The C Word (M4A Feed)

Together with guest host Jane Henderson we explore how university teaching has changed this year and what conservation training looks like in a pandemic. Kloe and Jenny take turns to talk to people from different teaching institutions about this year’s challenges and victories. Also tune in for a Dear Jane about what makes a good dissertation! 00:02:05 Remember the time of supreme over-coping? 00:...

Together with special guest host Libby Finney we chat about professional development and training in the time of Covid-19: what counts as CPD, how do we access training opportunities, and what is it like delivering training remotely? Also tune in for an interview with Abigail Bainbridge, chair of Icon Book & Paper Group, about the webinar series ’Conservation: Together at Home’ from earlier this y...

We’re joined by special guest host Patrick Whife, Icon’s Training & Development Manager, as we talk about the challenges facing the conservation and wider heritage world — and what we can do support the sector. We talk advocacy, unions, CPD and more! Also tune in for a review of ’Culture is Bad for You' which gets Jenny all fired up. 01:08 What’s the current picture like? 07:02 What do we know of...

Huddle around the camp fire of your imagination with us as we trade ghost stories and creepy anecdotes with special guest host Aly Singh: it’s time for our first ever Halloween special! Also tune in for bewitching brew at the Benchwork Bar, and a review of ’Anatomica: The Exquisite and Unsettling Art of Human Anatomy’ for extra goosebumps! 01:19 Creepy collections and odd objects 11:23 Working in...

We’re joined by special guest hosts Jeremy Uden and Marina de Alarcón from the Pitt Rivers Museum as we discuss the return of cultural objects. What are some of the attitudes we’ve encountered, and what is the role of the conservator in this? Kloe talks to Mark Furness about preparing objects for return, and Daniel Schwartz about how we can become better facilitators. Also tune in for a review of...

We’re joined by special guest host and material scientist Anna Ploszajski as we try to unpick how conservators approach the materials they use for treating objects: what do we look for and how do we use them? Kloe takes us through her thought process when she tries a new paint range and Jenny encourages people to share their low tech testing. Also tune in for a Dear Jane about whether or not conse...

We’re joined by special guest host Fi White as we chat about filming in heritage settings: from bodice rippers and period dramas to music videos and news segments! Kloe interviews Wendy Somerville-Woodiwis about actors on trains, and Jenny talks to freelance filming conservator Kate Bertenshaw about the basics of film crew herding. Also tune in for a review of the film ’Those That, at a Distance,...

We have a catch up and chat about returning to work after lockdown. We read out and listen to some contributions from people who either have gone back into work or are waiting to get the green light. Round off the season with a First Wave Back cocktail at the Benchwork Bar on your way out! 00:52 What’s our situation like? 08:52 Our Twitter poll 13:29 How museums are changing 15:53 Listener contrib...

We zoom in on the topic of photography conservation and photos in collections with guest host Lorraine Finch. From positives to negatives, we build a picture of some common things look out for and discuss some ways of storing vintage photos. Also tune in for a review of 'Twentieth-Century Color Photographs - Identification and Care' and an Albumen cocktail (and mocktail) at the Benchwork Bar! 00:0...

We squint at the topic of light in this illuminating episode: guest host Sarah Potter enlightens us while Jenny thinks about communication and Kloe reveals she has super eye sight. Christina interviews David Saunders and Jenny reviews his new book about museum lighting. Also tune in for a Dear Jane about dissertations, and a Fluorescent Bulb at the Benchwork Bar! 00:03:00 How we light our gallerie...

We get philosophical about gap filling and loss compensation in various conservation disciplines: why do we do it and how far do we take it? Kloe interviews Ellie Sweetnam about disruptive conservation and boldly coloured fills, and Jenny reviews ’Pottery and Porcelain Restoration’ by Roger Hawkins. Also join us for a tipple at the Benchwork Bar, and an emotional Dear Jane with a guest contributio...

We’re joined by special guest host Erika Lewis as we talk about the role of technicians, and how conservators and techs work hand in hand (or glove in glove). How do we best work together and what might that look like in different situations? Also tune in for an Exhibit Opener with Amanda at the Benchwork Bar and a book review from Jenny. 00:54 What are technicians? 08:03 Where can we find them? 1...

Grab your lab coats and don your goggles: we’re taking a closer look at analysis and its role in conservation! Between us we compare notes on heritage science and reflect on some of our experiences. We talk to Sophie Rowe about curiosity and funny smells, Dr Paola Ricciardi about non-invasive techniques, and Rob McLeod about everything from how to talk about science to cool equipment. Don’t forget...

