Jenny and Liz talk to Dr Marysia Tarnowska about their journey into heritage science from a background in chemistry: from molecular bonds to leather deterioration! Jenny also talks to Dr Josep Grau-Bove from the Icon Heritage Science Group about how we can communicate better as both conservators and scientists. Finally, tune in for a review of ‘Soft Paint and the Care of Paintings’ from Liz! 00:01:10 From chemistry to museum adventures 00:07:35 A project is born 00:14:53 Scientific papers...

Join Jenny, Kloe and Liz as they explore historic houses across the world, their unique charms, and quirky challenges. Phedra whisks us away to a sun-soaked historic house museum in Cyprus, while Liz delves into the meticulous conservation efforts at Sir John Soane's Museum with Jane Wilkinson. Finally, Kloe has a chat with Helen Antrobus about what it’s like working in the National Trust. 00:00:28 What’s a historic house? 00:03:18 Are all of them posh? 00:07:03 Nature and heritage in...

Liz and Phedra join forces with freelance paintings conservator Alexis Drapanas as they tackle an ECP special! Phedra also interviews conservator Kerith Koss Schrager and intern Adrienne Gendron about health and safety for emerging professionals. And don’t forget to tune in for a Dear Jane about getting into some more unusual specialisms! 00:00:45 Introducing our ECP hosts 00:08:02 Straight from university to private practice 00:09:15 What does ‘emerging’ mean to you? 00:16:01 Let’s talk...

Meet the dream team! It’s a crowded recording session today: Jenny and Kloe ask their new colleagues Liz, Phedra, and Solange about their new roles and their favourite objects, tools, and adhesives. What ARE a few of our favourite things? Also tune in for a review of ‘Conservation of Books’ from Solange! 00:02:16 Who’s Liz? 00:04:22 And who’s Phedra? 00:07:00 Aaand who’s Solange? 00:09:38 Experimentation ahead 00:14:10 Favourite Instagram accounts 00:17:08 Favourite objects 00:25:31 Least...

In this special bonus episode we make a couple of overdue announcements, take you with us to an award ceremony in Cardiff, and profess our undying love for our listeners. Would you like to join us on The C Word team? Get in touch! 00:57 We’re having a break - and we’re recruiting! 07:31 We’ve got an award 09:21 Recording from The 30(ish) Awards 17:50 Dear Jane teaser 18:51 Patreon shout out Show Notes: - Recruitment page: https://thecword.show/recruitment/ - The 30(ish) Awards winners:...

In this one we talk to Professor Aviva Burnstock about what paintings can be and we chat with Polly Saltmarsh about communicating conservation and the joys of sticky toffee pudding sauce. Also tune in for a review of ‘On Canvas: Preserving the Structure of Paintings’ by Stephen Hackney from Kloe. 03:48 When is a painting a painting? 10:05 On the nature of painted surfaces 13:13 How students might approach a painting 16:20 A chat about varnish 27:39 The joy of microscopy 28:39 Gut feelings...

We’re joined by special guest host Cass Fino-Radin as we talk about time-based media: what it can be, what the challenges are, and what we can do to preserve it. From mechanical components to maintaining software, we geek out about everything that’s wonderful about this type of conservation. Also tune in for a review of poetry pamphlet ‘Accessioning’ by Charlotte Wetton. 00:21 A long-time spreadsheet idea 02:44 A potted history of time-based media (maybe) 05:41 Conservation of performance...

In this episode Jenny and Kloe address a correction before launching into a takeover special: join Kloe, Nerys Rudder and Jane Henderson as they go to the ‘Changing the World: Approach, Strategy and the Future of University Museums’ UMG conference and run around the newly refurbished Manchester Museum. 03:55 A correction from Jane 07:13 Other comments from listeners 12:19 Three conservators go to a conference 55:28 Patreon appeal Show Notes: - Manchester Museum:...

Together with special co-host Alison Lister we explore the private sector: from our workspaces to how we learn on the job. Join us for a catch-up on Jenny’s adventures in business, along with Kloe’s commercial experience and Alison’s passionate call for us all to share more. Bridget Mitchell tells us about finding joy in your business and the power of positive thinking. Also tune in for an audio tour of Jenny’s workspace and a round-up of the Museums + Heritage Show in London. 00:00:42 Wait,...

We’re joined by special guest host Stella Toonen as we explore a topic with many synonyms: public programming, outreach, adult learning, and so many more! We get enthused about ideas for events that conservation can get in on, and talk about the many pitfalls – and benefits – of co-creation in museums. 01:06 What’s this episode about? 03:52 Stella’s outreach journey 05:50 Kloe’s experiences facilitating events 09:39 Jenny’s experiences working with the public 13:27 Growing audiences and...

We’re joined by curator Karen Logan as we talk about working with collections that stir up emotions and recent memories: from The Troubles in Northern Ireland to Brexit and activism. Also tune in for Kloe’s thoughts and feelings on human remains and other displays as she visited Egypt in February. 04:00 How did this episode come about? 08:26 What are The Troubles? 15:40 What to include 18:10 Contemporary collecting 23:40 Including people is powerful 26:11 Audience differences 27:50...

