The Open Lab. Empowering Community Engagement and Knowledge in Conservation and Treatment Methods

Abstract

From a conservation point of view, the final exhibition of an artefact within a showcase can be characterized as a multidimensional process from the initial diagnosis for possible intervention up to its eventual restoration. In this context, it used to be that museums were solely providing these conservation steps for treatment in a mere relevant community, keeping this kind of knowledge and practice within the walls of the museums. Novel perspectives in conservation at a worldwide level are pushing the limits to concepts and principles such as openness, stakeholders’ participation, and collective problem-solving within the whole grid of conservation of museum artifacts. The Open Lab of the Museum of Modern Greek Culture in Athens embraces these concepts and values, opening its conservation and restoration knowledge both to the local community and to interest parties such as conservationists and humanities scientists such as folklorists and historians. The Open Lab presents a groundbreaking approach to biodiversity conservation with expertise in textile conservation and treatment, harnessing open-source principles, community engagement, and technological innovation. This paper introduces the pivotal functionalities of Open Lab, outlining its core components and discussing its transformative potential in conservation efforts. More specifically, the paper unfolds and describes all the steps for its development, namely the selection of space, the configuration, and equipment of the Open conservation Lab, the full utilization of the equipment within specific rooms such as the low vacuum table presentation room, the room with washing tanks and the room of painting presentation room and mechanical cleaning process. By fostering collaboration among scientists, conservationists, and local communities, the Open Lab enables the exchange of vital data, resources, and knowledge crucial for effective conservation and restoration actions. Through case studies and examples, we demonstrate the profound impact of the Open Lab in promoting inclusive and sustainable conservation practices both in the national and worldwide contexts. We conclude by highlighting future directions and challenges for scaling up the Open Lab to address urgent conservation needs in the face of rapid environmental change.