Accessing Modern and Contemporary Art Materials Research
Lead Research Organisation:
Tate
Abstract
For over four decades Tate has built its conservation science labs and materials research around key parts of the UK's national collection of British and International art ranging from 1500 to the present day. The generation of knowledge pertaining to historic British paintings and modern and contemporary art (M&CA) in particular, has grown into a resource of national and international significance. Tate's modern and contemporary art research strengths now encompass 20th century paints, innovative cleaning science, plastics and polymer analysis. This forms the core expertise, knowledge and opportunities offered to others nationally and internationally, including through funded projects, post-graduate fellowships, doctoral studentships, collaborative funded research, informal partnerships and within the Conservation Department itself.
Excluding the Turner Bequest, 60% of Tate's collection (or 23,455 items) consists of works dating from c.1945 onwards. Over the past decade, the acquisition of modern and contemporary art into the UK's national collection has accelerated to the point where M&CA works now constitute 90% of all new acquisitions and gifts to Tate. The preservation of the UK's cultural heritage must be centred around the appropriate characterisation of materials, as determining optimal, sustainable storage and display conditions becomes increasingly urgent and requires addressing through collaborative heritage science. This is particularly relevant for artworks containing new, lesser-known, degradable, and other novel materials within sculpture and installation art, paintings, and works on paper collections.
Tate's capacity to offer access to in-house scientific expertise, mobile and fixed equipment and laboratories would immediately increase by more than 40% through the RICHeS access conservation scientist role. Our expanded access model will be developed and evaluated through a new partnership with the National Trust for their recently developed Modern Art in the Historic House research initiative, and additionally finessed through access case study opportunities with The Courtauld Institute of Art, Victoria and Albert Museum, and others, to help ensure that our expanded access offer is ready, discoverable, and user-friendly by 2026.
In addition to the enhanced access afforded by the essential RICHeS scientist role, the expansion of Tate's AHRC Capability for Collections (CapCo) funded equipment will underpin the deepening and broadening of Tate's M&CA materials research and offer. This will quickly lead to enhanced research and engagement through developing new knowledge of these materials and artworks. The bench equipment requested will expand our existing polymer analysis capability and the portable equipment requested will facilitate investigations at other Tate sites, with our Plus Tate partners and beyond; enabling us to better support collections nationally. When combined, the award will facilitate new questions, new research, new collaborations, and contribute to a range of key impacts in the preservation of M&CA across the heritage sector.
This investment is vital to the future of the UK's M&CA art collections, where we collectively work to understand and provide solutions for the evolving challenges represented by modern and contemporary art; particularly within the context of the ongoing climate emergency. The existing expertise and achievements of the Tate team and collaborators, the transformative investments already made through CapCo, and the investments to be made through RICHeS will result in a sea-change in the way heritage science is inspired at Tate and accessed by others, which will undoubtedly underpin and strengthen Tate's vision to establish a national modern and contemporary art research hub within the next decade.
Excluding the Turner Bequest, 60% of Tate's collection (or 23,455 items) consists of works dating from c.1945 onwards. Over the past decade, the acquisition of modern and contemporary art into the UK's national collection has accelerated to the point where M&CA works now constitute 90% of all new acquisitions and gifts to Tate. The preservation of the UK's cultural heritage must be centred around the appropriate characterisation of materials, as determining optimal, sustainable storage and display conditions becomes increasingly urgent and requires addressing through collaborative heritage science. This is particularly relevant for artworks containing new, lesser-known, degradable, and other novel materials within sculpture and installation art, paintings, and works on paper collections.
Tate's capacity to offer access to in-house scientific expertise, mobile and fixed equipment and laboratories would immediately increase by more than 40% through the RICHeS access conservation scientist role. Our expanded access model will be developed and evaluated through a new partnership with the National Trust for their recently developed Modern Art in the Historic House research initiative, and additionally finessed through access case study opportunities with The Courtauld Institute of Art, Victoria and Albert Museum, and others, to help ensure that our expanded access offer is ready, discoverable, and user-friendly by 2026.
In addition to the enhanced access afforded by the essential RICHeS scientist role, the expansion of Tate's AHRC Capability for Collections (CapCo) funded equipment will underpin the deepening and broadening of Tate's M&CA materials research and offer. This will quickly lead to enhanced research and engagement through developing new knowledge of these materials and artworks. The bench equipment requested will expand our existing polymer analysis capability and the portable equipment requested will facilitate investigations at other Tate sites, with our Plus Tate partners and beyond; enabling us to better support collections nationally. When combined, the award will facilitate new questions, new research, new collaborations, and contribute to a range of key impacts in the preservation of M&CA across the heritage sector.
This investment is vital to the future of the UK's M&CA art collections, where we collectively work to understand and provide solutions for the evolving challenges represented by modern and contemporary art; particularly within the context of the ongoing climate emergency. The existing expertise and achievements of the Tate team and collaborators, the transformative investments already made through CapCo, and the investments to be made through RICHeS will result in a sea-change in the way heritage science is inspired at Tate and accessed by others, which will undoubtedly underpin and strengthen Tate's vision to establish a national modern and contemporary art research hub within the next decade.
