RCA/V&A Conservation Course

Royal College of Art/Victoria and Albert Museum
Conservation
Opportunities for post-graduate training and research
Options for 2000/01

The RCA/V&A Conservation programme is a unique partnership between
two world class London institutions, the Royal College of Art and
the Victoria and Albert Museum, in association with the Imperial
College of Science, Technology and Medicine. Together they offer
unrivalled resources for the conservation and study of museum
objects. Students may train for a career as a specialist conservator
or conduct sustained research in a broad range of subject areas in
the working environment of a major museum, leading to a prestigious
RCA degree.

The programme, which was established in 1989, has around twenty
full- and part-time students. Most are based in the V&A, but some
are based in other collaborating London institutions. Each student
works in a different field and has a different background.
Conservation itself is developing rapidly. The RCA/V&A programme
aims to respond by providing, as far as possible, tailor-made
studentships which serve the needs of both the individual and the
profession. The disciplines in which we invite applications (the
Options) vary from year to year according to perceived need and
resources.

Below is the list of disciplines in which applications are invited
for entry to the programme in the academic year 2000/01. For more
information about each option, please look at our website.

MA Studentships

Note: MA degrees are for 2 or 3 years full-time depending on previous training
and experience.

    Textiles Conservation (2 or 3 years)
    Furniture Conservation (2 or 3 years)
    Conservation of Social History Objects with the Museum of
    London (2 or 3 years)
    Books: Photograph Albums (2 or 3 years)

Research Studentships

RCA/V&A Conservation aims to support research in five broad subject
areas. The individual options listed within each of these themes
reflect staff interests or link to current research activity.  While
we welcome enquiries and proposals related to these options,
resources have not necessarily been secured at this time to support
all the projects listed.  We would also be happy to discuss
individual proposals for research. Note: MPhil/PhD degrees are for a
minimum of 2 years full-time. Part-time study is available for MPhil
and PhD.

20th Century Materials in Art, Craft & Design

    Chemical characterisation of 20th century materials
    Digital, magnetic and printed media in contemporary fine art
    The technical history of 20th century materials

Applications of Computing in Conservation

    Visualisation of art, craft and design
    Production of missing parts
    Computers in conservation education
    Perceptions of damage
    Public presentation of conservation

Surface Studies for Conservation

    The effects of cleaning on inorganic materials
    Laser-cleaning of painted surfaces

History, Ethics and Management in Conservation
    History of conservation
    Ethics in conservation
    Risk Analysis: The effect of use and environment on condition and value
    Realistic models for cost benefit analysis in conservation
    The present value of future states of the object: Different
    approaches to discounting

Technical Study

    Terracotta

Preliminary enquiries are welcome. Please do not apply without
contacting us for advice on admission requirements, funding, and how
to make an application. First enquiries to:

    Sarah Dodman, Secretary
    RCA/V&A Conservation
    School of Humanities
    Royal College of Art
    London SW7 2EU
    +44 0 207 590 4483
    Fax: +44 0 207 590 4490
    s.dodman [at] rca__ac__uk

Royal College of Art <URL:http://www.rca.ac.uk/>
RCA/V&A Conservation: <URL:http://www.conservation.rca.ac.uk/>

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 13:32
                Distributed: Thursday, December 2, 1999
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