Connecting to Collections Care

Dear all, 

I am really excited about this talk, and I think you might be too! This conservator in Denmark is going to talk about extensive mould in a collection that is normally under 60% RH. As usual for Art Bio Matter events, you will need to join ABM to attend and discuss, but you can easily do that on the main website.

Best,

Angelica

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When mould is a museum visitor – xerophilic fungal growth challenges environmental recommendations for heritage collections
By Camilla Bastholm
Thursday December 5th at 11:00 am ET

Read the full abstract for the talk below. An Art Bio Matters Membership is required to attend this seminar. Visit artbiomatters.org/join-abm to become a member (it's free!).

Abstract:

In the last decade, extensive fungal growth has developed in Danish museums parallel to climate change challenging occupational health and heritage preservation. The growth was unexpected as the museums controlled relative humidity below 60 %, according to international environmental recommendations for heritage collections. Only heritage artefacts were affected, there was no growth on building constructions, interior and museum boxes. A cross-sectional study using a multiple detection approach found that the culprits were extremophilic xerophilic fungal species able to grow at low relative humidity, which is most unusual for fungi. The study concluded that xerophilic fungal growth is nationally distributed and suggests these species as a novel contaminant in climate-controlled museum repositories. To safeguard occupational health and heritage preservation research in sustainable solutions, avoiding xerophilic growth in museum collections is most important.

The talk will be followed by a discussion with members in attendance.