AIC 53rd Annual Meeting

In Brazil, there are very few options for education in conservation, and none in the state of São Paulo. The University of São Paulo (USP), the largest in Brazil, does not offer any degree programs in conservation and restoration. In 2018, some USP affiliates founded the Preventive Conservation Network of USP (REDE) aiming to promote heritage preservation initiatives such as discussion groups, events, training sessions, and courses to address this gap.

Amongst courses organized by REDE, the “Preventive Conservation of Collections Course” is the most successful in terms of public interest and feedback. This course is divided into three sequential modules: 1 - The Impact of the Building and Its Surroundings; 2 - Collection Management; and 3 - Conservation Science for Collections. Each module consists of 36 hours divided into online classes, site visits, and hands-on training. It emphasizes the practical application of the content, ideally using the institution where students work as a case study. The course is coordinated by REDE and features five to six experts teaching specific topics.

Until now, Module 1 has been offered three times (2022, 2023, 2024); Module 2 is being prepared and will be available in early 2025; and Module 3 is planned. The demand has been steadily increasing (over 70 applications for 25 places in 2024). The students are primarily from the state of São Paulo, but many come from other states as well. It has an affordable price, and its hybrid format makes it accessible to those who work and study in parallel. As teachers, we have observed that, despite being a short-term course, the engagement, quality of discussions, and results are excellent. The final project typically generates a diagnostic with proposals for the analyzed areas that are presented to colleagues and teachers, giving a unique view of the diverse realities of Brazil.

The case studies profile is very broad: from big public cultural institutions to smaller places run by volunteers. As teachers, we have the privilege to see the diversity and richness of collections, but we also feel the enormous challenge of preserving them. The exchange of experiences shows that, independently of the resources available, the presence of qualified personnel must be an essential goal.

The feedback we receive consistently highlights the quality of the course content, which addresses cutting-edge topics of preventive conservation and presents an evaluation methodology for collection storage facilities developed by the School of Architecture and Urbanism (FAU-USP). Students and teachers stay connected by WhatsApp group and, even after two years we still observe active networking.

At the AIC Annual Meeting, we would like to present the results of the REDE strategy of investing in courses and training focused on advanced knowledge in preventive conservation. This approach has been successful in the vertical dissemination of knowledge (from teachers to students) and also in the horizontal exchange of experience (among all participants).  We also want to reflect on the urgent need for USP to establish formal public education programs to secure the preservation of our cultural and scientific heritage.