete understanding of best-practice collection care activities including safe object handling, collection environments, documentation, storage and packing, and disaster preparedness.
- Delivery mode: Online and one live group zoom session with a conservator
- Includes: 6 learning modules
- Duration: 5 hours
- Key dates for 2026: Enrolment closes 15 September 2026. Enrolled students must complete the self-paced online component before 16 September 2026. Online zoom session: 17 September 12.00-1.30 pm AEST.
What you will learn
Gain contemporary skills and knowledge from leading conservators.
This complete short course is ideal for people working with collections – including museums, galleries, keeping places, historic societies, community, and private collections – seeking an understanding of best-practice conservation principles.
Professional conservators will take you through examples of how you can care for your collection.
This series is delivered by the Grimwade Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation, drawing upon the Centre's world-leading research, teaching, and professional industry expertise. It is designed to provide an understanding of professional collection care techniques, and an opportunity to discuss your needs directly with a professional conservator through an online group session.
Caring for collections learning modules
Introduction to conservation
The artwork and objects in our collections are not simply possessions. They embody our cultural identity and can be preserved for future generations through careful conservation. Conservators are trained in specialised techniques to slow and even reverse damage or deterioration. Discover how conservators work to preserve objects into the future.
Safe object handling
Objects are most vulnerable to damage when they are being moved. Understanding the principles of safe handling will reduce the chance of accidents happening. To safely handle objects and artworks, it is important to carefully follow a few basic principles.
Record keeping and documentation
Good documentation and record keeping allow us to better understand an object and help researchers discover more information about your collection. Records can tell us many things. They can help identify people featured in an old photograph, the materials used by an artist, or even the condition of an object when it was purchased.
Managing your environment
Our environment can impact collections. Changes in temperature, humidity, light, and contaminants can create conditions that accelerate deterioration. But if managed properly we can reduce the risk of irreversible damage occurring.
Storage and packing
As owners or caretakers of special items we want to ensure that we minimise deterioration, so correct packaging and storing of your collection is vital to its preservation.
Disaster preparedness
Sometimes, unexpected things can happen which have a devastating effect on your collection. Items can get wet from flooding or water leaks, and mould can begin to grow. Pest infestations can damage precious items, and fire can burn or cover items with contaminants such as soot. But preparation can avert these disasters from occurring or mitigate their long-term effects.
Resources
Reading resources are provided to supplement the online experience.
Enrol today
Gain a complete understanding of best-practice collection care activities including safe object handling, collection environments, documentation, storage and packing, and disaster preparedness.
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Learn from skilled academic and professional conservation experts who will share invaluable knowledge you can apply immediately.
Noni Zachri
Noni is a paper and photographic conservator with a strong background in preventive conservation, focusing on risk management, environmental monitoring and disaster preparedness and has delivered many workshops on collection care and handling, disaster preparedness and recovery.
Marica Mucic
Marica is an object conservator with professional experience in record keeping and documentation, collections care, storage, and conservation best-practice.
Maddy Fraser
Maddy specialises in the conservation of paintings and frames, with experience in the treatment, restoration, and preventive care of historic and contemporary artworks and decorative surfaces.
Vanessa Kowalski
Vanessa is the Head of Conservation at Grimwade Conservation Services. She has over 20 years experience in the delivery of special projects and paintings conservation, with specialist expertise in authentication and documentation, collections care, conservation, and community learning and engagement.
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This course is available online and includes 4 hours of independent learning and a one-hour live group zoom with a conservation professional.
Your total time commitment is 5 hours, which includes:
- 1 hour of self-guided online learning
- 1 hour of live, online learning with a professional conservator
- 3 hours of reading
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Once you've successfully completed this course, you will be awarded a Certificate of Completion.
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Caring for collections includes all modules from our Conservation Series.
This course does not offer a pathway – otherwise known as advanced standing – into the Masters of Cultural Materials Conservation. For more information on the entry requirements for the Masters of Cultural Materials Conservation can be found here.
Contact us
Have a question about the Conservation Learning Series? Get in touch.
Contact us