The C Word (M4A Feed)

Come along on a roadtrip to the Isle of Man with Jenny and Kloe! We take the ferry across the water, stay in an eco-friendly yurt village, and tour the island’s heritage sites: we go behind the scenes with the Manx National Heritage conservators and enjoy the local sites. Special thanks to Chris Weeks and Emma Le Cornu for inviting us over! (Varied audio quality ahead, folks.) 00:00:55 Exploring t...

We’re joined by Tom Hopkins and Louise McAward-White from Fair Museum Jobs as we grab the imaginary tin opener and get into one of our favourite cans of worms: zero hour contracts! We unpick what they are, how they’re used in the heritage sector, why they’re problematic, and how we can do better. 00:01:33 What is exactly is a zero hours contract? 00:11:00 Examples of when they’re used 00:16:27 Whi...

Join us for our triennial Icon conference special: an all online experience this time! Jenny tries to get into the spirit with croissants and rubbish coffee while Kloe is enjoying being able to multitask and dyeing fabrics while listening in. Also tune in for some impressions from the recent AIC conference. 04:32 Reaching out for recognition as a theme 08:50 Conference prices in the sector 10:17 K...

Together with special guest host Bill Hawkes we continue the topic of shiny things: metals! This time dealing with small objects and shiny trinkets. Kloe talks to Dr Eric Nordgren about archaeological metals, and Jenny reviews ‘Histories of Conservation and Art History in Modern Europe’ as well. 00:01:27 From jewellery shops to the conservation workbench 00:05:20 Towards a sustainable alternative...

Together with special guest hosts Claire Fry and Lorraine Finch we take a walk on the private practice side of conservation: what’s it like starting and running a business? Kloe has a zillion questions as Jenny airs her insecurities as a new business owner, while Claire and Lorraine share their entrepreneurial insights with us all. From networking to number crunching, we cover a lot of ground in t...

We’re joined by special guest host and public engagement champion Clare Lawlor as we talk about learning in museums and at heritage sites. How do we talk to kids about difficult topics? What kind of learning spaces do we have access to? And what kind of magic happens when conservators and learning colleagues work together? Also tune in for a review of ‘The Conservation of Medieval Polychrome Wood...

Together with special guest hosts Dr David Leigh and Isobel Griffin we delve into the world of conservation standards: what are they, how do they come into being, and how are we using them? Kloe also talks to Jane Henderson about the importance of having many voices in the room and when people might start waving pitchforks around, and Jenny reviews ‘Greener Solvents in Conservation.’ 00:03:01 Stan...

With the help of special guest host Lisa Mol we talk about the impact of war and conflict on heritage: from stone research and training initiatives and all the way to saving Ukrainian digital heritage en-masse. We’re also joined by Emma Cunliffe from Blue Shield, Sarah Stannage from IIC, and Richard Mulholland from Northumbria University as we discuss what’s being done already and try to figure ou...

Let’s get into the festive spirit with our special co-host Anna Ploszajski as we explore festive facts, Christmas chemistry, and merry materials! We make some predictions for the year ahead, and of course there’s a collections themed holiday song to bob along to. Happy holidays! 00:02:43 Hideous treasures all around us 00:11:13 Christmas tree decorations – old and new! 00:22:31 Tinsel themed night...

C is for: Can We Get Rid…? Sometimes museums just can’t keep everything – so what happens then? Together with guest host Emma Duggan we explore both the practicalities and our feelings around objects leaving collections. Also tune in for an interview with Ian Channell and Abigail Johnson from Epping Forest District Museum about their museum’s rationalisation journey. 00:01:58 Our experiences with...

Together with conservator Lucy Branch we iron out some of the issues around big chunks of metal: from bronze trying to injure people to the trouble with coatings! Also tune in for a Dear Jane about being your authentic self, and a review of ‘Modern Metals in Cultural Heritage’ from Jenny. 01:38 Wait, is bronze a possessed metal? 05:53 Health and safety – lead and iron 11:51 Dealing with outdoor ob...

We talk about our creaking joints and aching muscles with special guest host Emma Le Cornu, who is both a conservator and a yoga instructor. Kloe talks about carpal tunnel woes, Jenny shares her pain management journey, and Emma gives us all some exercises to try out at work. Also tune in for a Dear Jane about careers derailed by the pandemic. Look after yourselves, folks! 01:38 In which ways are...

