Revision 7255717 of "Getty Conservation Institute" on simplewiki

The '''Getty Conservation Institute''' (GCI), in [[Los Angeles, California]], is a program of the [[J. Paul Getty Trust]]. It is headquartered at the [[Getty Center]] but also has facilities at the [[Getty Villa]]. It commenced operation in 1985.<ref name=GCI>J. Paul Getty Trust. [http://www.getty.edu/conservation/institute/ About the Conservation Institute.] Retrieved May 2, 2011.</ref> The GCI is a private international research institution dedicated to advancing conservation practice through the creation and delivery of knowledge. It "serves the conservation community through scientific research, education and training, model field projects, and the dissemination of the results of both its own work and the work of others in the field" and "adheres to the principles that guide the work of the Getty Trust: service, philanthropy, teaching, and access."<ref name=GCI/> GCI works in both [[art conservation]] and [[architectural conservation]].<ref name=Adams>Adams, Eric. The Getty's conservation mission. ''Architecture'', December 1997, vol. 86, issue 12.</ref>

GCI conducts scientific research related to art conservation. It offers formal education and training programs. GCI published a number of scholarly books.  GCI pays for field projects around the world to preserve cultural heritage.

== Scientific projects ==
GCI scientists study the decay of objects and buildings, and how to prevent or stop such decay.<ref name=GCIScience>Getty Conservation Institute. [http://www.getty.edu/conservation/science/about/ About GCI Science.] Retrieved August 26, 2008.</ref>  One of many projects in this area involved the effect of outdoor and indoor air pollutants on museum collections.<ref>Getty Conservation Institute. [http://www.getty.edu/conservation/science/pollutants/index.html Pollutants in the museum environment (1985-1998).] Retrieved August 26, 2008.</ref>  Another project analyzed the cause of deterioration of the [[sandstone]] in the original National Capitol Columns now at the [[United States National Arboretum]].<ref name=Adams/>

In addition, GCI "conducts scientific research on materials' composition."<ref name=GCIScience/> For example, a project on the conservation of photographs has as one of its objectives the creation of an "Atlas of Analytical Signatures of [[List of photographic processes|Photographic Processes]]" which will provide "a precise chemical fingerprint of all the 150 or so ways pictures have been developed."<ref>Getty Conservation Institute. [http://www.getty.edu/conservation/science/photocon/ Research on the conservation of photographs.] October 2006. Retrieved November 8, 2008.</ref><ref>Kennedy, Randy. [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/01/arts/design/01kenn.html Arsenic and old photos.] ''New York Times'', April 1, 2007.</ref> As a part of that project, Getty scientists once examined the world's first photograph from nature by [[Nicéphore Niépce]].<ref>Lyden, Jacki, and Dusan Stulik. [https://www.npr.org/programs/watc/features/2002/mar/photograph/ Analyzing the world's first photograph. Precious image studied at Getty Institute in Los Angeles.] National Public Radio, April 7, 2002. Retrieved August 26, 2008.</ref> Using [[X-ray fluorescence]] spectroscopy, reflectance [[Infrared spectroscopy#Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy|Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy]], and other techniques during the 2002-2003 project, they found (for example) that [[bitumen of Judea]] was present in the image.<ref name=Ransom>Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin. [http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/exhibitions/permanent/wfp/conservation.html The first photograph: conservation and preservation.] Retrieved August 26, 2008.</ref>

== Education and training ==
Training of conservation works is an important part of GCI's work.<ref name=Adams/> For example, GCI collaborated with other organizations to create a course "to assist museum personnel in safeguarding their collections from the effects of natural and human-made emergencies."<ref>Getty Conservation Institute. [http://www.getty.edu/conservation/education/teamwork/ Teamwork for Integrated Emergency Management.] Retrieved August 26, 2008.</ref> Also, GCI developed a course on the "Fundamentals of the Conservation of Photographs" which is now taught in eastern Europe by the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava and the Slovak National Library.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.getty.edu/conservation/education/about/|title=About GCI Education|publisher=Getty Trust|accessdate=May 2, 2011}}</ref>  Besides courses and workshops, GCI has also been involved with long-term education programs, such as establishing a [[Master's degree]] program in Archaeological and Ethnographic Conservation in collaboration with the [[University of California, Los Angeles]].<ref>A.M.H.S. New conservation program. ''Archaeology'', May/June 1999, vol. 52, issue 3.</ref><ref>Cotsen Institute of Archaeology. [http://www.ioa.ucla.edu/conservation/ The UCLA/Getty Conservation Program.] Retrieved August 26, 2008.</ref>

== Field projects ==
GCI workers travel to other places to protect items important to history (field projects).
GCI's field projects are "selected based on how they fit the institute's goals of raising public awareness, contributing new, broadly applicable information to the field, and supporting cultural heritage" and "must be executed in collaboration with partners… who must be serious about their efforts… so that projects are assured of continuing after the Getty's involvement ceases."<ref name=Adams/> Among other completed GCI field projects were efforts to preserve the [[Mogao Caves]] and [[Yungang Grottoes]] in China (announced in 1989);<ref>Wilson, David S. [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE2D7133FF933A15752C0A96F948260 Getty Trust and Chinese.] ''New York Times'', January 20, 1989. Retrieved August 24, 2008.</ref> to restore prehistoric [[Rock Paintings of Sierra de San Francisco|rock paintings of Sierra de San Francisco]] in [[Baja California Sur]] (1994);<ref>Archeology: Getty to fund work on Mexican art site. ''Los Angeles Times'', July 14, 1994.</ref><ref>Getty Conservation Institute. [http://getty.edu/conservation/field_projects/baja/index.html Rock art of Baja California (1994-1996).] Retrieved August 24, 2008.</ref> and to protect ancient buildings and archaeological sites in [[Iraq]] following the start of the [[Iraq war]] (2004).<ref>Sisario, Ben. [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE1DB1631F935A25750C0A9629C8B63 Arts briefing.] ''New York Times'', March 16, 2004. Retrieved August 26, 2008.</ref>