We sneak a peek in the blunder traps with special guest host Jane Thompson-Webb as we explore the topic of insect pests in and around collections and the sticky world of integrated pest management (IPM). Tune in for some fantastic listener contributions about pest encounters, an interview about the Emergency Conservators Network, and a new feature — the Benchwork Bar! 00:01:41 What are our dealing...

Join us for a WFH special as we consider the joys and challenges of working remotely: with Kloe furloughed and Jenny working from home it’s a strange time to be a conservator. We also ask West Dean College and Cardiff University about switching to remote teaching and what this means for students. Finally, tune in for a Dear Jane about hobby conservation and some armchair travel as Jenny takes us t...

Pandemic Special: Jenny and Kloe have a chat about the impact of the Coronavirus on the heritage sector but also share some sunshine stories from across the world. Escape to Brussels with Kloe as she fetches a museum object that’s been on display (and spots inaccurate PPE usage on her pre-pandemic journey), and tune in for a quick book review with Jenny. Stay safe, folks! 04:41 Impact on the herit...

Ho ho ho! Join us for a seasonal special: we review our predictions for 2019 and make some new ones for 2020, listen to a conservation version of Santa Baby, and play a parlour game we only just barely manage! Also tune in for some cracker action, a Christmas message from the Career in Ruins podcast, and an unexpected foray into wizardry as we consider the conservation Hogwarts houses. 00:00:36 Ar...

We take a look at some of the many ways in which conservators earn money on the side (and the reasons we might do so): Kloe talks about her bellydancing, Jenny shares her experiences of temping and gig economy freelancing, and Christina shares some career wisdom. Also tune in for some brilliant listener contributions, and a Dear Jane about taking a job that isn’t perfect. 00:01:16 News in brief 00...

We’re getting philosophical as we try to figure out when conservators choose NOT to do something. What influences our decisions? When can we say no? Also tune in for an interview with Jonathan Ashley-Smith about uncertainty and ethics, and a Dear Jane about internships. 00:00:40 What are some of the reasons we don’t do something? 00:20:27 Good intentions and self-belief 00:27:30 Interview with Jon...

We don some hard hats and crane our necks as we talk large objects with special guest host Simon Stephens: from machinery and figureheads to tanks and planes. What are some of the unique challenges associated with really big stuff? Also tune in for a special tour of the Science Museum store at Wroughton, a Dear Jane about what to see in Florence, and a review of ’The Conservation of Sculpture Park...

Join us for an episode all about diversity: guest host Aly Singh shares her own experiences while Jenny wrestles with class and Kloe tries to find practical solutions. We talk to Hannah Cobb about the CIfA Equality & Diversity Group, to Sam Evans about class in the museum workforce, and to Michelle McGrath and Kathleen Lawther about Museum As Muck. Also tune in for a Dear Jane clarifying calibrati...

In this episode we talk about how the Arduino can be useful to conservators and how people are using it in museums already. Jenny talks to Dr David Mills and Mark Hellar about using the Arduino in conservation, and Christina chats to Bhav Shah about machine learning and much more. Also tune in for a Dear Jane about PhD dreams. 00:00:47 Wait, what is this? 00:12:09 Jenny goes to an Arduino workshop...

Join us as we browse through the remarkable collections held in archives together with special guest host Meagen Smith: we talk about the joys of paper and the unique aspects of working with these items. Jenny also chats to archivist Ruth Cummins and our conservation agony aunt tackles a question about landing an internship in ‘Dear Jane.’ 00:00:39 News in brief 00:03:05 What’s an archive, anyway?...

Together with guest host Lorraine Finch we turn out our pockets, peer into our piggy banks, and root around the back of the sofa for some spare change: how can we make our money go a little further? Conservators are often cash-strapped and we have a chat about everything from sourcing lab equipment to finding cheaper conservation supplies. Also tune in for a review of ’Magnetic Mounting Systems fo...

Join us for a special episode when Jenny, Kloe, and Christina all go to Belfast for the ICON triennial conference, #Icon19! (Please note: this episode has VERY varied audio quality throughout due to different recording settings.) Travel with us to the Belfast Waterfront Centre, join us for the opening reception, come along to the pub, listen to our frantic recaps, and have a listen to the talk we...