Conservation and Sustainability

Art Conservation Open Day: Dunoon Burgh Hall, Saturday March 4th 2023

Come and learn about artwork conservation, sustainable collections, and Argyll’s internationally significant collection of African modern art!

In March 2023, Argyll’s African artworks will be examined by a professional conservator. Following these examinations, we invite you to join us at Dunoon Burgh Hall on Saturday, March 4th 2023 for an Art Conservation Open Day, between 10am-4pm.

Twelve artworks will be available for public investigation and discussion. You are invited to examine them, to try out ‘conservation checking’, to learn about conservation techniques and priorities, and to share ideas about their future.

There will be talks, Q&As and demonstrations from three guest experts:

11am: Christina Young, Professor of Technical Art History and Conservation at University of Glasgow will discuss what technical art history is and what it might teach us about Argyll’s African artworks.

1pm: Nancy Dantas, Art Historian and C-MAP Africa Fellow at the Museum of Modern Art (New York) will introduce MoMA’s C-MAP Africa project and current research on African modern art.

Please note that Stephanie De Roehmer is sadly no longer able to participate. In place of her talk on sustainability, Kate Cowcher, Lecturer in Art History at University of St Andrews, will lead a discussion about the Dar to Dunoon research project and exhibition project, focusing on the history and future of Argyll’s African art collection.

The Art Conservation Open Day is free and open to the public.

For event participants – Online Condition Checking form

The Art Conservation Open Day is a collaboration between University of St Andrews School of Art History and the Argyll Collection, Argyll and Bute Council.

Support for initial conservation work and outreach on this collection has been provided by the Impact and Innovation Fund of the University of St Andrews and CHARTS Argyll & Isles.