BEHIND THE SCENES

At the Horniman there are many staff working behind the scenes including getting objects ready for exhibitions, documenting the collections, ensuring that the collections are cared for in the right environment, developing and designing exhibitions, and managing the movement and storage of collections not on display.

Collections, Conservation and Care

The Conservation Section carries out hands-on conservation of objects required for exhibition, loan and publication; preventive conservation in the form of environmental monitoring and control; pest control; testing and advice on the correct display and storage materials to be used, and the development of guidelines, procedures and training to ensure that all staff are aware of the needs for the care of the collections.

Between 1986-1990 a condition survey of the collections was carried out which has enabled the Section to produce work schedules, identify priority areas of the collections which require specialist input and improve storage conditions. It provided the Museum with an overview of the state of its collections.

The Section has carried out various studies on the overall environment of the Museum and the Study Collections Centre, where objects are kept in storage. These have helped the Museum decide how changes could be made to provide better protection for the collections on display and in store.