{"id":37567,"date":"2020-04-14T16:31:56","date_gmt":"2020-04-14T14:31:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/icom.museum\/?page_id=37567"},"modified":"2023-03-23T15:56:36","modified_gmt":"2023-03-23T13:56:36","slug":"conservation-of-musem-collections","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/icom.museum\/en\/covid-19\/resources\/conservation-of-musem-collections\/","title":{"rendered":"Conservation of museum collections"},"content":{"rendered":"

The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting the museum sector in ways that we cannot yet fully predict, especially as far as the economic losses are concerned. Right now, however, forced closings and the absence of most of the staff can already have serious impacts on the conservation and safety of the collections. <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Without neglecting all the necessary measures to contain the spread of the disease, as well as those aimed at guaranteeing the safety of the population, museums cannot fail to fulfill their primary function of conserving the material and immaterial heritage of humanity. <\/span><\/p>\n

Cultural institutions around the world are already showing great resilience and creativity in communicating with their publics remotely<\/span><\/a>. To further help them during these uncertain times we prepared, with the help of the ICOM International Committee for Conservation<\/span><\/a> (ICOM-CC), a series of \u201cpandemic guidelines\u201d on how to deal with conservation during the emergency, putting employee safety first:<\/span><\/p>\n

Please note that these recommendations were written up on April 04, 2020 and updated on May 26, 2020. They take into account the guidelines about preventing the spread of COVID-19 that are continually being updated. Look to your local government and your institution and to <\/i>WHO<\/i><\/span><\/a>, for the most up-to-date guidance on safe behavior and procedures. <\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

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In general<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

1. Recommendations worldwide encourage public institutions to close down until the threat from corona virus is no longer an issue. Only essential staff should be in your institution.<\/b> This may include security, engineering, and the occasional conservator or collections manager.\u00a0<\/span>For museums authorized to reopen in countries where the situation allows it, we have published\u00a0some basic measures<\/a> that can be taken to protect the health of both visitors and staff.<\/p>\n

2. Prepare lists of staff\/expertise who will be on regular duty and others who are available.\u00a0Establish collaborations with nearby museums\u00a0<\/strong>or similar institutions to make necessary staff replacement or arrangements in the case staff members of one museum get infected.<\/p>\n

3. Research on the deterioration of the virus is under development, so the data are based on the results of previous human coronavirus research: the virus could lose most of its infectivity within six days and all of its infectivity within nine days at room temperature.<\/p>\n

4. Undertake more frequent cleaning of areas where people have access on a daily basis.<\/strong><\/p>\n

5. Consider changing the filters in HVAC systems. Where HVAC systems are not installed, consider other type of\u00a0regular controlled ventilation of collection and storage areas.<\/strong><\/p>\n

6. In the case of documented infections,\u00a0quarantine\u00a0<\/strong>the relevant area(s) for at least ten days.<\/p>\n

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In exhibitions<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"Museum_paintings\"
Paintings in museum<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If your museum is preparing to reopen, we invite you to consult this news release<\/a>. Concerning conservation measures in a context of reopening, please consider instituting the following:<\/p>\n