EXPERIENCE
“BEYOND THE BASSLINE” EXHIBITION | London, UK
British Library - Freelance Conservation (March - August 2024)
As the first major exhibition of its kind, "Beyond the Bassline" explores the innovative history of Black British sound and the global impact it has had for generations.
Completed condition assessments for numerous musical instruments in preparation for the exhibition, documenting the physical stability of each instrument and advising on display requirements.
Led installation process of all musical instruments in the exhibition and will oversee deinstallation following its completion.
DIRIYAH CONTEMPORARY ART BIENNALE | Diriyah, Saudi Arabia
Plowden & Smith - Freelance Conservation (February 2024)
Contributed to the preventative and remedial conservation of various artworks during the installation process of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.
Conducted condition assessments of all artworks during the unpacking and installation process.
Performed remedial treatments of artworks ranging in medium, including textile, glass, painted surfaces, metal, and wood.
Proposed treatments and display methods for interactive artworks to ensure public safety and minimise damage to artwork while on display.
Collaborated with conservators, art handlers, health and safety professionals, and artists across various disciplines.
Focused on the value of effective communication to accommodate the strict installation time scale.
ROYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC MUSEUM | London, UK
Conservator (2022-Present)
Established protocols for the analysis of Integrated Pest Management Eltek monitoring systems on site, recording data monthly to track fluctuations and identify collection threats.
Overseeing intensive surveys of the collection through the creation of detailed spreadsheets, condition auditing, object marking, treatment trajectories, and future aspirations for the integrity of the collection as a whole.
Developing and conducting comprehensive playability assessments for the dynamic musical instruments within the cultural heritage collection, introducing innovative evaluation methods to determine safe and effective usage, honouring both artefact safety and accessibility.
Designed and organised the new conservation workshop, directing the acquisition and stock of all conservation materials, chemicals, solvents, utensils, and tools.
Creates various budget plans for conservation of the collection, accounting for requirements to maintain its integrity, and ensuring effective resource allocation.
Managing a high standard of health and safety, through maintaining up to date and digitised COSHH records, creation of Risk Assessments and Standard Operating Procedures for the collections, workshop, and conservation-related activities.
Interacting with external conservators to treat specific objects in the collection, such as playable instruments, paintings, and works on paper.
Directing the digitisation of all conservation and condition records in the collection, including redesigning the database sections to create a more suitable protocol for documentation, ensuring accessibility and long-term preservation of valuable information.
SCIENCE MUSEUM | London, UK
Conservation Intern (February-June 2023)
Treated various composite medical artefacts from the Wellcome Trust Collection
Conducted condition surveys of two galleries within the museum to provide valuable insight into the updated condition of objects on display, some of which have no previous condition history. Raised awareness about environmental factors that could potentially impact the physical integrity of the objects.
Assisted in the transfer of objects from Blythe House to off-site collections storage, creating supportive packaging to ensure safe and efficient transport.
Formulated and carried out treatments for objects composed of heavily degrading polyurethane foam to stabilise their structural composition and surfaces.
Treated and repaired a function machine shop model in the Making the Modern World Gallery on display leading to fascinating insights into continually functioning objects and their rate of degradation over time.
THE WALLACE COLLECTION | London, UK
Conservation Intern (August 2022- January 2023)
Assisted in the finalisation of a large-scale cataloguing project for the Ottoman, Middle Eastern, and Asian (OMEA) Arms and Armour collection.
Completed the treatment of remaining artefacts within the collection to maintain productivity and the stringent deadlines of the project.
Undertook the assessment, documentation, and treatment of approximately 120 artefacts, mainly consisting of swords, shields, vambraces, helmets composed of steel, bronze, gilt silver and gold. Other composite artefacts included scabbards, powder flasks, cartridge pouches, arrows, and quivers.
Assisted in transport of objects during installation and deinstallation of temporary exhibitions.
THE HENRY FORD MUSEUM OF AMERICAN INNOVATION | Dearborn, MI
Conservation Specialist (2020-2021)
Conducted conservation and care of all furniture and a breadth of decorative arts objects within the collection.
Duties included condition assessment, treatment, preventative care, technical research and analysis, and packaging of objects following treatment.
Undertook extensive treatment work for multiple exhibitions and display including "Driving America" and "What We Wore" including treatment of leather, automobiles, machinery, textile, wood, glass, paper, metal, and plastics.
Collaborated with curators, registrars, collection management, and other conservators, to maintain treatment trajectories.
Wrote various literature for the museum including blog posts, social media content, and educational fact sheets on preventative conservation.
Led conservation assessment and treatment of a White Camp Truck circa 1920. Directed volunteers and aided in treating approximately 600 objects associated with the truck and its camping history.
Conservation Specialist (2018-2019)
Executed treatments on a wide breadth of artefacts, ranging in the severity of condition and material composition such as automobiles, agricultural equipment, instruments, machinery, decorative arts, dynamic objects, and furniture.
Notable treatments included treating and rehousing objects possessing asbestos, lead, mercury, and cadmium.
Conducted intrusive surveys and preventive conservation for the interior and exteriors of approximately 80 historic buildings at Greenfield Village, located on the site of the Henry Ford Museum.
Facilitated engagement with visitors regarding conservation and preventative care while upholding preservation standards for artefacts on both sites.
Maintained open communication with departmental colleagues to ensure the efficiency of the project timeline.
Effectively trained in emergency and disaster protocols; equipped to handle unpredictable circumstances such as flooding, terrorism, presence of hazards, etc.
WILLIAM L. CLEMENTS LIBRARY | Ann Arbor, MI
Conservation Specialist (2017-2018)
Employed through the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program
Assessed and treated 50 Great Britain/Native American manuscript documents, part of an indispensable manuscript collection pertaining to the American Revolution.
Analysed watermarks on each of the 50 documents to understand the transfer and manufacture of paper goods during the revolution.
Created a finding aid and detailed item-level inventory for the collection.
Conducted diverse treatments, including custom enclosures, washing, lining, wax seal preservation, and custom fills. Additionally, disassembled and repaired three sewn journals, mending individual leaves and covers with precision.
Conducted treatments on documents from the Weld-Grimke Collection including washing and lining, creating custom fills for documents possessing voids, and constructing custom clamshell tray cases for multiple bound bibles of high value to the collection.
KELSEY MUSEUM OF ARCHAEOLOGY | Ann Arbor, MI
Conservation Intern (2017)
