Cultural heritage conservation technician
Creative and design
Level 4 -
Preserving public and private heritage objects, collections and sites.
Reference: OCC0611
Status:
SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 2151/03 Heritage officers
- 5442/03 Furniture restorers
- 6211/06 Museum and heritage assistants
Technical Education Products
Employers involved in creating the standard:
British Library, Cliveden Conservation, English Heritage, Hall Conservation, Historic England, Historic Royal Palaces, Holy Well Glass, Museum of London, Tate, The National Archives, The University of Manchester, The Whitworth, University of Cambridge, The Fitzwilliam Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum
Summary
Cultural Heritage Conservation Technicians are specialist practitioners working under the supervision of professional conservators, conservation scientists or senior conservation technicians. They work to ensure the preservation of cultural heritage objects or collections housed in archives, art galleries, libraries, museums, private collections, as well as historic and ancient sites. They may also undertake work related to the internal and external features of buildings, but not the building itself. Cultural Heritage Conservation Technicians can be found working across practical conservation, preventive conservation and conservation science and in doing so may work across a range of collections, such as in a historic property, or their work might be directed towards a particular type of object or collection such as books, sculpture or metals. Cultural Heritage Conservation Technicians may work for public institutions as well as for conservation practices in the private sector. The work of a Cultural Heritage Conservation Technician is fundamentally practical and is underpinned by an understanding of how to assess the condition and possible risks to an item. Their work includes carrying out conservation support activities as well as routine conservation procedures under the supervision and guidance of a professional conservator or conservation scientist, although they may have considerable autonomy in undertaking technical support tasks such as conservation cleaning, storage and packing of objects, environmental monitoring, insect pest monitoring, routine conservation treatments and may be involved in supervising others in this area. Job tasks are well-defined, but working under the supervision / guidance of professional conservators may at times be complex and non-routine including supervising working contractors in historic interiors. They are responsible for the quality and accuracy of their work and are good communicators and problem solvers, as well as being responsible for keeping appropriate and accurate records of their work. Cultural Heritage Conservation Technicians work with their supervisors to review how effective methods and actions have been. They may be required to engage with the public to promote an understanding of cultural heritage conservation. They have clearly stated objectives and carry out investigations – whether desk based or more practical - in order to answer practical and/or research questions.
Preserving public and private heritage objects, collections and sites.
Employers involved in creating the standard:
British Library, Cliveden Conservation, English Heritage, Hall Conservation, Historic England, Historic Royal Palaces, Holy Well Glass, Museum of London, Tate, The National Archives, The University of Manchester, The Whitworth, University of Cambridge, The Fitzwilliam Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum
Typical job titles include:
Keywords:
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)
Duties
Duty D1
Assisting Conservators in the preparation and execution of conservation treatments, as well as undertaking some routine conservation treatments as specified by qualified Conservators.
Duty D2
Support senior colleagues in delivery and monitoring of Integrated Pest Management and Environmental Monitoring.
Duty D3
Assess and manage risk to collections on display and in storage, and to provide support to senior colleagues in mitigating against these risks.
Duty D4
Organisation of collections in storage / on display and maintaining records utilising appropriate collections management systems.
Duty D5
Responsible for the day to day care of collections, including undertaking of monitoring, conservation cleaning or protection of collections. Supervising volunteers in moving or handling objects.
Occupational Progression
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Technical Occupations
Levels 2-3
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Creative and design