The Courtauld appoints Dr Naomi Luxford as Head of Programme for MA Preventive Conservation

We are delighted to announce that Dr Naomi Luxford has been appointed as Head of Programme for MA Preventive Conservation at the Courtauld Institute.

The Courtauld recently announced it is extending its world-leading conservation teaching from autumn 2026, offering a unique one-year full-time programme in preventive conservation. The course will equip graduates with an understanding of the principles and practicalities of preventive conservation, give experience in identifying, measuring and addressing potential threats to objects.

Dr Naomi Luxford holds an MSc in Chemistry, MA in Conservation from the V&A RCA programme and a PhD in conservation science from the University of Southampton. She has worked at English Heritage as a Conservation Scientist since 2016, focussing on environmental control and monitoring, including display cases, heating systems and light control, with an emphasis on how display requirements and indoor environmental conditions relate to historic buildings’ performance. Her research focuses on how materials in collections deteriorate as a result of the environmental conditions around them.

Prior to this, she held a clothworkers fellowship at English Heritage and has held research fellowships at UCL centre for sustainable heritage and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She has also worked in private practice and as a consultant, and has taught on conservation programmes at West Dean and City and Guilds.

The MA Preventive Conservation at the Courtauld Institute is the only programme of its kind, offering face-to-face teaching, tuition, and mentoring in this fast-developing discipline. The degree is taught by in-house conservation and science specialists complemented by outside professionals with particular areas of expertise.

Applications are now open for September 2026 entry. Find out more.