The new centre
The Centre for Textile Conservation, Textile History and Technical Art History began work in September 2010. It focuses on multidisciplinary object-based teaching and research that encompasses conservation and the physical sciences as well as art history, dress and textile history. It is the only conservation training programme in a Scottish University and the only programme in textile conservation in the UK.
The move to Glasgow has proved to be a huge success, with the Centre going from strength to strength. The 2-year MPhil Textile Conservation, is as highly regarded internationally as its predecessor; since the Centre opened in Glasgow, four cohorts of students have graduated and all are now working in conservation around the world. You can find out more about the work of the staff of the Centre by following the Centre's blog.
The Centre's staff are led by Frances Lennard, Senior Lecturer in Textile Conservation. For more information about the Centre's staff scroll down this page.
In 2016 Frances Lennard and colleagues successfully secured three major research grants to a total value of over £1.3m, as follows:
Situating Pacific Barkcloth Production in Time and Place
This major, three-year project is funded by AHRC and led by Frances Lennard; the project partners are the Hunterian Museum, the Kew Economic Botany Collection and the Smithsonian Insititution. To find out more follow this link.
From the Golden Age to the Digital Age: modelling and monitoring historic tapestries
This three-year project, funded by the Leverhulme Trust, led by Frances Lennard, will carry out research into tapestry conservation and display. You can find out more by following this link.
LightFasTR
This project, led by Dr Anita Quye, the Centre's Lecturer in Conservation Science, has been granted an EU Marie Sklodowska-Curie Action award and will investigate the light fastness of Turkey Red, a dye that has been the subject of PhD research at the Centre in recent years.
Competition for research funding is fierce, so the success of the Centre in securing three major research grants in the space of 8 months is extraordinary. It is good evidence of the success of the move to Glasgow University.
The Centre's Staff
Frances Lennard leads the Textile Conservation strand in the new Centre and convenes the new MPhil Textile Conservation programme. She was previously Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader of the MA Textile Conservation at the Textile Conservation Centre (TCC), University of Southampton. Frances recently secured two major research grants which will fund 3-year projects investigating Pacific Barkcloth and the conservation and display of tapestries.
Dr Anita Quye is the Centre's Lecturer in Conservation Science and works with both Textile Conservation and Technical Art History. She was previously Principal Conservation Scientist in the Department of Conservation and Analytical Science at the National Museums Scotland. Anita has a wealth of experience working as a conservation scientist within museums and working collaboratively on research projects with institutions worldwide. She recently secured a major EU grant which will fund research into the light fastness of Turkey Red, a dye that has been the subject of PhD research at the Centre in recent years.
Karen Thompson is a University Teacher in Textile Conservation. An accredited conservator, Karen has 20 years' experience. She trained at the Textile Conservation Centre and subsequently worked in the TCC's commercial conservation department of the Textile Conservation Centre for 10 years; she has also worked at National Museums Scotland and Peoples' History Museum. Karen is a qualified teacher.
Sarah Foskett is also a University Teacher in Textile Conservation. She is from Glasgow Museums where she has been a textile conservator working on the Burrell Collection Tapestry Project. Before that Sarah was a textile conservator at the National Museums Scotland from 1995 to 2008. She trained at the TCC at Hampton Court Palace. Sarah is an accredited member of the Institute of Conservation and a committee member of the June Baker Trust.
