Climate Change and the Risk to Material Culture

Venue: The Hunt Museum, Rutland Street, Limerick
info@huntmuseum.com
Tel: 061 312 833
www.huntmuseum.com

The issue of Climate Change confronts all of humanity and, regardless of the current economic malaise, the problems and the challenges will not disappear. Conscious of the consequences for Ireland’s heritage the Heritage Council is currently engaged in research and the development of policy advice in this area. More specifically the Hunt Museum, Limerick, houses a collection of material culture of great significance. While there is no immediate risk to its collection the Museum’s riverside location enhances its own awareness of the potential risks and problems facing collections in the event of dramatic climate change. Although not in itself the result of climate change the consequence of flooding for collections in Cork, last year, highlighted dramatically the vulnerability of valuable collections to phenomenon such as rising tides or river-water levels. All change can impact on collections adversely, some more than others. Increased rainfall and / or increased level of heat can pose challenges to materials such as works of art on paper, wood, metal. A change in humidity may indeed benefit certain objects while posing a destructive risk to other. Solutions are not necessarily simple but it is imperative to raise awareness of the risks and the urgency of having strategies in place.

The forthcoming symposium brings together experts and policy-decision makers to highlight the need and benefit of increased awareness and the need for national strategy in this area.

9.00 Registration:

9.30 Welcome:
Professor Roger Downer, Chair, Board of The Hunt Museum.

9.45 The Risk Agenda:
Beatrice Kelly, The Heritage Council
Dr Hugh Maguire, Director, The Hunt Museum

10.00 Keynote Address:
‘The risks to material culture posed by climate change’
Professor Peter Brimblecombe:
School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia

10.45 Discussion

11.00 Coffee

11.15 The Wide and the Specific|:
Mary Stack: Fáilte Ireland, ‘Climate Change: Implications on Ireland’s Built and
Natural Heritage and what this means for Tourism’

The Glucksman Scenario:
Chris Clarke: The Lewis Glucksman Gallery, UCC.
Paul Curtis: Conservation, Muckross House, Killarney

12.00 Risk Preparedness
Susan Bioletti, Head of Conservation, Trinity College, Dublin
Siobhan Stevenson, Head of Collections Care, National Museums Northern Ireland

12.45 Discussion

Lunch:

2.00 Katy Lithgow: Head of Conservation, The National Trust

3.00 The Reality on the Ground:
Adrian Kennedy: Office of Public Works
James McDowell, AXA Art Insurance Ltd.

4.15 Discussion

4.30 Conclusion: Tea / Coffee