Organisations
- Tate (Lead Research Organisation)
- University College London (Collaboration)
- Courtauld Institute of Art (University of London) (Collaboration)
- Cultural Heritage Agency of Netherlands (Collaboration)
- Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design (Collaboration)
- University of Oslo (Collaboration)
- University of Florence (Collaboration)
- Victoria and Albert Museum (Collaboration)
- NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE (Collaboration)
- Museum of Modern Art (Collaboration)
- Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen (Collaboration)
- The Getty Conservation Institute (Collaboration)
- The National Trust (Collaboration)
- IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- Cologne University of Applied Sciences (Collaboration)
- University of Ghent (Collaboration)
- University of Amsterdam (Collaboration)
- University of Antwerp (Collaboration)
- McMaster University (Collaboration)
- COURTAULD INSTITUTE OF ART (Project Partner)
- NATIONAL TRUST (Project Partner)
People |
ORCID iD |
| Bronwyn Ormsby (Principal Investigator) | |
| Judith Lee (Co-Investigator) |
Publications
Homer L
(2026)
Non-invasive characterisation of varnished modern paintings: comparative insights and conservation implications
in Journal of Cultural Heritage
Levet M
(2025)
Revisiting Retouching: Continued Research into Suitable Materials for Retouching Unvarnished Acrylic Dispersion Paintings
in Studies in Conservation
Ormsby B
(2024)
Cleaning and conservation: recent successes and challenges
in Heritage Science
| Description | We have made significant progress and/or completed the award objectives as grouped into 5 streams: Governance, People, Operational, Access and Communication and Dissemination. Since September 2024, governance structures have been implemented and lead by the Director of Collection Care [CC]. Management and Operational Groups are also in place to support the delivery of the project. The Management Group meetings are supported by other managers in Conservation as well as colleagues in Research, held bi-monthly with agreed actions and minutes shared; this group also hold the risk register for the project. Operational team meetings are held fortnightly with task streams tracked, issues raised and resolved, with meeting notes and action points recorded. The collaboration agreements with project partners (National Trust [NT] and The Courtauld Institute [CIA]) are now in place. Project team members and the PI/Co-I's have been attending wider RICHeS events including the launch in October 2024 and subsequent working groups and information/research/impact events as well as the drop-in meetings. Internal reporting has been undertaken in the form of feedback to the CC Director and Research departments and required external reporting to RICHeS IHQ has been prompt. In Sept 2024 we employed Dr Angelica Bartoletti as our RICHeS scientist to cover the development phases of both Tate RICHeS awards. From 1st April 2026, Angelica will transition to one of our two 5-year fixed term full time roles. The second role is currently in the final stages of recruitment. Other support has been provided by Dr Joyce Townsend and Dr Judith Lee, Conservation Scientists at Tate. The operational team has fully scoped and purchased all equipment funded through this award, hence the equipment budget is now spent (remaining funds include small amounts in the travel and other budgets). All equipment is now on site, installed, functioning, and initial training has been carried out. The operational team are now writing user guides, becoming familiar with the equipment, and finalising small changes to the lab to facilitate optimal use. As part of our RICHeS award, we proposed 6 different access case studies designed to explore the time and people resources, equipment limitations and logistics of carrying out scientific requests for others, whether on-site or off-site. As a result of the two roles starting in April 2026 (i.e., later than originally anticipated) we reduced the number of access case studies to 4 to reflect the reduced people resource within the first 18-months of the project. To date, for the Courtauld Institute of Art, we have carried out extensive analysis of one of Tate's Miro works (Message from a Friend, 1964, Tate T03691) originating from an external request by PhD student (Mar Gomez) who is exploring Miro's techniques and materials. This involved the use of portable and fixed lab CapCo equipment (access to equipment and facilities), as well as examination of the work together in two Tate locations. This colminated in an extensive report which will be drawn upon for at least one pending academic publication, as well as being included as part of the thesis output, and, after a Gallery Records check, will be sent to the Miro Foundation for their records. The second case study for the CIA has been to support another PhD student, Beatrice Menegaldo, who is working within the framework of the GoGreen (Green Cluster) project. Her request effectively straddled both Tate RICHeS awards via access to archived research sample mock-ups (from a 2006-2009 Tate project), followed by using Tate equipment, facilities and expertise for conservation treatment development using green solvents, as well as the assessment of the results of her cleaning research. This relates closely to an ongoing AHRC CDP at Tate (Grace Hanrahan, Northumbria University) who is exploring the removal of coatings from acrylic paints using a new gel system, and other doctoral student the PI is supervising (Laura Homer, University of Oslo) who is exploring the presence of coatings on mid 1960s Norwegian synthetic polymer paintings in Norwegian collections. The National Trust access case studies have been largely exploratory as their mid-20th C collections have not been the subject of extensive technical research to date. In July 2025, the Tate team visited Mottistone Manor to explore six large-scale painted wall hangings made between 1953 and 1954 by the British artist Brian Dick Lauder Thomas (1912-1989), depicting Scenes from John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress. The paintings were sampled and analysed on-site using our CapCo equipment and analysed in the Tate laboratories. This resulted in a substantial report, which has sparked an ongoing conversation about similar works across the NT collections. The third case study (the 2nd for the National Trust) is likely to involve collections within the 2 Willow Road modernist property in North London, with a scoping visit planned for March 31st, 2026. Other unplanned in-kind requests have also been accommodated, including PhD student Xilan Wu, based at UCL, who used our facilities and expertise in 2025 to prepare mock-up samples for her doctoral research into the soiling of acrylic paints. In addition, Tate was approached by Dr. Lizzie Woolley (Opus Conservation) to become involved in the Blenheim Palace Roof Restoration project, for which the PI is also an advisory committee board member. This unscheduled, substantial (ongoing) project has involved site visits to Blenheim Palace, and the analysis of 20+ wall painting samples using our equipment and facilities. Reports have been produced and findings discussed, which are contributing to our understanding of key wall paintings (Great Hall and Saloon), including their construction, conservation histories and the development of appropriate conservation treatment strategies. We have also carried out (in-kind) analysis on a damaged work of art for Julia Nagle Conservation (private conservation studio), the results of which are being prepared for publication. Internally, our in-house research is forging ahead on modern paints, paint swelling studies and conservation treatment studies. Some of the new equipment was also used and/or piloted for studies carried out as part of the GREENART Horizon Europe project, including the imaging FTIR and volatiles GCMS. Conversations are also ongoing about research into modern and contemporary art materials within Tate which may focused around and/or supported as a direct result of this award (see new AHRC CDP in next section). Key tasks remaining include another case study with the Courtauld, completing the second case study with the National Trust, as well as the development and launch of Tate's access portal for both awards (underway with the Tate digital team). We are also in the process of devising an access request strategy and an external request access agreement which will be signed off by Tate's legal team. We are also modelling ways of working within the Conservation Science team to optimally enable this significant change once we go live in September 2026. |
| Exploitation Route | Tate Conservation Science is using project findings and our enhanced capabilities to further research, with several small (seed) projects planned and underway. Most impactful to date however is another AHRC CDP studentship awarded to Conservation Science partnered with Sculpture and Installations Conservation and the UCL Institute for Sustainable Heritage (UCL-ISH). This new studentship entitled 'Sustainability, conservation, and collection care: exploring the occurrence and implications of VOCs emitted from modern and contemporary art in storage' has been designed to address issues (such as the presence of volatile organic compounds in storage) arising from the changing nature of Tate's modern and contemporary art collection. This will utilise several pieces of the new equipment and particularly the new volatiles GCMS system. Recruitment is underway for this studentship and will commence in October 2026. As described above, several doctoral and and other post-graduate students (see listings) and academics have made use of our facilities and expertise across 2024-26 for various projects relating to modern paints and green conservation. Bruker, who supplied our new FTIR imaging system featured the installation of the instrument at Tate on LinkedIn and we are planning writing application notes for the wider scientific and heritage science fields. Beyond the project period, we will likely continue our collaborations with key partners, the National Trust (for research into mid-20th C collections) and the Courtauld Institute of art (around modern paint and conservation treatment research as well as student project support). Outside our formal partnerships and established collaborations, Opus Conservation is using Tate's extensive analytical findings for the Blenheim Palace project as part of their wall painting restoration strategy. Other analysis and advice have been provided in-kind to support the development of conservation treatments for modern and contemporary art in the private sector (note that we do not facilitate requests on the authentication of works of art). Several academic publications, presentations, data sets and other dissemination activity is expected over the next months and years from this support; from internal research as well as supporting research by others. |
