The Courtauld Institute of Art’s Conservation Department is hosting its annual in-situ conservation project – this year with special significance, marking the 10th anniversary of its collaborative partnership with the City & Guilds Conservation Programme and the Parliamentary Art Collection.
For the first time, this unique conservation initiative is taking place at The Courtauld’s Conservation studios based in Somerset House from 8 – 19 September, offering a rare opportunity to engage with the Parliamentary Art Collection outside of its usual home at the Palace of Westminster.
This long-standing project brings together postgraduate students from The Courtauld’s MA in the Conservation of Easel Paintings and City & Guilds’ BA/MA Conservation course. Working side by side, the students assess, document, stabilise, and rehouse selected paintings and frames from the Parliamentary Art Collection – an important and unique national collection.
The Parliamentary Art Collection holds over 10,000 objects, including paintings, drawings, sculptures, prints, textiles, and digital works. From medieval statues to contemporary pieces, it reflects the rich history of Parliament, its work, people and buildings. Approximately 60% of the artworks are currently displayed throughout the Parliamentary estate, in high-profile public spaces, integrated into offices, meeting rooms, and communal areas.
The collaborative project was initiated in 2014 by Caroline Babbington, former Collections Conservation Manager for the Palace of Westminster and alumna of The Courtauld’s Postgraduate Diploma in Wall Painting Conservation (PGDip: 1988) Now run by Lucy Odlin, Collections Conservation Manager and alumna of The Courtauld’s Postgraduate Diploma in the Conservation of Easel Paintings (PGDip: 2016), alongside Maureen Cross, Senior Lecturer in the Conservation of Easel Paintings at The Courtauld, and Gerry Alabone, City & Guilds Lecturer in Frames, Wood and Decorative Surfaces, they partnered with curators from the Parliamentary Art Collection to create a sustainable, long-term conservation and documentation programme.
Over the past decade, Courtauld and City & Guilds students have treated 147 paintings and frames, making a significant contribution to the ongoing preservation of this vital national collection.
This milestone year not only celebrates a decade of fruitful collaboration but also highlights the crucial role conservation students play in safeguarding Britain’s cultural heritage.
