Training for Museum Curators in Charge of Conservation

Practice identifying insect pests that damage cultural properties

　Training for Museum Curators in Charge of Conservation is intended to imbue curators with the knowledge and skills needed to conserve cultural properties. This year’s training was conducted over 2 weeks starting on July 9^th, and participants consisted of 30 curators and administrators from around the country. The training curriculum primarily consisted of lectures and practice in 2 areas: (1) conservation conditions grounded in the natural sciences and (2) causes of the degradation of different types of cultural properties and steps to prevent that degradation.
　“Case studies” that involved putting conservation conditions into effect in actual settings took place at the National Museum of Japanese History in Sakura city, Chiba prefecture. Participants divided into 8 groups and conducted field studies and assessments of set conditions such as temperature, humidity, and illuminance. The following day, they reported their results.
　Training participants are anticipated to constitute a local nexus for conservation of cultural properties as they continue their work in museums. Application guidelines are distributed to individual facilities via municipal boards of education every February or so, so we look forward to your application.