| Sectors | Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |
| URL | https://www.tate.org.uk/about-us/projects/accessing-modern-and-contemporary-art-materials-research |
| Description | While this award is not complete (around 6 months of the 2 years remain) and no wider societal impacts have been recorded; the support delivered to PhD students has been embedded into theses, papers have been proposed and in one case Tate's report will be delivered to the Miro Foundation (Spain). For external access requests, advice around mock-up sample making for doctoral research (UCL), and the re-use of past research samples and data in projects aimed at enhanced sustainability (Courtauld) are all small, but significant contributions to ongoing research across academic institutions. Information once again will be used for theses and publications. The (unplanned access case study) Blenheim Palace analysis report will become part of the current restoration project records and the information has been used to understand the wall paintings, to shed light on their condition and to inform conservation treatments; as was also the case for the in-kind analysis carried out for Julia Nagle conservation. Facilities used and data produced as part of Tate's contribution to the Greenart project have thus far been used in 3 publications, with 2 more papers in progress. At least 8 papers will arise from Tate's Whistler's Finish project to be published in October 2026; with exhibition information and several workshops for scholars and interested professionals. At present no data has been uploaded to the HSDS, as we are still gathering Tate's Heritage Science data into useful formats and awaiting guidance from Tate and the HSDS as to the information required and/or permitted to be included. As a minimum, information arising from the planned partner access case studies will be uploaded by the end of the project period (end August 2026). |
| First Year Of Impact | 2024 |
| Sector | Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural |
| Description | 3 day modern paints cleaning workshop - INP Paris, 9-11 July 2025 |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | This is a regular course (every 1-2 years) where the Tate team are invited to teach modern painted surfaces conservation to professional conservators. |
| URL | https://www.inp.fr/formation-continue/choisir-sa-formation-continue/catalogue?search_api_fulltext=&f... |
| Description | Blenheim Palace Roof Project Advisory Board |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://www.blenheimpalace.com/restoration/ |
| Description | CAMA meeting - Dusseldorf Germany |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| URL | https://www.th-koeln.de/en/cultural-sciences/cics---research-project---consortium-for-the-research-o... |
| Description | CAMA network meeting December 2025 |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| URL | https://www.th-koeln.de/en/cultural-sciences/cics---research-project---consortium-for-the-research-o... |
| Description | CDP workshops for Conservators - INP Paris |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| Impact | Innovative and well researched cleaning methods, delivered to practitioners in Paris. Many of which are new to the participants. |
| Description | Defining Green Consultation - Experts Committee |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://gogreenconservation.eu/defining-green-conservation/#experts |
| Description | EU Commission review for GREENART project; 16 December 2025 |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Impact | The rating for the project was 'excellent'. |
| Description | EU Green Cluster Strategic Meeting on Advancing Innovation in Heritage Conservation - Brussels, 26 February 2026; |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Green Cluster for Science and Conservation Research, hosted the Strategic Meeting on Advancing Innovation in Heritage Conservation. The Strategic Meeting will feature a morning session sharing the latest advances in sustainable and green innovation for cultural heritage preservation, presented by three Horizon Europe research projects - GOGREEN, MOXY, and GREENART (RIA call CL2-2021-HERITAGE-01-01) - united in a Green Cluster. The afternoon session will focus on how policy can better support the future of green and sustainable cultural heritage conservation and innovation, including a keynote speech by prof. dr. Hermann Parzinger, Executive President of Europa Nostra, a roundtable discussion, and concrete proposals for discussion on how policy can better support the future of green and sustainable cultural heritage conservation and innovation. |
| URL | https://www.moxyproject.eu/green-cluster-rt3 |
| Description | Green cluster project training - Bologna Jan 22-23, 2026 |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | This was an online and in person meeting focussed on Green Cleaning within Conservation https://eventi.unibo.it/gogreen_greencleaning |
| URL | https://eventi.unibo.it/gogreen_greencleaning |
| Description | Greenart at Tate - presentation for the Tate Green Group |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| Description | Greenart project final meeting (Sept 24-26, 2025) |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | This was a combination of the final project meeting and a public training event in Rome - for project members, practitioners and students. https://www.greenart-project.eu/greenart-final-workshop-showcases-sustainable-innovation-in-heritage-conservation/ |
| URL | https://www.greenart-project.eu/greenart-final-meeting-marks-the-official-close-of-a-visionary-eu-pr... |
| Description | Greenart project public training - London, Tate, 20 May 2025 |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | https://www.greenart-project.eu/greenarts-public-training-in-london/ - this was to educate UK and international conservators about the green materials being produced by thew GREENART cleaning work package. Several museum partners from Europe and the USA presented and the talks are now hosted by the British Library. |
| URL | https://www.greenart-project.eu/greenarts-public-training-in-london/ |
| Description | Greenart project public training - Paris April 2025 |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | This training, and similar events were held to educate practitioners about the new green products being produced through the 3 x Green Cluster [Horizon Europe] funded projects. https://www.greenart-project.eu/ https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101060941 |
| URL | https://www.greenart-project.eu/greenarts-public-training-in-paris/ |
| Description | MOXY project (2023-2026) |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | This is to help guide the Moxy project - https://www.moxyproject.eu/ - GREEN ATMOSPHERIC PLASMA-GENERATED ATOMIC OXYGEN TECHNOLOGY FOR RESTORATION OF WORKS OF ART |
| URL | https://www.moxyproject.eu/advisory-board-1 |
| Description | Meeting with Katie Hallchurch - Getty Conservation Institute |
| Geographic Reach | North America |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | Modern paints workshop - University of Amsterdam, 5-7 June 2024 |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| Description | RICHeS access case study - Mottistone Manor (Isle of Wight; National Trust) 2025 |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| Impact | Prior to the analysis of these works by Tate, these paintings were relatively understudied, and this information has contributed directly to the development of a suitable conservation treatment and has sparked queries about related mid-20th C works at the National Trust (TBC). |
| Description | Research with Christa Haiml on Andy Warhol painting owned by MUMOK Austria (CSPC) |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | Supporting Beatrice Menegaldo PhD student - RICHeS case study Courtauld Institute of Art, London |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| URL | https://gogreenconservation.eu/the-courtauld-institute-of-art/ |
| Description | Supporting Mar Gomez (PhD student at The Courtauld Institute) Tate RICHeS E&F project access case study. |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| URL | https://courtauld.ac.uk/people/mar-gomez-lobon/ |
| Description | Talk for ICON Modern Materials Group - 24 April 2025 |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| URL | https://www.icon.org.uk/events/the-role-s-of-case-study-works-of-art-in-ongoing-modern-and-contempor... |
| Description | Tate Conservation Lighting Policy |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| Description | Tate Conservation Sustainability Group |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| Description | Tate IPM policy |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| Description | Tour for Courtauld 2nd year conservation MA students 13 May 2025 |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | Training at Pisa University Summer School - Green Cluster Horizon Europe projects. |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | This represented a significant training moment for several post-doctoral and doctoral researchers working on cleaning science in Europe. |
