The project
aims to investigate preventative conservation of museum collections, focusing
on smart materials for the transportation and storage of objects that include
sensors (e.g. for temperature, relative humidity, volatile pollutants) and / or
absorption agents that regulate the microclimate around the object (e.g. by
controlling relative humidity or removing volatile pollutants). In addition to
the development of transport and storage materials, the project will include
the development of so-called smart display cases that allow for advanced
microclimate regulation.
A key part
of the project is cooperation with the end-users of any developed solutions,
which is why several museums and galleries of different sizes are involved in
the project. In addition to the continuous monitoring of temperature and
relative humidity, several campaigns for measuring concentrations of air
pollutants will be carried out in the museums and galleries. This will be first
pollution monitoring in the National Museum of Slovenia. Researchers at
cultural heritage institutions will also participate in the development of an
online tool for comparing different preventive conservation measures based on dose-response
functions for various factors that influence degradation of materials the
objects are composed of. Dose-response functions for a few materials already
exist, and some will be developed through experimental work during the project.
This tool will also be able to evaluate the positive effects of newly developed
materials.
The target
audience for the results of the project are small and medium-sized museums,
galleries, archives and libraries, for which comprehensive preventative
conservation solutions, such as climate-controlled depots and / or showcases,
are less accessible. By using advanced storage materials, they could
effectively protect at least the most important or sensitive items by
regulating the microclimate.
Two
Slovenian institutions are involved in the project, the National Museum of Slovenia
and the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana.
They will be involved in the development of new dose-response functions,
monitoring of depots and display rooms, and developing and testing online
tools.
Project
website: https://www.apacheproject.eu/