Managing the Museum Collections During the Pandemic: An overview of some conservation measures done at NMP

Posted on: November 27, 2021 | National Museum of the Philippines

^{Installation of customized acid-free polyester film sheets under each specimen to serve as protective layer from the painted mounting systems at the Lumad Mindanao gallery}

How were the collections during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic? How are they now?

^{Mechanical cleaning of accumulated surface dirt on the mats on display at the Entwined Spheres: Mats and Baskets as Containers, Conveyors and Costumes gallery}

For this week’s #MuseumFromHome series, we would like to share some of the challenges faced by the #NationalMuseumPH at the onset of the pandemic.

^{Placing packs of silica gels inside showcases to reduce moisture at the Faith, Tradition and Place: Bangsamoro Art Gallery}

Last year, the government declared Enhanced Community Quarantine from 17 March until the end of May, resulting in alternative work arrangements for the period of State of National Emergency.

^{Cleaning and restoration of some broken objects exhibited at the Faith, Tradition and Place: Bangsamoro Art Gallery}

A skeleton workforce was tasked to monitor the collections but the regular maintenance of the galleries, collections, and exhibition collaterals every Monday was not conducted for the period, resulting in accumulation of dust and pest infestation. Mold growth was also observed due to inconsistent humidity levels and high temperature. Collection maintenance became a matter of concern in the early days of the pandemic with some studies stating that the coronavirus lives on surfaces for an unknown period of time. However, we had to act in order to preserve the collections while observing health protocols.

^{Photo-documentation of objects before and after cleaning}

To ensure that collections exhibited in the eight (8) galleries and two (2) repositories at the National Museum of Anthropology under the care of the Ethnology Division are maintained, two (2) teams working in alternating weekly schedules were created to work from home and report physically. From July to December 2020, the two (2) teams performed the necessary preventive conservation measures and maintenance of five (5) galleries, while the other three (3) galleries were scheduled for January to September 2021, amidst a series of hard lockdowns in February, March, and August 2021. All objects and systems were inspected for possible mold growth and presence of pests, and their condition was assessed for conservation measures. Glass and wooden panels including pedestals were thoroughly cleaned to prevent pest re-infestation. This major gallery maintenance also became an opportunity to improve the displays by replacing objects that are fragile, reprinting worn out caption cards, developing mounts to ensure the stability of objects on pedestals, and to conduct further research or validation on collections.

^{Thorough removal of molds from objects using wet and dry swabbing}

This pandemic has taught us a lot about the importance of disaster preparedness, collections management and conservation, and how to plan for the unplanned. At present, we are delighted to see visitors, albeit fewer than before, enjoying the exhibitions especially those that were opened last year amidst the pandemic. Click here to learn more about our collections: https://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/our-collections/ethnology/

#PreventiveConservation

#BeatCOVID19