| URL | https://scibec.dcci.unipi.it/summer-school-2025.html |
| Description | Training of CDP candidate Georgia Millsom |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| URL | https://www.tate.org.uk/research/studentships/georgia-millsom |
| Description | Training of CDP candidate Grace Hanrahan |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| URL | https://www.tate.org.uk/research/studentships/grace-hanrahan |
| Description | Training of doctoral candidate Laura Homer |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| URL | https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3847-7082 |
| Description | Tutorials at the Royal Academy Schools London |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| URL | https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/page/ra-schools-staff |
| Description | Visit and presentation for Yu Homma; Associate Professor, Keio University, Archivist and manager, Keio Museum Commons / Keio University Art Center |
| Geographic Reach | Asia |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | Visit from Harim You and team (Conservation Scientist / Researcher National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage (NRICH) Republic of Korea) |
| Geographic Reach | Asia |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | Establishing Tate's Conservation and Heritage Science Archive |
| Amount | £277,722 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | AH/Z505997/1 |
| Organisation | Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2024 |
| End | 09/2026 |
| Description | Removal of synthetic varnishes from sensitive modern paints with innovative surface-attached gels |
| Amount | £48,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 2604853 |
| Organisation | Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2021 |
| End | 06/2025 |
| Description | Sustainability, conservation, and collection care: exploring the occurrence and implications of VOCs emitted from modern and contemporary art in storage. |
| Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2026 |
| End | 09/2030 |
| Description | CDP - Unexpected salt formation in 20th century oil paints and implications for condition, conservation and access to works of art (CSPC) |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is a new AHRC CDP award through Tate, with David Payne, Imperial College, due to start Oct 2023. Tate main supervisor is Dr Lee, secondary supervisor is Dr. Ormsby. Tate will co-supervise the PhD student, hosting them on site as needed and guiding research to remain relevant to Tate's research strategy and Collection. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Academic supervision, access to expertise, equipment and materials, award. |
| Impact | No outputs as yet. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | CDP Surface Attached Gels for the Removal of Synthetic Varnishes from Sensitive Acrylic Paints (Grace Hanrahan) (CSPC) |
| Organisation | Northumbria University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Tate supervisor (Ormsby) hosts student regularly at CSPC suite. Providing guidance, context and direction in research; access and training. Since the start of the PhD Grace has visited and used our facilities 7 times for up to a week each time. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Academic institution partner - oversight of PhD pathway, guidance and training. |
| Impact | No publications as yet. Grace has contributed to another collaboration with Tate, with Christa Haiml on a MUMOK painting (see entry). |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Collaboration with Courtauld Institute (Themerson project) |
| Organisation | Courtauld Institute of Art (University of London) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We facilitated the production and UV ageing of samples for this ongoing project the Coutauld (Professor Aviva Burnstock and Donatella Banti). |
| Collaborator Contribution | This project has been devised and managed by the Courtauld: https://daphnejackson.org/supportus/supervising/meet-a-supervisor/ |
| Impact | No outputs as yet involving Tate team. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Collaboration with Getty Conservation Institute, USA re ESCAPE |
| Organisation | The Getty Conservation Institute |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Received training on ESCAPE for scientific data (GCMS) interpretation - Tate will contribute data to this international initiative. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Design of analytical tool and training. |
| Impact | Contribution of Tate data to database for others to use - agreement pending. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Collaboration with Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen's collection |
| Organisation | Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This collaboration was in support of a damaged Rothko painting at the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen's collection. Tate team (Ormsby) travelled to examine the painting and delivered a section of the Rothko family archived canvas donated to Tate in 2013. This items belongs in the Tate Conservation and Heritage Science Archive. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Invitation to Tate, discussions, acknowledgements in reports and outputs. |
| Impact | The painting has been successfully conserved. Outputs are care of the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen's collection team. https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/04/29/child-damages-rothko-work-at-rotterdam-museum |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Collaboration with UCL Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment, new Collaborative Doctoral Award |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Department | Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Tate awarded Conservation Science a CDP in 2026 entitled: Sustainability, conservation, and collection care: exploring the occurrence and implications of VOCs emitted from modern and contemporary art in storage. This is in partnership with UCL Institute for Sustainable Heritage (ISH) and is due to commence in October 2026. Tate will provide academic supervision, access to analytical facilities and data management, student support, access to artworks as well as translation of research findings into practice and collections care policy. |
| Collaborator Contribution | UCL will be the award giving partner, providing academic supervision and analytical facilities and data management and processing and student support. |
| Impact | None as yet, research not commenced. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Consortium for the Research of Artists' Materials Archives (CAMA) (CSPC) |
| Organisation | Cultural Heritage Agency of Netherlands |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | This is a new consortium. Tate Conservation Science will provide access to our Modern Oil Paint archive and support research across the consortium objectives. We have thus far contributed to a networking grant (outcomes due in 2023). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Restaurierungszentrum der Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf is the coordinator, who will lead and co-oridinate the consortium and foster partnerships with others and paint manufacturers. This Collaboration agreement lays out the basis upon which The Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands, the Restaurierungszentrum der Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf, the University of Amsterdam, the Technische Hochschule Köln and the Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste Stuttgart establish and manage the Consortium for the Research of Artists' Materials Archives (CAMA). An initial focus of study will be the archives of the artist supplies manufacturers Talens and Lukas. The relation between the Parties: The Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands, the Restaurierungszentrum der Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf, the University of Amsterdam, the Technische Hochschule Köln and the Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste Stuttgart will form a network for sharing and exchanging information and expertise and for coordinating research conducted by the Parties individually or jointly. Additional network partners may be recruited under the terms of the arrangement covered by this agreement. RCE and RZ each have bilateral legal agreements with Royal Talens and Lukas Nerchau GmbH respectively that define the conditions for accessing, researching and publishing materials from the Talens and Lukas archives. According to these legal agreements, third-party access to these materials as well as publication of research findings are only possible in accordance with the agreements. The UvA, CICS and SABK run conservation training programmes. In coordination and consent with the Parties, MA students and staff members from these institutions will explore the archives and do further research. Funding will be sought for PhD students. RCE is a centre of expertise for the preservation and management of cultural heritage. The institute also houses the state art collection. Its Cultural Heritage Laboratory in Amsterdam offers a large infrastructure comprising state-of-the art analytical instrumentation as well as a Historical Materials collection with c. 10.000 items. RCE has a partnership with Royal Talens. |
| Impact | No outputs yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Consortium for the Research of Artists' Materials Archives (CAMA) (CSPC) |
