The Conservation Department at the V&A is excited to announce a collaboration with the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI), to organise a workshop centred around the theme of climate change and climate management. This workshop is a platform for collaboration, learning, and developing decision making skills to the pressing challenge of simultaneously reducing energy and preserving objects for the future.
One of the major challenges for heritage organisations to meet the Net Zero targets, is to reduce the costs of running and managing air conditioning systems. These systems are used for maintaining safe environmental conditions for objects, meeting lender requirements and ensuring visitor comfort. However, they also represent a substantial energy drain. What makes this challenge even more pressing is the anticipated rise in global temperatures in the coming years. As temperatures climb, the demands on air conditioning systems are projected to increase as well.
The core objective of our workshop is to challenge some of the long-standing practices related to climate control in heritage institutions. With scientific evidence, we aim to foster a dialogue that will lead to the development of decision-making tools grounded in both sustainability and practicality. The workshop is a part of the larger Getty Conservation Institute Managing Collection Environments Initiative, an ambitious undertaking that seeks to enhance how we care for and protect our cultural heritage. Keep posted for updates and news from the workshop, scheduled to run in February 2024.
