CAPS Workshop 2018: Belo Horizonte

The Cleaning of Acrylic Painted Surfaces workshop 2018 in Brazil (CAPS 2018 Brazil) was held in October 2018, at the Conservation Science Laboratory of the Center for Conservation & Restoration of Cultural Properties at Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais in Belo Horizonte.

The workshop included lectures presenting new research, technology, and practical advances, much of which was developed by the course instructors themselves. There was also a significant amount of hands-on activity designed to test the different approaches.

Participants were provided with commercially available and custom-prepared cleaning materials for testing on paint films. Group discussions were used to evaluate materials, techniques, applicability, and effectiveness.

• communicating results of recent scientific research and new developments in conservation practice
• stimulating a dialogue between researchers and conservators about the application of new research and technical insights to the conservation of acrylic painted surfaces
• developing critical thinking skills that will help participants design project-specific cleaning systems in their own labs
• identifying areas where further research is needed

• Tom Learner, Head of Science, Getty Conservation Institute
• Bronwyn Ormsby, Principal Conservation Scientist, Tate
• Chris Stavroudis, independent conservator, Los Angeles

Assistant Instructor Alexia Soldano, independent conservator, Paris

The Conservation Science Laboratory is a research, training, and services laboratory based at the Center for Conservation of Cultural Heritage (CECOR), at the School of Fine Arts of the Federal University of Minas Gerais. CECOR houses the first Brazilian undergraduate training course in Conservation-Restoration of Cultural Properties and contributes to the field of cultural heritage conservation through its integration and collaboration with preservation institutions and initiatives throughout Brazil and internationally.