Join us as we take a seat by an imaginary fireplace in a creepy old house and trade stories of hauntings, hazards, and house ghosts with special guest Aly Singh. We get interrupted by trick-or-treaters and feel unsettled by sudden changes in RH! Jenny also talks to historian Sheldon K. Goodman about Cemetery Club and to conservator Kathrine Graf about gravestones and churchyards. Also tune in for...

Together with special guest host Erin Foster we discuss the careers people have had before finding conservation, why they might have switched, and why so many of us find out about conservation a little later in life. Also tune in for an apprenticeship update from Icon and a review of ‘Managing Change in Museums and Galleries’ from Jenny. 01:16 Why do people come to conservation later in life? 05:0...

We’re joined by special guest host Helen Antrobus as we unpack what it means to be a collections curator and how we can (and do) work together to deliver some amazing things. Tune in for discussions around job titles, working with community curators, and why we should pay for expertise. 01:39 What even is a curator? 14:34 Our experiences of working with curators 23:23 Can we change attitudes to cu...

We kick off season ten with a Zoom get-together! Jenny and Kloe bring some drinks and invite people along to think about how the last 12-18 months have been. We talk about what we’ve been up to, how our workplaces have changed, the absolute state of the job market, supply issues, the ‘planning ballet,’ and what we’re proud of. Many thanks to Mandy Garratt, Kendall Gay, Kaitlin Wieseman, Ellie Swee...

Together with special guest host Alison Lister we explore the process of dyeing fabrics for textile conservation: from why we do it to the secret of a good colour match. Also tune in for an interview with Laura Peters about her dye research, and a review of ’The Diversity of Dyes in History and Archaeology’ from Kloe. 00:39 Our experiences with dyes 09:49 Artistry vs repeatability in colour matchi...

We look up from our workbenches for a moment and think about how to make some savvy business decisions: what can conservators do beyond classic benchwork? Guest host Lucy Branch shares her experiences of creating alternative income streams, while Jenny thinks about tactics employed outside of conservation. Also tune in for a business pep talk with Lorraine Finch! 02:16 The value of resilience 04:4...

Together with special gust host Talitha Wachtelborn we explore the world of leather conservation: from book bindings to suitcases! Also tune in for an interview with Mike Redwood about the history of tanning and the sustainability of leather, and a chat with Rosie Bolton and Arianne Panton from the Leather Conservation Centre. 00:01:37 Our experience with leather (oh behave!) 00:07:34 How long hav...

We’re getting into the groove about things that move with special guest host Matthew Read. What exactly is a dynamic object and how do you go about preserving one? Kloe talks to Ken Cobb about conserving electrical objects and Jenny speaks to Chris Weeks about motorcycles that still need to vroom. Also tune in for a book review of ’Handmade: A Scientist’s Search for Meaning Through Making’ by Anna...

Together with special guest host Jane Henderson we peer at our loggers, spot check our homes, and crunch our data in an attempt to demystify environmental monitoring! Also tune in for an interview with Michael Hall from Meaco and Austin Senseman from Conserv. 03:38 Freaking out vs chasing the flat line 07:36 From ye olde thermohygrograph to wireless loggers 09:22 Confession time 12:54 Costs, costs...

We think about communicating in different ways with fellow podcaster and conservator Lucy Branch. We discuss podcasting, video platforms, and good old-fashioned radio and TV. Kloe tries out TikTok, and Jenny interviews YouTubing conservator Lucilla Ronai and Lucia Scalisi from The Repair Shop! 01:42 On the benefits of podcasting 14:07 Interview with Lucilla Ronai 24:07 Why we should be using video...

Together with special guest host Emma Duggan we go behind the scenes, under ground, even into the freezer! In short we explore the world of extreme or unusual store methods in museums and heritage, ranging from cold and dry to super soggy. Tune in for interviews with Toby Jones from the Newport ship project, Angela Middleton from Historic England, and Sarah Allen from Lux & Livre. 01:36 How can st...

We’re joined by Front of House champions Will Tregaskes and Abi Godfrey as we talk about how conservators and visitor services can join forces, smash silos, and all enjoy our jobs more. What’s it like being the face of the museum? What does good teamwork look like? And what’s the best bit about working as FoH? 03:24 What do we mean by Front of House? 07:03 Volunteering vs paid work 12:18 The journ...

We get a little extra jolly with our festive co-host Emily O'Reilly as we open Christmas crackers with terrible jokes and rustly hats, attempt some predictions for the year ahead, do a conservation quiz, and play a game of deception. Tune in for a seasonal Dear Jane, a holiday tipple at the Benchwork Bar, and of course: a new conservation Christmas song! 04:02 The smouldering ruins of our 2020 pre...