This is the second 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
Join Larry Edwards, Textiles Conservator, and Sherryn Vardy, Conservator, Gippsland Heritage Conservation, for a deep dive into paper and textile-based collection items. Participants will explore how these vulnerable materials deteriorate and learn strategies for handling, storage, environmental control, and display within museum, archive, and collection contexts.
Learning Objectives
Participants will:
Understand deterioration mechanisms affecting paper and textiles
Identify common forms of damage, pests, and environmental risks
Recognise material-specific vulnerabilities across paper and fabric objects
Learn safe handling, storage, and display principles
Develop basic environmental monitoring and preventive care strategies
Topics Covered
Textiles
Fiber identification and characteristics (natural vs. synthetic)
Light damage, fading, and photochemical degradation
Pest identification and integrated pest management
Humidity and temperature control for textile collections
Storage solutions: rolling, flat storage, and hanging methods
Handling protocols and mounting for display
Case studies: costume, banners, and flag collections
Paper
Paper composition, and ageing processes
Chemical and mechanical damage
Degradation of ink and other media
Mould, foxing, and environmental causes
Protective housing: folders, boxes, and encapsulation
Handling books, maps, prints, and photographs
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS
LARRY EDWARDS
Larry’s interest in conservation has been a lifetime in the making. Originally a teacher and lecturer in performing arts, Larry went on to study Costume for Performance, open a costume shop, and then spend 14 years touring internationally with a circus. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Larry returned home to continue a textile journey—this time within museums and the field of conservation and restoration.
SHERRYN VARDY
Sherryn is a dedicated conservator and arts administrator who has held various roles in regional galleries and is the Senior Exhibitions Coordinator at National Exhibitions Touring Support (NETS) Victoria where she coordinates touring exhibitions around Australia. She curated and developed the NETS Victoria touring exhibition Made to last: The conservation of art. Previous roles include Exhibition Project Coordinator and Assistant Registrar at ACMI in the national and international touring team, travelling with major exhibitions. At AMaGA Victoria, Sherryn was both a Museum Accreditation Program Manager and Regional Digitisation Officer – Bushfire Recovery Project where she worked with small museums and communities. Sherryn holds a Bachelor and Graduate Diploma of Visual Arts from Monash University and a Master of Cultural Material Conservation from the University of Melbourne. She is on the Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Material (AICCM) Victorian Branch committee and is the Professional Membership Officer on AICCM National Council. Sherryn currently operates a private conservation practice, Gippsland Heritage Conservation.
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!