== Dissemination of information ==
It has been stated that "perhaps the institute's most profound contribution to conservation is the dissemination of information and methods learned in the field."<ref name=Adams/> GCI spreads information in conferences; lectures; books; and online publications, newsletters, video, and audio.<ref>Getty Conservation Institute. [http://www.getty.edu/conservation/publications/ "Publications and Videos"]. Retrieved August 26, 2008.</ref>

The following are selected books published by GCI:<ref>Getty Conservation Institute. [http://www.getty.edu/conservation/publications/pdf_publications/ "PDF publications"]. Received June 1, 2011.</ref>
* Ward, Philip R. ''The nature of conservation: a race against time''. Marina del Rey, CA: Getty Conservation Institute, 1986. {{ISBN|0941103005}}
* ''The conservation of tapestries and embroideries: proceedings of meetings at the Institut royal du patrimoine artistique, Brussels, Belgium, September 21-24, 1987''. Los Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute, 1989. {{ISBN|0892361549}}
* Cather, Sharon.  ''The conservation of wall paintings: proceedings of a symposium organized by the Courtauld Institute of Art and the Getty Conservation Institute, London, July 13-16, 1987''. Marina del Rey, CA: Getty Conservation Institute, 1991. {{ISBN|089236162X}}
* Beley, Ennis, and Jeffrey Levin. ''Picture LA: landmarks of a new generation''. Marina del Rey, CA: Getty Conservation Institute, 1994. {{ISBN|0892363053}}
* Klein, Kathryn. ''The unbroken thread: conserving the textile traditions of Oaxaca''. Los Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute, 1997. {{ISBN|0892363800}}
* Corzo, Miguel Angel. ''Mortality immortality?: the legacy of 20th-century art''. Los Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute, 1999. {{ISBN|0892365285}}
* Dorge, Valerie, and Sharon L. Jones. ''Building an emergency plan: a guide for museums and other cultural institutions''. Los Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute, 1999. {{ISBN|0892365293}}''
* Lavédrine, Bertrand, Jean-Paul Gandolfo, and Sibylle Monod. ''A guide to the preventive conservation of photograph collections''. Los Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute, 2003. {{ISBN|0892367016}}
* Schweidler, Max, and Roy L Perkinson. ''The restoration of engravings, drawings, books, and other works on paper''. Los Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute, 2006. {{ISBN|0892368357}}
* Rainer, Leslie and Angelyn Bass Rivera editors. ''The Conservation of Decorated Surfaces on Earthen Architecture''. Los Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute, 2006. {{ISBN|978-0-89236-850-1}}
* Caneva, Giulia, Maria Pia Nugari, and Ornella Salvadori. ''Plant Biology for Cultural Heritage: Biodeterioration and Conservation''. Los Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute, 2009. {{ISBN|978-0-89236-939-3}}

Here is a selection of courses by GCI:<ref>Getty Conservation Institute. [http://www.getty.edu/conservation/education/arch_records/index.html "Architectural Records, Inventories, and Information Systems for Conservation"]. Retrieved June 1, 2011.</ref>
*ARIS (International Course on Architectural Records, Inventories and Information Systems for Conservation)

==Senior staff==
{|class=wikitable align=right
|+ GCI Directors
|-
|1985-90||Luis Monreal
|-
|1990-98||Miguel Angel Corzo
|-
|1998-||Timothy P. Whalen
|}

Since GCI was established, it has had three directors.<ref>J. Paul Getty Trust. [http://www.getty.edu/conservation/publications/newsletters/14_2/gcinews07.html Sebastian moves to Getty Trust.] GCI Newsletter 14.2 (Summer 1999). Retrieved August 24, 2008.</ref> Besides the director, the GCI senior staff includes:<ref name=GCI/>
* Associate Director, Programs: Jeanne Marie Teutonico
* Associate Director, Administration: Kathleen Gaines
* Chief Scientist: Giacomo Chiari
* Head of Education: Kathleen Dardes
* Head of Field Projects: Susan Macdonald
In 2009, GCI had a $33 million budget. This is less than the $41 million budget for 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.getty.edu/about/governance/trustreport/2009_viewer/pageflip.html|title=The Getty Trust 2009 Report|page=72|publisher=Getty Trust|accessdate=May 2, 2011}}</ref>

== Getty conservation activities outside GCI ==
In addition to the work of the GCI, the J. Paul Getty Trust contributes to the conservation field through the [[J. Paul Getty Museum]] conservation departments, the conservation collection in the library at the [[Getty Research Institute]], and conservation grants provided by the [[Getty Foundation]].<ref>Getty Conservation Institute. [http://getty.edu/conservation/institute/broch_backpg.html Conservation at the Getty.] Retrieved August 26, 2008.</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Other websites ==
* [http://www.getty.edu/conservation/ Official website]
* [http://library.getty.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=787915 RecorDIM project records, 1994-2007] The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, California. Records comprise reports, meeting materials and handouts, correspondence and memoranda, budgets, contracts, publication development and design material, images, and training materials, dating 1994-2007, created and maintained by the Field Projects Division of the Getty Conservation Institute. The materials concern the development, operation, and results of Field Projects’ Recording, Documentation, and Information Management (RecorDIM) Initiative.

{{Getty Trust}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:J. Paul Getty Trust]]
[[Category:1985 establishments in California]]