We have a chat amongst ourselves about the process of becoming an accredited conservator, as seen by two mid-career people staring at the application form in fear and distress. This episode contains snippets of both Jenny’s and Kloe’s thoughts on the very early stages of getting ready to even apply, being on the Pathway (PACR), and some of the notable barriers. Kloe also interviews Heather Doyle about how accreditation works and how it will be changing, and Dear Jane handles a question about...

We talk to community-building conservator Melissa King about nurturing communication between collections care professionals and the growing preservation community at Conserv. Jenny also talks to heritage consultant Sarah Marsom about being a moderator online, and to chief exec Sara Crofts about Icon’s use of Discord and Basecamp. Don’t forget to tune in for a Dear Jane about getting some conservation experience in South Africa! 00:02:15 Web based communities and conservation 00:04:27...

As we huddle up in a pew with Dr Sarah Turner we talk about Christmas in cathedrals, play a parlour game of Five Things, and make some predictions for the year ahead. Kloe talks to Beth Gillions about her time as a caretaker at Westminster Chapel in winter, and Todd Wright sings our rendition of ‘Silent Night’ for some extra feels. Also tune in for a review of ‘National Treasures: Saving the Nation’s Art in World War II’ from Jenny and a Dear Jane about pre-programme experience in the US....

Together with special co-host Sean Kelly we talk about all things redevelopment: from the strange sensation of taking things off display, to the joy of opening the doors, and why museum work never stops. Also tune in for interviews with Georgina Young from Manchester Museum, Alex Cropper from Manchester Jewish Museum, and Chris Weeks from Manx National Heritage. 00:00:51 What’s happening in Paisley? 00:05:24 Putting collections in new places 00:07:44 The odd melancholy of a decant 00:13:47...

Join us for another tranquil boat episode with conservator Pierrette Squires as we talk about time management. How do you estimate how long a treatment will take? How do you handle project slip, unexpected overtime, and an overflowing inbox? How do you structure the day when you’re self-employed? Also tune in for a Dear Jane about stakeholders and furry friends. 00:02:51 Kloe’s experience and approach 00:08:42 Building the skill of estimates 00:11:46 Jenny’s struggles 00:16:21 The Out of...

Join us on a tranquil houseboat as we talk about being conservators with disabilities with special guest host Pierrette Squires. We share our various experiences and set the world to rights (with ducks in the background). Also tune in for a Dear Jane about accreditation, a tour of the new ‘Nothing About Us Without Us’ exhibition with Kloe, and a review of ‘The Routledge Companion to Art and Disability’ from Jenny. 00:01:35 Jenny’s experiences 00:03:53 Pierrette’s hearing loss 00:07:09 Kloe’s...

Jenny and Kloe share some conservation horror stories, including mysterious tales of possessed equipment and phantasmal fans. Break it down to our Halloween song ‘The Monstrous Crash’ and then wind down with a review of ‘Ghost Stories of the British Museum Audio Guide’ by Noah Angell. Finally Jenny shares some pumpkin preservation tips for everyone’s Halloween needs! 02:59 Can anyone offer us a haunted place to visit? 04:23 Jenny’s possessed air quality monitor 06:40 Kloe’s mysterious fan...

We’re joined by the brilliant jewellery conservator Bill Hawkes for a dazzling episode about the history of gems, the usefulness of pretty stones, and the intriguing secrets of the jewellery industry. Also tune in for an interview with geological conservator Kate Andrew about the hidden dangers of rock samples and why you should never bin an old label! 01:43 What are minerals? 03:00 Uses of gemstones – light, fading, and lasers! 06:14 Famous diamonds and their history 10:38 Cutting gemstones...

We have a gentle (but also angry) chat about the cost of living crisis, the impact on society, and how it affects us as conservators: both as self-employed people and as museum workers. Jenny also talks to Sharon Heal from the Museums Association, and Kloe reviews ‘Low Cost/No Cost Tips for Sustainability in Cultural Heritage’ by Lorraine Finch. 01:57 Why are we NOT talking about this? 04:11 Jenny’s lived experience of poverty 08:09 Why this is happening 11:01 Energy usage and greener...

Together with Beth Gillions we put on our best confidence clothes and talk about job interviews: what it’s like asking the questions, what do you do when you forget everything about yourself, and what are the practical assessments like for job seeking conservators? We share our top tips and some great advice from our followers on Twitter too! 00:02:10 Kloe and Jenny’s experiences of being on interview panels 00:05:37 “Is there anything you’d like to ask us?” 00:08:34 Everything we hate about...

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 the ferry and eating waffles on deck 00:02:13 Arriving in the eco village 00:04:50 Breakfast...

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 Which precarity is easier to manage? 00:18:48 The toll of constant job hopping on people 00:26:11...

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 Kloe is confused by tech 12:46 Catching up at the end of day one 17:12 Gearing up for day...