from Art Museum Network News
Smithsonian to Open "Visible Conservation Center"
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Having conservation work always on view may sound like a good idea in the context of a museum display - but it must be added that just viewing the conservation work processes alone would not make much of a sense unless accompanied by some intelligent form of commentary and explanation. Without this added component of interaction and dialogue, conservation work can actually appear rather boring and uninteresting in itself. The other question would be whether is there no other way to present conservation to the public, other than being on constant view? Would we next ask for a glass-fronted office design for all museum curators so that visitors can understand the creative and often complex processes that go into the making of an exhibition?