Slow Conservation

Staniforth, Sarah

Slow Conservation

Resource type

Journal article

Creator (person)

Staniforth, Sarah

Date published

July 19, 2013

Abstract

This paper explores how the concepts of the slow movements can be applied to conservation. It examines the roots of preventive conservation, the relationship between the museum environment and the global environment and ways in which museums can reduce their environmental footprint. Links are made between sustainability and traditional conservation practices from different countries and periods. It is proposed that the long-term sustainability of museums depends on the value that the public place on them, and this can be built through the engagement of trainees, volunteers and the public through conservation. The impact of international loan exhibitions in driving common environmental specifications which reflect international standards rather than the local climate and the energy consumption that is involved in achieving these conditions is discussed. Finally, a manifesto for slow conservation is proposed.