This is the first session of our four-part Conservation & Preservation Essentials Seminar Series that aims to explore conservation principles and preventative care strategies across diverse collection types, from heritage items to contemporary materials. The series combines foundational knowledge with material-specific techniques, equipping you with practical approaches to preservation challenges.
Whether you manage a small community collection or work within a larger institution, these seminars will strengthen your capacity to preserve cultural heritage for future generations. Attend individual sessions based on your collection profile, or complete the full series to build comprehensive conservation knowledge across material types.
PLEASE NOTE: While this session is part of a four-part series, each module is designed to stand alone. Participants can choose to attend individual sessions based on their interests or opt for the full series for a comprehensive exploration.
ABOUT THE SESSION
Delivered by Erina McCann (conservator, collection care collaborator, and Founder of Tiaki Objects Conservation), this session explores preventive conservation approaches for three-dimensional objects, with a strong focus on working respectfully with First Nations cultural material. Participants will examine how conservation practice intersects with cultural knowledge, custodianship, and community-led decision-making, alongside an introduction to the material vulnerabilities of diverse object types.
Learning Objectives
Participants will:
Understand material-specific deterioration processes affecting three-dimensional objects (to include organic, inorganic, composite materials)
Learn appropriate storage, display, and environmental strategies
Recognise ethical responsibilities and cultural protocols when conserving First Nations objects
Develop an awareness of culturally informed conservation decision-making
Apply safe handling principles within institutional and community contexts
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
ERINA McCANN
It is hard to single out the exact moment, when my passion for cultural heritage was piqued. Maybe it was running my hands over the carved grooves of my ancestors in our tipuna whare | ancestral house as a child, or tracing my fingers over the smooth flax surface of the tukutuku panels | ornamental lattice-work beside them. It could have been one of the many times, my grandfather shared stories of his childhood in India, or listening to my kaumatua |elders recite our family genealogies; whenever the moment, it has inherently shaped who I am, and influenced my career, to this day.
Getting here, hasn’t been a straightforward journey; more like a fortuitous amble.
My career in Heritage and Museums spans 22 years, from my humble beginnings as an arts student at The University of Auckland, New Zealand, studying Anthropology, Archaeology and Māori Studies, to an Honours degree in Māori Material Culture, and eventually a Masters in Cultural Materials Conservation at The University of Melbourne, Australia.
During my professional career, I have worked in conservation, collection preservation, collection relocation and collection management positions. Each stage of the journey has allowed me to contribute conservation services to cross-disciplinary initiatives, that have focused on developing and implementing collection preservation strategies, through collection access, maintenance and long-term preventive conservation management. Since going solo, I have helped some of Melbourne’s and Australia’s significant heritage organisations, continue to care for their collections. It goes without saying – cultural heritage is precious. I believe that if we immerse ourselves in the stories of the objects, from collection of materials to manufacture, it allows us to better understand the physical and intangible value of each taonga | treasure. And, I bring you, our community, along with me every step of the way.
TICKETS:
AMaGA Member | $40
Non-member | $50
Student | $35
Secure your spot for the entire series now and take advantage of the 10% series discount!