| Organisation | Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is a new consortium. Tate Conservation Science will provide access to our Modern Oil Paint archive and support research across the consortium objectives. We have thus far contributed to a networking grant (outcomes due in 2023). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Restaurierungszentrum der Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf is the coordinator, who will lead and co-oridinate the consortium and foster partnerships with others and paint manufacturers. This Collaboration agreement lays out the basis upon which The Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands, the Restaurierungszentrum der Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf, the University of Amsterdam, the Technische Hochschule Köln and the Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste Stuttgart establish and manage the Consortium for the Research of Artists' Materials Archives (CAMA). An initial focus of study will be the archives of the artist supplies manufacturers Talens and Lukas. The relation between the Parties: The Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands, the Restaurierungszentrum der Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf, the University of Amsterdam, the Technische Hochschule Köln and the Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste Stuttgart will form a network for sharing and exchanging information and expertise and for coordinating research conducted by the Parties individually or jointly. Additional network partners may be recruited under the terms of the arrangement covered by this agreement. RCE and RZ each have bilateral legal agreements with Royal Talens and Lukas Nerchau GmbH respectively that define the conditions for accessing, researching and publishing materials from the Talens and Lukas archives. According to these legal agreements, third-party access to these materials as well as publication of research findings are only possible in accordance with the agreements. The UvA, CICS and SABK run conservation training programmes. In coordination and consent with the Parties, MA students and staff members from these institutions will explore the archives and do further research. Funding will be sought for PhD students. RCE is a centre of expertise for the preservation and management of cultural heritage. The institute also houses the state art collection. Its Cultural Heritage Laboratory in Amsterdam offers a large infrastructure comprising state-of-the art analytical instrumentation as well as a Historical Materials collection with c. 10.000 items. RCE has a partnership with Royal Talens. |
| Impact | No outputs yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Consortium for the Research of Artists' Materials Archives (CAMA) (CSPC) |
| Organisation | University of Amsterdam |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is a new consortium. Tate Conservation Science will provide access to our Modern Oil Paint archive and support research across the consortium objectives. We have thus far contributed to a networking grant (outcomes due in 2023). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Restaurierungszentrum der Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf is the coordinator, who will lead and co-oridinate the consortium and foster partnerships with others and paint manufacturers. This Collaboration agreement lays out the basis upon which The Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands, the Restaurierungszentrum der Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf, the University of Amsterdam, the Technische Hochschule Köln and the Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste Stuttgart establish and manage the Consortium for the Research of Artists' Materials Archives (CAMA). An initial focus of study will be the archives of the artist supplies manufacturers Talens and Lukas. The relation between the Parties: The Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands, the Restaurierungszentrum der Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf, the University of Amsterdam, the Technische Hochschule Köln and the Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste Stuttgart will form a network for sharing and exchanging information and expertise and for coordinating research conducted by the Parties individually or jointly. Additional network partners may be recruited under the terms of the arrangement covered by this agreement. RCE and RZ each have bilateral legal agreements with Royal Talens and Lukas Nerchau GmbH respectively that define the conditions for accessing, researching and publishing materials from the Talens and Lukas archives. According to these legal agreements, third-party access to these materials as well as publication of research findings are only possible in accordance with the agreements. The UvA, CICS and SABK run conservation training programmes. In coordination and consent with the Parties, MA students and staff members from these institutions will explore the archives and do further research. Funding will be sought for PhD students. RCE is a centre of expertise for the preservation and management of cultural heritage. The institute also houses the state art collection. Its Cultural Heritage Laboratory in Amsterdam offers a large infrastructure comprising state-of-the art analytical instrumentation as well as a Historical Materials collection with c. 10.000 items. RCE has a partnership with Royal Talens. |
| Impact | No outputs yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Digital Skills for Cultural Heritage - AHRC Doctoral Focal Award |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The vision is to bring together digital skills (including AI), science, engineering, analytical methods and cultural heritage to train the next generation of heritage scientists and conservators, recruiting PhD students from both the heritage and science/engineering sectors in the form of a PhD training centre around the topic of 'Digital Skills for Curation and Conservation of Cultural Heritage (DiSCC). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Thus far, attended a co-creation workshop and provided a letter of support. Outcomes have not yet been received. |
| Impact | No outputs as yet. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | FIRESAVE proposal - HORIZON-RIA 2024 |
| Organisation | University of Ghent |
| Country | Belgium |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Should this be funded, we are committed to the work package on cleaning fire-damaged works of art; as a partner, working with the WP leader. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Letter of support and contributions to the proposal - submitted 20 Nov 2024 |
| Impact | None as yet - awaiting funding outcomes. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Greenart project |
| Organisation | University of Florence |
| Country | Italy |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This has funded a 3 year project at Tate via the UKRI Horizon Europe Guarantee Scheme. This has covered conservation scientist and conservation roles, travel and consumables. We have carried out comparative research onto 20th C paints and innovative cleaning systems |
| Collaborator Contribution | This project has 29 partners. |
| Impact | https://www.greenart-project.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/ama-357-en.pdf https://www.greenart-project.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/polymers-low.pdf |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Interfacing Atmosphere and Art: Applying Atmospheric Chemistry Strategies to Advance Cultural Heritage Conservation (CSPC) |
| Organisation | McMaster University |
| Country | Canada |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is a 2 year project based at McMaster University Canada; lead by McMU and Tate is a Co-I. Tate will contribute to experimental aims, context and design and host the post-doctoral Fellow for a 3-month period in year 2, and contribute to papers and presentations as needed. Description: Atmospheric chemistry and art conservation science are both, in part, the study of how light and pollutants interact with surfaces: in the case of atmospheric chemistry, the surfaces include particulate matter, buildings and other urban surfaces, and the interactions occur over days to weeks; in the case of conservation science as practised in museum and gallery contexts, the surfaces are cultural heritage objects themselves, and the interactions occur over decades to centuries. Despite these commonalities, the atmospheric chemistry and conservation science communities have largely operated independently. Our team, which transcends these traditional disciplinary boundaries, proposes to apply concepts and strategies from atmospheric chemistry to provide novel insights and solutions for three topics of fundamental importance for the conservation of cultural heritage. First, using highly sensitive instrumentation for gas-phase pollutant and surface corrosion detection, we will compare the results of material aging studies conducted under near-ambient conditions to those conducted under more extreme temperature and lighting conditions, and thereby enable conservation professionals to evaluate and address potential biases associated with commonly used accelerated aging protocols for prediction of cultural heritage object degradation. Second, using custom-built reactors from the heterogeneous atmospheric chemistry field, we will obtain quantitative reaction parameters for pollutant gas-surface pairs relevant to museum storage environments (e.g. volatile organic acids and paints/varnishes), and implement these data in air quality models that will enable conservation professionals to bridge the gap between measured pollutant concentrations and risk of damage to enclosed objects. Third, using instrumentation for stable and reproducible particle generation and custom-built exposure chambers, we will quantify particulate matter deposition to painting materials as a function of material type, relative humidity, and pre-existing surface soiling; in the process, we will generate a library of particle-exposed surfaces with which to systematically test and refine surface cleaning strategies for paintings. Ultimately, these three projects will enable us to better anticipate, arrest, and ameliorate damage to cultural heritage objects, and serve as a model for future collaborations between atmospheric chemists and heritage scientists. |
