New textile conservation centre at the University of Glasgow

New conservation centre preserves the fabric of the nation

Preserving the fabric of the nation's treasures for future
generations, a new textile conservation centre is to be established
at the University of Glasgow <URL:http://www.gla.ac.uk/about>

The Textile Conservation Centre Foundation (TCCF)
<URL:http://www.tccfoundation.org.uk/> and the University of Glasgow
have agreed to found the new teaching and research facility--the
only resource of its kind in the UK--in the University's Robertson
Building.

Professor Nick Pearce, Director of the Institute for Art History and
Head of the Department of History of Art, University of Glasgow,
said:

   "This is a tremendous opportunity both for the University and
    also for the conservation profession in Scotland, the UK and
    internationally. Expertise, facilities and the wealth of the
    collections make Glasgow the ideal place for the kind of
    interdisciplinary research and study which the centre will
    promote."

Peter Longman, Deputy Chairman of the Textile Conservation Centre
Foundation said: "There was such concern over the closure of the
Textile Conservation Centre
<URL:http://www.textileconservationcentre.co.uk/> in Winchester that
over the last 18 months we have been approached by several
institutions anxious to work with us to continue aspects of its
work.  We have considered a number of options, but the combination
of Glasgow with its world class University and History of Art
Department and the unrivalled collections in and around the City
proved an irresistible location.

   "This is a unique opportunity to build on the UK's reputation in
    textile conservation training and related research; we look
    forward to contributing to its future success in Glasgow."

The new centre for Textile Conservation, History and Technical Art
History will focus on multidisciplinary object-based teaching and
research that encompasses conservation and the physical sciences as
well as art history, dress and textile history. It will be the first
time that conservation training has been undertaken in Scotland and,
combined with the University's recent developments in technical art
history, the new centre will have national and international impact.

The new Centre will inherit existing library intellectual property
and analytical equipment from the TCCF, so that staff and future
students will be able to draw on the key physical and intellectual
assets built up over more than 30 years. Students will also have the
opportunity to work with some of the best textile collections in the
world held by Glasgow Museums, the National Museums of Scotland and
the University's own Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery. New academic
posts will be created and the Centre will work closely with the
Foundation to establish a global research network in textile
conservation, textile and dress history and technical art history.

The first student intake is planned for September 2010 offering a
2-year Masters in Textile Conservation and a 1-year Masters in Dress
and Textile History as well as opportunities for doctoral research.
These new courses will join the existing Masters programme in
Technical Art History, Making and Meaning, as part of the Centre.
The Foundation is also offering a limited number of bursaries in the
first years of the textile conservation programme and a fundraising
campaign is already underway to raise further funds for the new
development including additional studentships and new research
projects.

Potential students who would like to receive updates on the
development and course details should email Ailsa Boyd at the
University of Glasgow <a.boyd<-at->arthist<.>arts<.>gla<.>ac<.>uk>

Further information:

    Martin Shannon
    Senior Media Relations Officer
    University of Glasgow
    +44 141 330 8593


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 23:38
                   Distributed: Sunday, April 4, 2010
                       Message Id: cdl-23-38-001
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