Let Glasgow Flourish: Dyes Research in the New Centre for Textile Conservation and Technical Art History

In September 2010, the University of Glasgow opened the Centre for Textile Conservation and Technical Art History, the first conservation training centre in Scotland. Based within the UK universities’ number one-rated History of Art department, the Centre brings together expertise in textile conservation, conservation science, textile history and technical art history to offer multidisciplinary object-based teaching and research. The Centre runs three postgraduate programmes that are attracting students from around the world: a 2-year taught Masters programme in Textile Conservation; a 1-year taught Masters programme in Technical Art History (Making and Meaning); and a 1-year taught Masters in the History of Dress and Textiles. The textile conservation, and dress and textile history programmes build upon the excellent pedigree of the internationally-acclaimed Textile Conservation Centre which was sadly forced to close in 2009 amid much outcry after 10 years at the Winchester School of Art and, prior to that, 20 years at Hampton Court Palace, London. Within a short space of time, a strong synergy has already formed between the four current research staff in the Centre, and is set to flourish within the high academic standing of the university through new and continued collaborations with cultural organisations, academic institutions and research partners worldwide. This brings exciting prospects for research in dyes in historical textile and paintings, with chemical analysis and scientific investigations for conservation being major specialisms for the Centre. Thanks to generous funding from the Getty Foundation, the Centre has initiated a network to get its research off to a fantastic start. Five themed meetings are being held during 2011 and 2012 to bring together researchers to initiate new interdisciplinary projects and to apply for research funding. The five themes and meeting dates are: 1. Modern Materials (held in 10 June 2011) 2. The Real Thing? The value of authenticity and replication (held in 7 October 2011) 3. Technical Studies: exploring concept, practices and results. 5 December 2011 4. Enhancing the Value of Collections: investigation and preservation. 30 March 2012 5. Connected Histories: making, meaning, interpretation. 14 May 2012 The network culminates with a two-day international conference based on The Real Thing? on 6-7 December 2012 at the University of Glasgow. This poster outlines the range of projects being developed and proposed for the history, identification and conservation of dyes in textiles and paintings within these themes. We welcome interest from all dyes researchers in the potential development of collaborations with the Centre