Volume 8, Number 3, Sept. 1986, pp.7-8

Funding Conservation Projects

Jack Lucas completed work this summer on a number of paintings for M.O.H.I. (Museum Of History and Industry, Seattle). Funding to pay for their conservation came from individuals who "adopted" a painting. The museum's curator, Janice Queener-Shaw, organized an exhibition of damaged/deteriorated paintings; next to each painting was a condition report and treatment proposal from the Lucas Conservation Laboratory, giving the conservation cost. By the end of the exhibit, all of the paintings had been "adopted".

Another novel approach to fund a conservation project comes from the Southern Oregon Historical Society. They are building a new museum and research center. The board of directors wanted the plans surveyed by a conservator to insure that the center would be environmentally benign for the artifacts and research library, as well as being comfortable for staff and visitors. Both the gas and electric companies were informed that the successful bidder to supply power to the museum would have to pay for the survey. The electric company was low bidder and subsequently hired Jack Thompson to conduct the survey.