Connect-Conserve Cymru
–Connecting Businesses with conservators in wales
-Enabling communities to protect their cultural heritage
Following Covid-19 Connect-Conserve Cymru has evolved from the very frightening reality that work and livlihoods can disappear almost overnight. We want to connect with businesses in our sector and match them with professional conservators.
Connect-Conserve Cymru provides a support network to help small conservation businesses become more resilient through working together and sharing resources.
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Connect was formed to help conservators re-emerge after the crippling financial effects of Covid-19
Conservation is caring for treasured collections in homes, museums or private houses.
Becoming a conservator requires qualifications, skill, training and lots of experience.
Our aim is to match conservators to the right job.
We encourage working together to share knowledge, skills and companionship.
The majority of our members are accredited conservators, or emerging and returning professionals working mainly within Wales.
We specialise in all areas of heritage conservation (FAQ)
We provide all levels of conservation services around the UK and have a growing list of clients
We actively encourage our members to follow Icons PACR path through support and mentoring.
Any profit made is reinvested into our heritage communities.
What we do
In one year, we have managed to help overcome the crippling financial hit that lockdown dealt to conservators working in the heritage sector. As freelancers we were not able to receive furlough and many had no government support either. Some experieced losing thousands of pounds of work almost overnight. This has showed the importance of becoming more resilient and adaptable to the changing financial climate.
As an organisation with a huge wealth of knowledge and specialist expertise, we can work together to apply for tenders and bids, and work on larger projects, not easily achievable alone. This way we share the funds, skills and knowledge and can offer more placements and mentoring opportunities to students, emerging and returning professionals.
As a membership based organisation, we are able to be flexible, reactive and responsive to requests from any discipline.
Connect can help you to look after your collections and prevent damage from happening. We offer training and events such as demonstrating how to salvage collections after an event, for example a burst pipe or flood which has caused water damage.
We have office space as well as studio and training spaces to accommodate volunteers and students wanting to work with private practice conservators.
What we have achieved in our first year
We have provided conservation advice to private collectors and institutions; undertaken collection reviews, audits and assessments; carried out building surveys, diagnosed water ingress issues and the ensuing hazardous mould growth concerns; have completed conservation treatments.
We have worked with the Welsh Government department of Culture, the National Trust, Heritage England, the Rhondda Heritage Park Museum, DigVentures, Windfall Productions, Kidwelly Industrial Museum, the Museum of Stroud, Cardiff University, Carmarthenshire County Council, Aberystwyth University and private collectors.
We have contracted 15 individuals and offered placements to 3 University students. We are also helping non-accredited conservators to advance their experience and portfolios towards completing the Icon accreditation pathway.
We are currently providing free advice and remedial conservation for two community trusts within Wales.
What we want to do
We want to grow our membership, provide interesting, collaborative projects for conservators and student placements and reach out to community groups to provide more offers of free conservation, advice and training on caring for treasured possessions.
Can you be involved?
YES!
We want to engage with our communities and help conserve the collections that matter to you. If you would like to become a member we can provide training and advice in all aspects of conservation.
If you are a conservation student looking for placements in Wales, please contact us.
Can you become a Member?
YES!
We have a two tiered membership
+ Supporting Members
++Active Members
Please visit the page to sign up and become a part of Connect
YOU ARE ALL WELCOME HERE
We aim to be an equal opportunities employer and we are determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, race, or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable.
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- Twitter: @CConserveCymru)
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