| Collaborator Contribution | MMU will recruit to the post-doctoral position, and provide labs, equipment, services training and support for the Fellows and students involved. They will also manage the budget and reporting requirements. This is supported by the New Frontiers in Research Fund, 2020. This has been delayed due to Covid. Update pending. |
| Impact | The research has been delayed by Covid - no tangible outcomes as yet. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Modern Oils Research Consortium (MORC) (CSPC, PFW) |
| Organisation | Courtauld Institute of Art (University of London) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Tate hosts and co-ordinates this Consortium and facilitates research between members and collaborators. Supported by Research Dept and Conservation Science (Ormsby and Lee). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Twentieth- and twenty-first-century oil paintings and painted surfaces present a range of complex treatment challenges to conservators that are distinct from those noted from previous centuries. These include the formation of 'surface skins' of medium on painted surfaces, efflorescence, unpredictable water and solvent sensitivity and the recent phenomena where previously stable surfaces begin to drip. Modern oil paints are used by artists in the creation of paintings and sculpture and many of these surfaces are unvarnished and exposed directly to the environment.In response to the need for research in this area, Tate, the Courtauld Institute of Art, the Getty Conservation Institute, the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands and Hamilton Kerr Institute have come together and committed to work collaboratively to address these issues. These five organisations have signed a memorandum of understanding formalising this commitment to work together and to share knowledge about: Chemical and physical properties of modern oil paints and their behaviour over time; Development of treatments; Research relating to the use of these materials by artists; Production and take up of modern oil paints in the twentieth and twenty first centuries. The members of the consortium will meet regularly to exchange information on current research and will also seek opportunities to develop scholarly research, create opportunities for the exchange of staff and the sharing of equipment. They will also look for ways of communicating new developments via conferences, symposia and publications. |
| Impact | See publications. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Modern Oils Research Consortium (MORC) (CSPC, PFW) |
| Organisation | Cultural Heritage Agency of Netherlands |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Tate hosts and co-ordinates this Consortium and facilitates research between members and collaborators. Supported by Research Dept and Conservation Science (Ormsby and Lee). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Twentieth- and twenty-first-century oil paintings and painted surfaces present a range of complex treatment challenges to conservators that are distinct from those noted from previous centuries. These include the formation of 'surface skins' of medium on painted surfaces, efflorescence, unpredictable water and solvent sensitivity and the recent phenomena where previously stable surfaces begin to drip. Modern oil paints are used by artists in the creation of paintings and sculpture and many of these surfaces are unvarnished and exposed directly to the environment.In response to the need for research in this area, Tate, the Courtauld Institute of Art, the Getty Conservation Institute, the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands and Hamilton Kerr Institute have come together and committed to work collaboratively to address these issues. These five organisations have signed a memorandum of understanding formalising this commitment to work together and to share knowledge about: Chemical and physical properties of modern oil paints and their behaviour over time; Development of treatments; Research relating to the use of these materials by artists; Production and take up of modern oil paints in the twentieth and twenty first centuries. The members of the consortium will meet regularly to exchange information on current research and will also seek opportunities to develop scholarly research, create opportunities for the exchange of staff and the sharing of equipment. They will also look for ways of communicating new developments via conferences, symposia and publications. |
| Impact | See publications. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Modern Oils Research Consortium (MORC) (CSPC, PFW) |
| Organisation | The Getty Conservation Institute |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Tate hosts and co-ordinates this Consortium and facilitates research between members and collaborators. Supported by Research Dept and Conservation Science (Ormsby and Lee). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Twentieth- and twenty-first-century oil paintings and painted surfaces present a range of complex treatment challenges to conservators that are distinct from those noted from previous centuries. These include the formation of 'surface skins' of medium on painted surfaces, efflorescence, unpredictable water and solvent sensitivity and the recent phenomena where previously stable surfaces begin to drip. Modern oil paints are used by artists in the creation of paintings and sculpture and many of these surfaces are unvarnished and exposed directly to the environment.In response to the need for research in this area, Tate, the Courtauld Institute of Art, the Getty Conservation Institute, the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands and Hamilton Kerr Institute have come together and committed to work collaboratively to address these issues. These five organisations have signed a memorandum of understanding formalising this commitment to work together and to share knowledge about: Chemical and physical properties of modern oil paints and their behaviour over time; Development of treatments; Research relating to the use of these materials by artists; Production and take up of modern oil paints in the twentieth and twenty first centuries. The members of the consortium will meet regularly to exchange information on current research and will also seek opportunities to develop scholarly research, create opportunities for the exchange of staff and the sharing of equipment. They will also look for ways of communicating new developments via conferences, symposia and publications. |
| Impact | See publications. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Modern Oils Research Consortium (MORC) (CSPC, PFW) |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Department | The Fitzwilliam Museum |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Tate hosts and co-ordinates this Consortium and facilitates research between members and collaborators. Supported by Research Dept and Conservation Science (Ormsby and Lee). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Twentieth- and twenty-first-century oil paintings and painted surfaces present a range of complex treatment challenges to conservators that are distinct from those noted from previous centuries. These include the formation of 'surface skins' of medium on painted surfaces, efflorescence, unpredictable water and solvent sensitivity and the recent phenomena where previously stable surfaces begin to drip. Modern oil paints are used by artists in the creation of paintings and sculpture and many of these surfaces are unvarnished and exposed directly to the environment.In response to the need for research in this area, Tate, the Courtauld Institute of Art, the Getty Conservation Institute, the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands and Hamilton Kerr Institute have come together and committed to work collaboratively to address these issues. These five organisations have signed a memorandum of understanding formalising this commitment to work together and to share knowledge about: Chemical and physical properties of modern oil paints and their behaviour over time; Development of treatments; Research relating to the use of these materials by artists; Production and take up of modern oil paints in the twentieth and twenty first centuries. The members of the consortium will meet regularly to exchange information on current research and will also seek opportunities to develop scholarly research, create opportunities for the exchange of staff and the sharing of equipment. They will also look for ways of communicating new developments via conferences, symposia and publications. |
| Impact | See publications. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Particulate monitoring - collaboration with Imperial College, London |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Manfredi-Haylock, Enrico visited the CSPC labs to discuss remote sensing of particulates and other sensors. Two loggers left in lab. Research project ongoing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Sensor provided and data analysis. |
| Impact | No outputs as yet. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Partnership with Getty Conservation Institute (ESCAPE) |
