Ethnographic Collections Working Group
Triennial Programme 2008-2011

The working group will investigate, research, and report on the following areas of interest:

A. Biocides in collections
1. History of biocide use and identification
2. Deterioration of materials caused by biocides
3. Mitigation and removal of residues

B. Material science studies
1. Identification of materials found in objects
2. Deterioration of materials found in objects
3. Treatment studies and case histories
4. Composite objects and cross-disciplinary projects

C. Ethics, values and decision-making
1. Values-based differences in preservation strategies
2. Difference in approaches between ‘Ethnography’ and ‘Art’
3. Preservation rationales and decision-making processes
4. Historical reviews

D. Indigenous knowledge, communities, and collaborations
1. Indigenous preservation knowledge and techniques used since ancient times
2. Stakeholders’ views on conservation and heritage
3. Community involvement in conservation and preservation decisions
4. Consultations and collaborations with cultural groups who are stakeholders of collections.

E. Exhibits and preventive conservation
1. Interpretation and presentation of collections on display
2. Preventive conservation applied to objects or collections
3. Long term needs and maintenance

Additionally the working group will publish:
1. The Proceedings of the Forum on the Conservation of Thangkas
2. Annual issues of the ICOM-CC Ethnographic Conservation Newsletter
3. Updates to the working group’s web pages on the ICOM-CC website, and in particular the Biocides web-page