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Museum Studies, Conservation and Preservation skills
Museum Studies, Conservation and Preservation skills
Date:
27 Sep 2023
Price:
R 13225.00

Brief Description
This module is aimed at those who work in the museum industry. It examines the history, the structure, the day-to-day challenges and opportunities of the museum in a post-colonial and post-apartheid South Africa. Students will be encouraged to engage with blogs, media articles and social media to think about the museum in all its complexities. Through case studies, we will seek to understand legacies of oppression and how the past is represented and understood in the museum space. Importantly, students will enhance their written skills, learn about grant writing and reporting, be introduced to basic governance processes including financial management tools for museum projects, project management, develop curatorial and exhibition-making skills, and learn about social media and websites for museums. A key component of this module is gaining an understanding of conservation and preservation for museum collections.
Learning Outcomes
Delegates will understand and engage with the diverse and complex history of museums in South Africa.
They will understand the key question of representation and why it matters in a museum.
They will engage in debates and critical discussions that will lay the foundation of critical thinking and critical practice.
They will be encouraged to think about the project of imagination in conceptualising new museum approaches.
They will emerge with skills in visual analysis and literacy.
They will gain knowledge around social media and websites.
They will gain curatorial skills.
They will gain crucial applied knowledge through imaginative assignments.
They will understand museum structures.
They will improve their written and conceptual skills.
They will learn how to write grant proposals, project budgets, and grant reports.
They will learn important skills in basic conservation and preservation for museums.
Course Content
What is a museum?
What is its mandate?
What and who is involved in running a museum (roles, responsibilities and structure).
What does a successful exhibition look like?
How to conceptualise new exhibitions.
What is curation and what does a curator do?
Understanding the value of social media and functional websites for museums.
How to write a grant application.
How to budget for new projects.
How to compile grant reports.
How do we envision attracting new audiences in South African museums?
Introduction to Grap103.
What is collections care and who is responsible for it?
Documentation, why does it matter?
What are the different stages of cataloguing and documentation? How do you document collection items?
How do you accession collection items, how do you number and label them?
Health checks for the collection: what is damage vs what is deterioration? What do these look like? Why is it important to document changes?
How do you record changes.
What are the causes of damage and deterioration?
How do you ensure the collections do not degrade further?
What does a conservator do and when do you call a conservator?
Handling museum objects: what are appropriate handling guidelines for different types of collection items?
How do we keep objects safe during handling?
What health and safety guidelines for staff should be kept in mind when handling objects?
Minimising pollutants through regular housekeeping. How to clean museum spaces. Basic cleaning of museum objects.
When to call a conservator.
Exhibitions: Moving and handling objects for exhibition installation and de-installation. Packing and unpacking objects for exhibitions. What to do when something goes wrong.
Entry Requirements
Access to a computer and internet, proficiency in English

Click here to download the brochure

Course Number:
P007902
Catalogue and Category:
Sport, Tourism, Arts and Culture
Who Should attend:
Museum personnel, Tourism Officials, tour guides, heritage practitioners, cultural practitioners
Delivery Mode:
Online
Contact Days:
21

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