CHARISMA

Cultural heritage Advanced Research Infrastructures: Synergy for a Multidisciplinary Approach to Conservation/Restoration

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

CHARISMA is an Integrated Infrastructure Initiative that brings together 22 leading European institutions developing research on artwork materials and their deterioration finalised to the conservation of cultural heritage. The consortium has the objective to optimise the use of infrastructures through a coordinated program of transnational access, joint research and networking activities. Transnational access offers applicants opportunities to exploit the services of three different and complementary groups of facilities, embedded in a multidisciplinary environment involving material science and artwork conservation/restoration. They are: i) a group of six archives containing a huge amount of analytical data, hosted by the most prestigious European museums and institutions developing safeguard and conservation of cultural heritage; ii) a set of advanced portable instrumentation for in-situ non-invasive measurements in the same site where the artworks are located or exhibited; iii) two platforms, one in France and one in Hungary, where large scale facilities are coupled to a set of medium scale instrumentations, open to users for the most advanced studies on artwork materials and their alterations. Research is devoted: i) to improve access to databases exploiting digitalisation of data and their harmonisation; ii) to design and set-up innovative instrumentations, for in-situ 2D and 3D examinations of artworks, and new cleaning techniques; iii) to develop new methodologies for the study of organic materials and their distribution in micro-samples or directly at the surface of the object. Through networking, the way infrastructures are working is improved, harmonising methodologies and best practices in analysis and conservation, pursuing the establishment of a multidisciplinary synergic working method, based on shared use of knowledge and resources.

Introduzione (Teaser)

Science greatly helps preserve cultural heritage. An EU initiative gathered relevant stakeholders to develop cutting-edge research through transnational access, joint research and outreach activities.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Scientific research plays a key role in the conservation of paintings, sculptures and other works of art, exploiting novel technologies to study the different properties of artefacts. State-of-the-art tools enable conservators and restorers to identify the materials and methods used by original artists, as well as assess possible degradations, while advanced tests and monitoring ensure that any work of conservation/restoration respects the principle of compatibility and safety for the artwork. However, lack of access to this broad range of scientific techniques has been in the past a significant limiting factor to the development of the European research in the field.

The EU-funded http://www.charismaproject.eu/ (CHARISMA) (Cultural heritage advanced research infrastructures: Synergy for a multidisciplinary approach to conservation/restoration) project aimed to close the gap between the cultural heritage community and the most advanced materials science research. To achieve this, it gathered 22 leading art conservation bodies, prestigious museums and research facilities from across Europe.

CHARISMA published bi-annual calls addressed to researchers from Member States or Associated Countries to carry out research activities via transnational access to the most advanced European centres. Researchers used the latest laboratory techniques available at several facilities. They were given access to mobile equipment, which allowed them to perform various on-site non-invasive measurements without the risks and costs associated with transporting valuable art objects to laboratories. Access was given to medium and large scale facilities to carry out provenance studies or detailed assessment of products and mechanisms of material deteriorations.

Researchers were also given access to the large amount of analytical and technical data, information and knowledge archives on historical collections such as those of paintings, sculptures, monuments, manuscripts and jewellery. To date, this vast data was only partially recorded in scientific scholarship.

Joint research helped to establish a portal to further exploit cultural heritage knowledge and develop innovative instruments and methodologies tailored to the needs of users.

All work was supported by networking activities. A series of events led to European common standards in conservation. Workshops, training sessions and expert meetings disseminated advanced knowledge via the scientific community. Dissemination and communication efforts focused on fostering a culture of cooperation between the consortium and the cultural heritage scientific community.

By introducing a multidisciplinary approach to heritage conservation and restoration activities in Europe, CHARISMA has laid a foundation for finding common ground in research, based on effective encounters of science and art.