CAPS Colloquium 2009

The Cleaning of Acrylic Painted Surfaces: Research into Practice colloquium was held in July 2009, at the Getty Center as a collaboration of the Conservation Institute and the Paintings Conservation department of the Getty Museum.

During the colloquium, eighteen instructors and invited participants—conservation scientists and conservators from institutions and practices in the United States and Europe—critically evaluated current ideas and practices related to the cleaning of acrylic painted surfaces. Lectures presenting new research on the subject were complemented with hands-on cleaning and evaluation exercises applied to a variety of materials (including specially fabricated samples and paint films, and acrylic paintings). Group discussions were used to explore subjects such as current trends in the cleaning of acrylic painted surfaces and pressing needs in terms of research and practice.

The colloquium participants also reflected upon the specific learning needs of painting conservators dealing with contemporary acrylic painted surfaces and how the subsequent workshop might best address these needs through specific types of learning experiences.