Educational tools for involving higher degree students within the Project Creative Conservation

Abstract

Background: The Project Creative Conservation was developed at the Conservation and Restoration Laboratory / Polytechnic Institute of Tomar (IPT) as a form to recover, preserve and show in a new way industrial remnants and derelicts, complying with well-defined criteria for collection and selection of those fragments. As a new concept, it needed to be experimented, so students were involved in its practice, which enabled theory demonstrations and maintained a dynamic university learning atmosphere. Purpose: This paper presents the challenges posed to three Conservation and Restoration teachers: different ways to explain new and controversial information, engaging students for the Creative Conservation concept, developing practical extra work, learning and improving hands-on skills, and to practice team-work within a Conservation Laboratory and a Museum environment. Methods: A series of three different workshops were designed as learning tools to allow students to develop conservation skills, discuss problem solving and practice “out of the box” thinking, under the Project Creative Conservation, within the specialties of ceramics, tiles, metal, plastics and paper remnants preservation. It was also provided the chance to create different exhibition methods, installation and exhibition display. Results: A good percentage of students were enthusiastic and complied with the conservation challenges posed by teachers and by remnants themselves. The fragments were properly preserved and differently displayed in exhibitions. Conclusions: The IPT conservation teacher’s competencies and enthusiasm towards teaching a different concept within a practical frame enabled students to broad their view in the conservation field and widen the classical approach to conservation and restoration.