Registration is now open for the "Midwest Microfading Tester Workshop" taking place from 830am-3pm on Friday, March 20, 2026, at the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois.
The audience for this practical training workshop includes prospective and emerging microfading tester (MFT) users, and those interested in alternatives to their current MFT setups. The workshop has a capacity of 18 persons and the registration fee is $85, which includes morning coffee and lunch. Registration can be purchased from the following link (note: please do not add the "Meal Voucher" option as lunch will be provided): https://tickets.fieldmuseum.org/special-event-tickets?events=6967cccd3a63d6d037b6abe8&date=2026-03-20
The MFT is a powerful tool for beginning to decide how much light exposure a particular collection item can tolerate. The technique exposes a very small area-less than 0.5 mm in diameter-to an intense light source exceeding 1 million lux, while a spectrometer simultaneously monitors color change. This method provides insight into vulnerability to light of objects and supports exhibition selection, as well as the development of material-specific lighting guidelines for display.
The bulk of the workshop will be dedicated to gaining hands-on experience with the Whitmore MFT, Retroreflective MFT, and Fotonowy MFT. During three 80-minute sessions on each instrument, participants will work in small groups with expert instructors to begin learning how to operate the instrument (choosing test locations, assessing the light source, establishing test parameters, focusing the light spot, conducting the tests) and communicate the results (analyzing and interpreting the data, preparing reports, impacting lighting guidelines). Information will also be shared on the acquisition, assembly, portability, and maintenance of each instrument.
Instructors include JP Brown (Field Museum), Erin Murphy (Field Museum), Giovanni Verri (Art Institute of Chicago), Cindy Connelly Ryan (Library of Congress), Jenny Youkyoung Kim (Getty Conservation Institute), and Vincent Laudato Beltran (Getty Conservation Institute).
This workshop is organized by AIC's Microfading Tester International Discussion Group (MFT-IDG) in collaboration with the Field Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Library of Congress, and the Getty Conservation Institute.