| Organisation | The Getty Conservation Institute |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | This is a new partnership which involves training on the use of a PyGCMS data interpretation tool devised by the Getty Conservation Institute for GCMS data. Training has been provided on 3 separate occasions (online and on-site) by Michael Schilling. Tate will contribute data to the worldwide ESCAPE library for all users to incorporate. This request is ongoing and forms part of our RICHeS project developmental work. Tate has hosted the GCI and others and will provide data (with an agreement in place) and only for modern paints (not artworks) at this stage. This is also supported by C2RMF - https://c2rmf.fr/actualite/synthetic-escape-2016 |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training, setting up and maintaining the ESCAPE database. |
| Impact | Training so far, data contributions are pending. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Partnership with UCL Bartlett School - Institute of Sustainable Heritage |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Department | Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This collaboration formed part of our RICHeS contribution - supporting PhD student Xilan Wu to make mock-ups for her acrylic paint research. She visited Tate 3 times over about 4 months and was provided with facilities and knowledge. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Student access; mutual research interests. |
| Impact | None as yet. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Partnership with University of Antwerp |
| Organisation | University of Antwerp |
| Country | Belgium |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is a new partnership, still in development, around the use of machine learning for the cataloguing of our Winsor and Newton (oil and alkyd) paint swatch collection, which is part of the Establishing Tate's Conservation and Heritage Science Archive RICHeS project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Exploring machine learning to extract information from images of the swatches. |
| Impact | No as yet - development stage. |
| Start Year | 2026 |
| Description | PhD studentship: Novel cleaning methods to remove commercial synthetic artists' varnishes from sensitive modern paintings in the collection of the National Museum of Norway. |
| Organisation | Cologne University of Applied Sciences |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I am the primary external supervisor for Laura Homer who approached me to supervise after applying to one of Tate's AHRC CDP fellowships. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Oslo - main supervisor and awarding institution. Cologne Institute of Conservation Sciences - secondary external supervisor. |
| Impact | No outputs as yet. One poster submitted to conference in 2024. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | PhD studentship: Novel cleaning methods to remove commercial synthetic artists' varnishes from sensitive modern paintings in the collection of the National Museum of Norway. |
| Organisation | University of Oslo |
| Country | Norway |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I am the primary external supervisor for Laura Homer who approached me to supervise after applying to one of Tate's AHRC CDP fellowships. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Oslo - main supervisor and awarding institution. Cologne Institute of Conservation Sciences - secondary external supervisor. |
| Impact | No outputs as yet. One poster submitted to conference in 2024. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | PhD with University of Oslo - Laura Homer (candidate) (CSPC) |
| Organisation | University of Oslo |
| Country | Norway |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Dr. Ormsby is one of two external PhD supervisors. Providing guidance, methodology, analysis of select artworks, hosting student, member of modern paints group. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Academic supervision and award. |
| Impact | No outputs as yet, recently started. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | RICHeS partnership - Courtauld Institute of Art, Conservation |
| Organisation | Courtauld Institute of Art (University of London) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Agreed to act as access case study trials for Tate's RICHeS bids; histed by Tate as part of both RICHeS bids. Access for students to archive materials and analysis, equipment and expertise. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Liased with Tate, attended meetings, proposed access case studies, present during case studies, feeding back on processes. |
| Impact | https://www.tate.org.uk/about-us/projects/establishing-tates-conservation-and-heritage-science-archive Visits planned, first access case study in progress. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | RICHeS partnership - National Trust |
| Organisation | The National Trust |
| Country | Trinidad and Tobago |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | This new collaboration is for access case studies for RICHES projects at Tate - with a focus on post-1945 paintings in the NT collection. This will involve off-site visits by teams and access to facilities and equipment. Tate team visited Mottistone Manor on the Isle of Wight in July 2025; carried out analysis and sampling as a RICHeS access case study. Report was delivered in October 2025 and discussed in a meeting at Tate in November 2025. Second case study is likely at Willow Road property in London, being visited on March 31st 2026. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provided suitable case study options, preparation and organisation at NT side; presence during visits, impact and outcomes. |
| Impact | Case study 1 report produced and signed off. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Research with Christa Haiml on Andy Warhol painting owned by MUMOK Austria (CSPC) |
| Organisation | Museum of Modern Art |
| Country | Austria |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Research guidance, methodology guidance, materials, equipment and facilities at Tate. Since starting, Christa Haiml has visited Tate 3 times for a week at each time to progress the research. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Christa approached Tate CSPC team for help with designing practice-based research to support a complex conservation treatment for an Andy Warhol painting. Christa spends time at Tate and works on the project in Austria (https://www.mumok.at/). |
| Impact | No outputs as yet - project is underway. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Sharing scientific data with the V&A - modern plastics |
| Organisation | Victoria and Albert Museum |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Tate and the V&A are sharing analytical data for plastics ID. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Similar contributions - Tate providing spectra for borrowed V&A plastics collection. |
| Impact | No outputs as yet apart from shared libraries. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Tate-Imperial Modern Oils Research (Masters research) (CSPC) |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Department | Faculty of Engineering |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Tate and Imperial design projects of mutual interest to further surface analysis of modern oil paints, using various analytical techniques. Tate sets the research questions and context and provides analytical facilities and support. Supervisors include Drs. Lee and Ormsby. Students include: "Identification of Inorganic Pigment Surface Coatings encountered in 21st artists materials ", Mangialomini Irène, 2022 "The Influence of Ambient Environment on the Surface Chemistry of Modern Oil Paintings", Ziyun Hui, 2021 "Investigation of the influence of light and relative humidity on the formation of magnesium sulphate heptahydrate in Cadmium Yellow and French Ultramarine oil paint films" Jess Harrison, 2020. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Imperial provides Masters students - one per year - to carry out this collaborative research and provides access to Imperial College equipment as required. |
| Impact | See publications. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Use of Tate's Hirox microscope for Courtauld paintings |
| Organisation | Courtauld Institute of Art (University of London) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We hosted the Courtauld conservation team a couple of times in 2023 for use and training on our Hirox microscope. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Approached long-standing collaborator Tate to use CapCo funded Hirox microscopy equipment. Came to site. |
| Impact | None - images provided. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | AHRC team visit to Tate - 4/4/2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Sophie Cummings (AHRC) Hannah Chalkin (AHRC) Stephanie Pye - RICHeS IHQ Carla Burrell - RICHeS IHQ Visited Tate to discuss the RICHeS awards |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | CAMA consortium meetings - June 2024, March 2025 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Two of the Consortium for the Research of Artists' Materials Archives (CAMA) meetings - this is a networking grant, funded by EU. 2 -day network meetings - June 2024, and 10-11 March 2025. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.th-koeln.de/en/cultural-sciences/cics---research-project---consortium-for-the-research-o... |
| Description | Conservation of Marilyn Diptych by Andy Warhol (film) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This is a short film produced by Tate Social Media about the conservation of Any Warhol's Marilyn Diptych. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-U4rjlCzhV/?hl=en |
