Study leave for conservator?

Press, 26 February 1980, Page 6

Study leave for conservator?

The Robert McDougall Art Gallery’s new ’ conservator may be sent to Canada for a year’s study. He should be granted a year’s leave on full salary, the Christchurch City Council’s cultural committee said yesterday, if another $5BOO — to pay for travel and other expenses — was granted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The conservator, Mr J. Harper, would first work for three months at the Canadian Conservation Institute in Ottawa?' Later, after an international symposium on conservation of modern and contemporary art works, he would move on to a ninemonth job at the Musee des Beaux-Arts in Montreal.

The proposal will be considered by the council’s staff sub-committee.

Mr Harper would sign a bond contract to ensure his return to work in Christchurch after the training.

The gallery director (Dr T. L. R. Wilson) said there was a “conservation crisis” in New Zealand galleries because of the. shortage of conservators.

There was also an international shortage, and their salaries were generally very high. Since Mr Harper had joined the staff, the gallery had been “getting the most obvious work done quickly,” Dr Wilson said.

Any important conservation work would be suspended--during his absence, he said, but without overseas training, it could not be done anyway.