Introduction to the Conservation Office and Conservation Work

Conservation is one of the fundamental functions of museums, which aims at preserving the invaluable and irreplaceable cultural properties for the future generations. It basically consists of preventive and interventive conservation.

 

In essence, preventive conservation emphasises preserving the artefacts through the control of climate surrounding the item, good practice of artefact storage, display and handling methods, regular risk assessment and mitigation, and disaster preparedness drills; whereas interventive conservation addresses the treatment needs of individual items and execution of the appropriate treatment plans to either stablise the artefact in deterioration or improve its physical condition so that the artefact can be kept in long-term, displayed, accessed or studied.

 

Conservation is a long-term commitment which requires the provision of proper care for the cultural properties with life-long responsibilities. Inadequate provision of such can result in the loss of the artefact or information contained in the artefact through courses of deterioration, and very often the loss is irrecoverable.

 

Operating from 14 purpose-built conservation laboratories in 4 museum/ film archive sites, the Conservation Office not only devises, implements and evaluates conservation programmes for museum artefacts and heritage objects, but also conducts technical examination and scientific studies on cultural heritage. The Office also provides technical assistance and advice on the preservation requirements of museum collections and loan exhibits of the Department.

 

Currently there are more than 1 million collection artefacts pertaining to LCSD museums, Hong Kong Film Archive and Art Promotion Office being cared for with diverse nature. They include paintings, paper artefacts (historical documents, prints), textiles, metals, ceramics, wooden and plastic artefacts, archaeological finds, photographs, motion picture films and outdoor sculptures. Meanwhile, the Conservation Office provides conservation support to exhibit mounting and installation in all exhibitions of LCSD museums, Hong Kong Film Archive, Art Promotion Office and Chinese Culture Promotion Office