| Description | Facilities tour for Silvia Amato (Courtauld) re RICHeS, 12/4/24 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a tour for a colleague at the Courtauld, Silvia Amato, April 24, to discuss research and RICHeS, |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | In the Conservation Studio: Andy Warhol |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This is a Tate display and video at Tate Modern entitled 'In the Conservation Studio: Andy Warhol'. https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern/display/in-the-studio/in-the-conservation-studio-andy-warhol |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern/display/in-the-studio/in-the-conservation-studio-andy-warh... |
| Description | Instagram post - Greenart project - 28 June 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This is about the soiling of our research mockups. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8wSDEyI8Xm/?hl=en |
| Description | Lecture on conservation science for UCL Institute for Sustainable Heritage - 26 February 2025 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This was a 2 hour lecture on conservation science focussed on the science of innovative cleaning and using case study work of art. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Meeting with Archie Graf - Harwell, at Tate 9/1/2025 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a meeting with Archie Graf from Harwell facilities to discuss research. Visit to discuss research - Harwell. Arthur Graf/Archie, Research Associate | Cydymaith Ymchwil, HarwellXPS, Harwell Heritage Network / Rhwydwaith Treftadaeth Harwell Email|Ebost : grafa2@cardiff.ac.uk / arthur.graf@harwellxps.uk / arthur.graf@diamond.ac.uk |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Modern Oils Research Consortium Meeting - 17 April 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This was a meeting for the Modern Oils Research Consortium on April 17, 2024 - this was online and 2 hours long. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | RICHES Tate website - Accessing Modern-and-contemporary-art-materials-research |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A new website launched in January 2025 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.tate.org.uk/about-us/projects/accessing-modern-and-contemporary-art-materials-research |
| Description | RICHES Tate website - establishing-tates-conservation-and-heritage-science-archive |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | https://www.tate.org.uk/about-us/projects/establishing-tates-conservation-and-heritage-science-archive |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.tate.org.uk/about-us/projects/establishing-tates-conservation-and-heritage-science-archi... |
| Description | RICHeS project partners - meeting #1 at Tate - 19 February 2025 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was the first meeting of Tate RICHeS partners (Couruaild, National Trust), to discuss access case studies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Ripolin paints - visit from Museum of Domestic Design & Architecture (MoDA) - Zoe Hendon, 15th May 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | This was a visit from Zoe Hendon of the Museum of Domestic Design & Architecture (MoDA) - delivering archive materials based on Ripolin paints. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Social media - Greenart post - X - April 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was a Greenart social media post; retweeted - https://x.com/JDaviesHeritage/status/1812896283549368705 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://x.com/TateResearch/status/1780250296137994561 |
| Description | Social media post - Greenart - X - 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was about the Greenart project |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://x.com/TateResearch/status/1767972525298839770 |
| Description | Talk for BAPCR on the Conseration of Andy Warhol's MARILYN DIPTYCH |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Talk for the BAPCR Christmas party and evening talk on 29th November 2024; Conservation of Andy Warhol's Marilyn Diptych by Annette King and Angelica Bartoletti. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.bapcr.org.uk/bapcr-christmas-party-and-evening-talk/ |
| Description | Talk for Northumbria University - Bronwyn Ormsby - Modern painted surfaces: collaborative cleaning treatments at Tate |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This was an online talk by for Northumbria University - by Bronwyn Ormsby - Modern painted surfaces: collaborative cleaning treatments at Tate. 2 hours. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Talk for Technische Universität München School of Engineering and Design - October 24th, 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This was a talk on the use of case studies in research for Technische Universität München, Germany, 2 hours online. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Talk for the GREENART public event - Ljubljana - 27 November 2024. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This was a talk as part of the Greenart public event in Ljubljana - 30 mins on work at Tate. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://hslab.fkkt.uni-lj.si/2024/11/15/public-event-green-conservation-practices-in-museums-librari... |
| Description | Tour for Tea Ghigo - History of Art, UCL 8 May 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Discussion to establish Tea Ghigo's research and teaching directions, and suggestions for conservation scientist speakers for her next planned event |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Tours of labs for ICON (May 14, 2024) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was 2 x tours of the Conservation Science facilities for ICON UK |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Visit from Arches for Science Getty team for RICHeS 31/1/2025 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Visit from Arches for Science Getty team for RICHeS 31/1/2025 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Visit from Conservation Scientist Jung-Heum Kim (National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul, South Korea, 4 July 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | On the 4th of July 2024, Conservation Scientist Jung-Heum Kim (National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul, South Korea) and a translator attended a 2-hour tour of the CSPC and PFW Departments. The visit included a discussion about the equipment and facilities available at Tate, Scientific Support Requests, workflow and collaboration with the other conservation departments, and research projects undertaken at Tate, including the GreenArt project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Visit from Dr Patricia Smithen - Queens University - 17.10.2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a visit from Patricia Smithen to discuss modern paint research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Visit from Greek scientist University of Thessaloniki - Dr. Dimitra Aslanidou - 2 May 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dimitra Aslanidou - heritage scientist from Greece - visited TB on 2/5/25 to view facilities and discuss research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Visit from Julia Nagle Conservation re innovative cleaning |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a visit from 3 of the team from Julia Nagle Conservation in February 2025 about a work of art which has been damaged with graffiti paint - Tate is doing some analysis and also advising on cleaning strategies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Visit from Laura Homer (University of Oslo, PhD candidate) 5.3.2025 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Visit from Laura Homer to discuss ongoing PhD research and analysis. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Visit from National Gallery team re RICHeS, 25 July 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a visit from the NG science team (3 people) to discuss RICHeS. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Visit from Royal Warrant Holders Association (RHWA) - 8/1/2025 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | This was a visit from the RWHA who host the Plowden Award. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Visit from Thierry Ford, Acting Head of Research & Development, The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Oslo, Norway, 14 October 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Visit from Thierry Ford (he/him) PhD, Acting Head of Research & Development, The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Oslo, Norway on 14/10/24 to discuss conservation science and research at Tate. Present were Bronwyn Ormsby, Jane McCree, Annette King, Angelica Bartoletti, Judith Lee and Kim Balukiewicz. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Visit from Wren Montgomery - NHM - 9 April 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a visit to discuss scientific equipment and RICHeS access. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Visit from the EU Commission Policy Officer Irena Kowalczyk-Kedziora, 15 July 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | This was a visit to Tate from the EU Commission Policy Officer Irena Kowalczyk-Kedziora and her family, to see the facilities and research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Visit to Tate - Arches for Science - Getty team, 14 November 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was another in person visit for the Arches for Science Getty team to Tate as part of RICHeS. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Visit to Tate - Getty Arches for Science team - 31.1.2025 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A visit from the Getty Conservation Institute Arches for Science team - 31/1/2025 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | X post - Greenart project 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was a social media post for Greenart in 2024 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://x.com/TateResearch/status/1754552872249770344 |